4 Weeks – 4 Smart Phones

When picking a new phone it would really help to try each of the ones you are considering in know the situations when you are actually going to be using them. When you need WIFI to reply to a client NOW.  Or when you are at an event and need a quick shot of the Chef and their dish (and maybe a selfie). Or when you are frantically trying to convince your spouse through text and chat and email and twitter and facebook and skype that you really aren’t the big jerk you seemed to be when you left the house in the morning… errr… I mean when you need to order a gift online.

So I was overjoyed when Rogers contacted responded to my post asking your opinion on my next smartphone with an option to test each of the 4 phones I was considering.  “Yes, please!” was my immediate response.

Turns out they have an existing program with media and influencers to allow them to demo the newest phones in order to write about them.  Makes sense I guess, since even the wealthiest tech-geekiest of my friends would be hard pressed to buy one of each just to see which one they wanted to use day-in-day-0ut. Let alone tech journalists and telecom bloggers.

So for the last 3 weeks, I’ve spent a week each with the phones I’m considering as my next smart phone – Blackberry Z10, HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4, iPhone 5.

Early each week I extract the SIM from the phone I’ve been using. Then in a new location each week, do a quick exchange of boxes with a random operative dressed as a bike courier, say the code words “yes, I am Alexa. This is to be returned” and receive a burner phone.  No. Wait. An actual bike courier, and a demo phone… that’s right.  (Sorry folks, watching too much Burn Notice.)

I’m going to share my impressions with you of each other 4 phones I’m checking out based on my needs (which I’ve outlined briefly here.)

I encourage you all to jump in and tell me your experiences.  Please.  Each time I get a new one to test, another one of you tells me you just got that one and love it.  I am still trying to make my final decision and your input is invaluable!

Note: while Rogers is loaning me these phones, it was not based on me reviewing them publicly. I’m doing this for me and maybe for you if you are struggling with the same decision.