Help choosing work smartphone

[Demo24]

Looking to try and replace my utterly horrible droid razr. While I don't care so much about it's age, size, etc. the screen is just so horrible it makes doing anything but the basics a huge pain in the ass. Main reason I got it was for Motorola 'ruggedness', speaker/call quality, radio reception, and battery life. I was trying to go for the HD, but personnel ordered me the wrong model and refused to change it. :\

What I am looking for most of all: Good speakers, good reception abilities (some buildings i go in kill signals), decent screen. I don't want anything ridiculous in size as I have a surface pro2 for anything serious.

Thinking of:

Windows: Lumia Icon
iOS; 5c/s
Android: ??, droid x ?

I am stuck on Verizon because of government account. I've not been hugely impressed with Samsung phones, especially after owning one for a couple years now. I am thinking seriously about going Windows phone (8.1 looks nice) mainly because my email was recently switched to an exchange based system. Most of what I need to do: web browsing, calls, answer emails from Gmail & Exchange, maps.

 

[NetGuySC]

I'd recommend the Droid Maxx. The reception is much better than my Note 3 ( once was equal then the Note was updated and then my signal strength weakened ( not updated to KitKat)). The Droid Maxx also has a large capacity battery giving it a much better daily usage lifespan than most smartphones have, this will be very important if you're in areas with minimal signal.
I admittedly have never used a windows phone and only occasionally used an Iphone.

 

[bearxor]

I'll second Droid MAXX on Verizon, unless you're specifically looking to switch OS's.

 

[Demo24]

I'll second Droid MAXX on Verizon, unless you're specifically looking to switch OS's.

I wouldn't mind trying something different for a change. Since it's work phone only it doesn't matter to me about the app ecosystem, my personal phone is still Android and will probably stay that way for awhile.

 

[amdhunter]

iPhone's are very work friendly. And work with my VPN client (anyconnect), which is a necessity for me.

 

[crashtestdummy]

If you don't need a lot of apps, Windows Phone is a really great choice. It runs very smoothly and (IMO) has the most intuitive and readable UI of the bunch. It's major downside is that most apps come out for iOS and Android first, and sometimes never follow for WP. It's gotten better than it used to be, but if you're an early adopter or there's a set of niche corporate apps you need, Windows Phone may not be your choice.

I don't have 8.1 yet (it's downloading on my phone as we speak), but I'll probably post something soon after I've had some time to play with it.

 

[bearxor]

I'll second Droid MAXX on Verizon, unless you're specifically looking to switch OS's.

Yeah, if you want the change, then probably a iPhone 5S.

If you do decide to go Windows Phone, the Lumia Icon is really your only choice on Verizon just keep in mind it could be months before it sees the 8.1 update.

 

[crashtestdummy]

Yeah, if you want the change, then probably a iPhone 5S.

If you do decide to go Windows Phone, the Lumia Icon is really your only choice on Verizon just keep in mind it could be months before it sees the 8.1 update.

All you have to do is sign up for the "developer preview" and you can have it today. (It's not a beta, either.)

 

[bearxor]

Thanks. I didn't know if that would work on VZW phones or not. I know they're dicks a lot of the time.

 

[Demo24]

If you don't need a lot of apps, Windows Phone is a really great choice. It runs very smoothly and (IMO) has the most intuitive and readable UI of the bunch. It's major downside is that most apps come out for iOS and Android first, and sometimes never follow for WP. It's gotten better than it used to be, but if you're an early adopter or there's a set of niche corporate apps you need, Windows Phone may not be your choice.

I don't have 8.1 yet (it's downloading on my phone as we speak), but I'll probably post something soon after I've had some time to play with it.

If you have an Icon, how is the call/speaker quality and reception?

 

[Regz]

Android - Moto X or Nexus 5
Apple - iPhone 5s
Windows - Lumia Icon

 

[crashtestdummy]

If you have an Icon, how is the call/speaker quality and reception?

I'm afraid I don't. I have a cheap 521 on T-Mobile. The call quality is fine for my purposes, but I'm not sure that tells you much, I'm afraid

 

[Duraz0rz]

I have the Icon, so I can chime in to your points. I have WP 8.1 as of yesterday from the dev preview (which is easy to sign up for).

Most of what I need to do: web browsing, calls, answer emails from Gmail & Exchange, maps.

Web browsing - I've noticed a lot of sites render much better in WP8.1/IE11 than WP8/IE10, and gesture-based back and forward is nice. You also have the ability to sync tabs and passwords with your Microsoft account in WP8.1, so you can open the same tabs on your Surface Pro 2.

Call reception - It's pretty good. Most people can understand me well enough, and I don't have a hard time understanding them if their reception is pretty good. I usually have to turn the volume up, though.

E-mails - you can have a separate tile for each account or a unified inbox for both. If you have a separate tile, you get separate notifications in the Action Center. Exchange support is already built-in and it works well from what I hear.

Maps - Offline maps built-in for both the built-in Bing maps and HERE Maps/Transit/Drive+. It eats up 3GB for the US map, but the plus is that if you don't have reception (or turn off data), you can still get navigation. The built-in maps handles transit information now in WP 8.1, so you can pick between using that or HERE Transit, whichever one is better in your city.

Battery life - I can go a whole day without charging and moderate usage.

 

[dawheat]

If work is paying for it, I don't see any reason why not to go for the newest and best. These will all be great phones.

Android - HTC M8 (is the dev or GPE edition out?) or Galaxy S5.

iPhone 5S

Nokia Icon

 

[Demo24]

Thanks, I've decided I'd like to go WP8.1, so asking for an Icon. Wait and see if I get it or they make me go for something lower.