Samsung Exhibit II and Android: Three months and counting

Last November, I finally made the plunge and bought a smartphone. Not an iPhone, but rather an Android phone (see my original Samsung Exhibit II review).

Why didn't I get an iPhone? It basically boiled down to price. I love Apple's mobile operating system and own an iPad and iPod touch, but can't afford to pay $80 per month for iPhone service, which is what AT&T and Verizon charge. That's nearly $2000 over a two-year contract, and right now finances are tight as I start a software company. By comparison, T-Mobile's Monthly4G plan was just $30 per month with no contract (and a 100 minute limit, which I could live with -- extra minutes only cost a dime, and I seldom go over by a lot). That's just $720 over two years for a smartphone experience that's comparable to an iPhone. The Samsung Exhibit II cost $200, which is the same as a new iPhone.

Now that I've owned the Exhibit II for 3 months, what's my verdict on the service?

• Exhibit II voice quality is excellent. It sounds as good as a land line, and the only time I have experienced dropped calls is when talking with an iPhone user (AT&T is notorious for dropped calls)
• Android is close to iOS in terms of the user experience, but there are some hiccups -- in particular settings and the dual environments for "applications" and "home" screens (iOS combines them)
• While many apps are available on both platforms, I miss some really great iOS apps like Instagram (photo retouching and sharing)
• Certain apps -- Google and Dropbox spring to mind -- are really well-integrated with Android. I've also gotten a lot of value out of Path on Android.
• Voice transcription is superior to iOS on an iPod touch. I use it quite a bit for texting, short emails, and Path.
• Syncing has been a problem. It just doesn't work with my iMac, which forces me to use workarounds like Dropbox to transfer photos from my phone to other devices.
• I've never come close to using the monthly 5 gigabyte limit on 4G data transfers. Wifi is the reason -- when I am at home or work, the phone automatically switches to wifi, which doesn't use up any limits.
• On the other hand, I seldom use bandwidth heavy apps, like Pandora or YouTube.
• I never listen to music on the device, owing to the sync issue. It's not a big deal, though ... I just carry around my iTouch.

Tweet