Do you really need an iPhone 5? Here are five alternatives
It’s slick, it’s tempting, but do you really need an iPhone 5?
To be sure, it’s likely to be a blockbuster smartphone, and a whole lot of people will be waiting in line for it Friday.
But if you’re not a diehard Apple fan, here are five smartphones that we think can give the iPhone 5 a run for its money. You can see what they look like here.
Samsung Galaxy S III
The Galaxy S III is available from all four major U.S. carriers. It comes with a large 4.8-inch HD screen, but it’s still a comfortable phone to hold. The Samsung flagship runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating software and can connect to high-speed 4G LTE service on AT&T;, Verizon and Sprint.
The phone is available in blue, white and red if you get it from AT&T.; Verizon, Sprint and AT&T; sell the 16 GB version of the phone at $199, and you can also get a 32 GB version from Sprint or Verizon for $249. The lowest price for the phone from T-Mobile is $229.99, and its pricing depends on the type of plan you have.
Galaxy Nexus
The Android with the most advanced operating system is unsurprisingly Google’s own: the Galaxy Nexus. It runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and features a 4.65-inch HD screen. It can connect to 4G LTE service, which you need for watching videos or playing games.
You can pick up the Galaxy Nexus with 32 GB for $99 from Sprint or Verizon with a two-year contract. You can also get a version of the phone directly from Google for $349. It has 16 GB of storage and will work with AT&T; and T-Mobile.
HTC One X
Another popular choice is the HTC One X, which is available from AT&T; for $99 on a two-year contract. It has 16 GB of storage.
The HTC One X runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, can connect to 4G LTE and has a 4.7-inch HD screen.
HTC EVO 4G LTE
The HTC EVO 4G LTE is similar to the One X but is available from Sprint.
It also features a 4.7-inch HD screen, runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and can connect to 4G LTE. It comes with 16 GB of storage, but unfortunately for Sprint users, it costs $199.
Motorola RAZR M
If you’re looking for a small-framed phone with a large screen like the iPhone 5, the Motorola RAZR M might make a good choice. It sports a 4.3-inch screen, but isn’t as bulky as these other Androids.
The RAZR M, which came out this month, runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and, of course, it too can connect to 4G LTE. It’s available from Verizon for $99 on a two-year contract. The downside? It only offers 8 GB of storage.
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If you don’t mind waiting, there are also some other phones set to release later this year that could make good iPhone 5 alternatives, including the Nokia Lumia 920 and the Motorola RAZR HD.
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