Which mobile platform for you?
Whether you’re looking for your first smartphone or you’re tired of your current mobile, there are plenty of devices out there.
But which handset is for you then? We run down the most popular operating systems to help you make a better decision.
iOS
iOS is the operating system that powers the iPhone, with Apple’s platform having a reputation for being sleek and fast.
The iPhone delivers a great out-of-the-box experience, offering a ton of excellent apps and games. In fact, we reckon that it has the best gaming library of any mobile platform – it still receives plenty of games that Android doesn’t, for instance.
Apps aside, the iPhone delivers a great multimedia experience thanks to the availability of movie and music storefronts in SA, although transferring AVIs and other video formats is a pain compared to Android. The latest iPhone also offers one of the best smartphone cameras around, while older iPhones aren’t too shabby in this department either.
Positives: iOS is great if you don’t want to spend lots of time fiddling with settings, you desire loads of apps and games and you’re looking for a great camera. In fact, the iPhone 5S is arguably the best all-round handset of 2013.
Negatives: The iPhone tends to be very expensive, meaning that users wanting a cheap handset will need to look elsewhere. You’re out of luck if heavy customisation is your thing (such as changing keyboards and downloading entirely new user-interfaces), unless you opt to “jailbreak” your phone. It also lacks microSD card support – forcing users to pay substantially more for larger-sized models.
Phones: The iPhone 5S is the latest and greatest device, but the earlier iPhone 5and iPhone 4S are no slouches either.
Android
The world’s most popular mobile platform, Google’s Android appears on everything from ultra low-end phones to the most expensive flagship handsets.
Unlike Windows Phone 8 and iOS however, there are still a few Android devices with physical keypads – so if that’s a priority, you might want to check the platform out.
Being a Google product, Android offers loads of integration with other Google services, such as Google+, YouTube, Gmail and more. Android is very customisable too, allowing you to change everything from the virtual keyboard to the actual operating system itself.
It’s no slouch in the apps department either, featuring more apps than iOS – although the aesthetics can vary wildly. It also has more innovative apps, such as PushBullet, AirDroid and more.
Positives: Consider Android if you make extensive use of Google’s services, you want a customisable phone or you’re on the hunt for a cheap handset. Additionally, the platform allows you to install apps from sources other than Google, making things like the pay-what-you-want Humble Bundle possible (and malicious software too, in all fairness).
Negatives: Google’s platform has come in leaps and bounds since the early days, but it’s still not quite as slick and intuitive out-of-the-box as iOS and Windows Phone. Worse yet, Android can be a very laggy experience on more modest handsets such as the Galaxy Pocket.
Phones: Some of the more popular Android handsets include the Samsung Galaxy range (S3, S4, Mini, Pocket), Sony’s Xperia range (Xperia Z, E, Go, Z1) and HTC’s One series.
Windows Phone
Microsoft’s platform may be slightly late to the party, but it’s been catching up quickly in terms of features.
It’s also been racking up apps too, such as Instagram, Vine and Path, so if you’ve been holding out on the former, well, it’s here now.
The user-interface is based on “live tiles”, and it looks unique to boot, with information and pictures constantly refreshing. The platform also has great social integration, with Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn connectivity out of the box.
Of course, Windows Phone 8 boasts connectivity with Microsoft’s Xbox Live service, as well as Office and Skydrive – the latter two making it a great fit for productivity.
Positives: Give Windows Phone 8 a look if you care about social networking, productivity and a fast, intuitive experience. The phones tend to have great cameras too, with the Lumia 1020 having the best smartphone camera around. Nokia’s exclusive apps are fantastic too, such as mapping software and the excellent Nokia Camera.
Negatives: You’ll want to reconsider if you’re expecting as many apps and games as iOS/Android (although it has plenty in its own right). Additionally, Windows Phone 8 still needs a few more features to bring it up to speed with the competition, such as a notification centre.
Phones: Although Samsung and HTC make handsets, Nokia is the true Windows Phone king, featuring everything from the cheap Lumia 520 to the 41-megapixel-toting Lumia 1020.
BlackBerry 10
Even if we want to, perhaps don’t write off the ailing Canadian giant just yet, the latest operating system brings plenty of great ideas and features to the fray.
Featuring a gesture-based interface swiped (heh) from the Nokia N9, BlackBerry 10 is arguably the most intuitive platform of the bunch. Use a Z10 for a few weeks and then try not to swipe your current phone.
Aside from the gestures, BlackBerry 10 also has deep social integration thanks to the BlackBerry Hub (a one-stop shop for all updates and messages), as well as a dedicated multitasking homescreen.
Those users hankering for physical keypads will be relieved to know that the BlackBerry Q10 exists, being arguably the only 2013 superphone with a keypad. But in all honesty, the touchscreen keyboard on the Z10 is the best one I’ve ever used.
Positives: Physical keyboard addicts will have a great phone in the Q10, but BlackBerry 10 has the best virtual keypad around anyway. Its gesture-based interface quickly becomes second nature too, while the ability to sideload Android apps is another plus.
Negatives: The BlackBerry 10 app world lacks many big-name apps (although again, the ability to sideload Android apps goes a long way to filling gaps). It has quite a few features already, but it still has some way to go nonetheless, with things like a driving mode and camera features missing.
Phones: There are only four major BlackBerry 10 devices out right now, namely the Z10, Z30 and keyboard-equipped Q5 and Q10. However, the Z10 and Q10 are the best phones of the lot.
Psyber Consulting 