My HTC Sensation contract is almost up and as much as I loved it and would be happy with another HTC, most of my friends have iPhones, i'm tempted by the iPhone 5 for iMessage and FaceTime

What would I be losing from not getting the HTC One X+ and getting an iPhone 5?

A two year guarantee for one thing. Smaller screen, lower resolution.
Try their iPhone's and if you get on with them then the face time might be worth it.

Hmmm tough one really.

I would say yes as i went from a 4S to the Galaxy S3 and its like night and day. iOS just feels and looks dated and could use a serious facelift. Hardware wise the iphone 5 i wouldn't say feels as nice as the 4/4S and is hideously overpriced for what it is but some will disagree with me there. I think apple have lost their way in the few years. Everything looks the same!

Facetime and imessage i wouldn't say are good enough reasons to move to apple. Skype is better i found and whatsapp worked for me more than imesage did. With most people getting free text allowances there really is no point in imessage.

See what other people say as well but, having used both personally i would stick to Android.

Have a look at some in a shop that let's you have a mess round with them. Different things suit different people.

If I was looking for a new phone today I would look at the Windows 8 range as well as isis an OSCAR I think is better than both Android and iOS

Well most that prefer apple don't need the customisation and choice that android gives. So if you would like choice then I'd stay with android. Prob check the screen size and check iTunes aswell.

HTC will have a new phone out early next year, so far called the M7. It will be a step up from one x+ and Galaxy s4 will be out too. I would say hold off a couple of months. I mean if you don't mind being in a locked down eco system and lack of customization then try apple. But it just depends what kind of user you are.

On the whole you aren't missing anything by not having an iphone.

It depends on how you look at it. I like the customisation of Android so I'd say yes. However some don't need or want it and generally prefer iOS. Don't look at it as being a step back look at it as a change thats all.

I wouldn't touch Apple its over hyped , over priced ,limited and restrictive there are far better options out there but thats my opinion , it just doesn't suit my needs but it may suit yours

Other opinions are available

I've seen the HTC One XL in my local EE store and it's a really nice phone-if I wasn't an iSheep then I think it'd be a phone I'd go for.... Windows Phone 8 is a very nice OS too-in fact it really shows up iOS for the 'dated' look it has-it's been 'sunny' and 23c for the last five years haha!

It depends what you want from a phone etc?

I won't migrate just for facetime and imessage. There are plenty of alternatives available if your key friends convert.

I don't know what sort of friends you have, but if I suggested to all my friends that they should buy a new phone or jump through a bunch of hoops to fit in with my different communication requirements, I would suspect their suggestions would not be printable here.

It took me about 10 seconds each to install both Whatsapp and Viber on my Android phone and they synced automatically with my contacts, is such a simple task really beyond the ability of the average Apple user ?

help i have just put whatsapp on my new s3 and one of my contscts is just showing as phone number rsther than name even though he is in my contacts

Am I right in thinking that if the OP did switch, then he'd have to buy a new set of apps? How about any downloaded music?

Who is telling them to buy a new phone ????

Skype, whatapps, viber are all either free or less then a quid and they will access to communicate with a whole new set of people. But if they are apple drones then your suggestion will most likely fall on deaf ears.

whatsapp is always top of the app charts, so not sure what your "drone" comment is all about.

I would wait and see what HTC comes up with in the new year first.

Not if value for money and performance is the criteria.

Android wıth Jelly Bean is a very good mobile device OS.

Fashion concious label slaves might argue differently and pay a lot more for thier Apple badge though... their call!

stock android JL is very good.
it's a shame every phone except 2 will get ruined by those damn skins that manufacturers insist on using.

Imessage is only for IOS and whatsapp is for Andriod, IOS, Blackberry, Window mobile and symbian. both use data so with whatsapp don't really need Imessage.

As of facetime then again its only for IOS rightnow but with gtalk, viber, tango and skype u have more options on any OS.

With key lime pie (andriod 5.0) due before summer. i ithink android will have dedicated app for video calling app for sure.

Also Google voice to launch during 2013 in UK, it will be big advantage over IOS.

I have used Iphone 4 until early this year and 5 for few weeks, these days i'm using Nexus4 coming from S3 i'm very happy with android and never looked back.

Yes it is.

Well that is just it pretty much that kills it for me, when it comes to Android. I'm not really looking to get a nexus 4, but every other option is skinned and you have to wait an eternity for updates. By the time google release the latest version of Android, the rest are only just getting the previous version! Or being told they aren't getting it at all. Too much waiting, not only are you waiting on your phone vendor, but if you are on a branded handset then having to wait on your network as well.

That's far too much waiting around for an update. It can take absolutely months and I have gone through that quite a few times already.

As much as I love HTC's phones, I'm really put off by this issue. And yes I know these phones can be rooted, but there always seems to be issues with custom roms, like bluetooth not working, or wifi playing up, or something or other. I don't want to tinker around on my phone, just need it to be up to date and to work.

Apple have got that aspect right, they release an update and it's available right away, but I find IOS quite limited and boring (personal preference)

So I'm considering, if I don't go the Android route again, then maybe a new Blackberry full touch. Anyways, to the OP, I would wait a little bit, as a new batch of phones will hit the shelves come Feb or March. Then do your research, and decide what fits your requirements.

drone because there are some apple users who refuse to use anything not produced by apple including apps.

just your opinion. My opinion is that until Jellybean, no interface came close to Sense including iOS. But fortunately with Android you have choice.

so you're suggesting that people buy iphone/ipad/ipod touch and then never install anything from the app store?

may i suggest you are talking utter nonsense?