I'm due for a new phone (Verizon)

[Beev]

I got an original Droid a couple of years ago, and I'm due for a renewal now and thus a shiny new phone. I absolutely love my Droid, and I would like a great phone to replace it with. I don't mind waiting for a newer version to release if I need to. Are there any Droids on the horizon that are like the Droid? Specifically it needs to have a physical keyboard. I love the slide out one the Droid has a lot, and I can't stand the digital ones like on the iPhone, etc.

Suggestions?

 

[DJK Frank 16]

Not sure about now, but I got the Droid 2 when it came out, very similar to the original Droid and I love it!

 

[dpodblood]

-HTC HD2
-Nexus S
-Samsung Galaxy S2 (not released yet)

 

[Beev]

-HTC HD2
-Nexus S
-Samsung Galaxy S2 (not released yet)

Based on my quick research none of these have physical keyboards

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Asside from a picture of a rumored droid 3 (who knows if even true yet alone when it'll be released) I haven't seen any decent phones out or due to come out that has a slide out keyboard. I've been waiting for months already, and Verizons phone choices are kind of depressing for me : (

 

[smartpatrol]

I'd say just wait for the Droid 3. Some images have leaked of it already. Supposedly it will have a 1.2 GHz processor and LTE (Verizon's 4G).

Most of the high-end Android phones with physical keyboards came out last summer (Droid 2, G2, Epic 4G), so they are due for a refresh in the near future.

If you're interested in Windows Phone 7, there's the LG Quantum (AT&T) or the HTC Arrive (Sprint). The Arrive has nearly the same keyboard as the Touch Pro 2, which was widely regarded as the best physical keyboard ever on a smartphone.

 

[dpodblood]

Based on my quick research none of these have physical keyboards

Yeah; physical keyboards are becoming a rare breed these days. Although I think the fact that the screen is 4.3" somewhat makes up for the lack of a keyboard.

 

[Fire&Blood]

Physical keyboard is a rare feature these days. Very few phones have and they are split among different carriers. If you want a new keyboard phone on Verizon, you will have to have patience. Or try to get used to virtual keyboards. Some people fell i love with swype.

The reality is that the market is moving away from physical keyboards as only 1 out 5 new phones has it.

I personally traded my insistence on keyboard away for other features that I found more important.

Know that insisting on having it will limit your selection and you may wait a long time. Even if you do find a new phone with, the phone may lack some other features or be bad in general...

 

[H54]

I highly recommend that you stay away from Samsung. The Samsung Fascinate is still languishing on 2.1. Verizon and Samsung both have been saying since October that 2.2 is just a few weeks away.


My next device will be HTC or Motorola.

 

[dpodblood]

Having a 4.3" screen really helps. With my Samsung i7500 typing is a total pain in the ass. I hit the wrong key all the time. I got to play with the Samsung Focus the other day, and the difference in night and day. A physical keyboard is always going to be superior of course (the one on my Blackberry bold is amazing), but with a large enough screen the problems are at least mostly negated.

 

[dpodblood]

I highly recommend that you stay away from Samsung. The Samsung Fascinate is still languishing on 2.1. Verizon and Samsung both have been saying since October that 2.2 is just a few weeks away.


My next device will be HTC or Motorola.

All depends on if you care about the phone working out of the box. If you don't mind using custom roms, then updates shouldn't be an issue. I hear that there are already Gingerbread roms available for the original Galaxy S. I agree though Samsung is a pain in the ass, but their hardware is though to beat. The GS2 just looks sexy.

 

[H54]

Thats true. Their hardware is amazing. Hummingbird > Snapdragon.

However, it really torques me that they refuse to update and support their flagship device. They've sold over 10 million of them. I personally have no problem with root/custom roms but like you said, the majority of people want something that works out of the box. Up-to-date software, GPS that works, etc...

 

[PlatinumGold]

I got an original Droid a couple of years ago, and I'm due for a renewal now and thus a shiny new phone. I absolutely love my Droid, and I would like a great phone to replace it with. I don't mind waiting for a newer version to release if I need to. Are there any Droids on the horizon that are like the Droid? Specifically it needs to have a physical keyboard. I love the slide out one the Droid has a lot, and I can't stand the digital ones like on the iPhone, etc.

Suggestions?

Droid 3 should be available by the 3rd quarter or so. looks nice too. very nice 5 row keyboard.

not much info out yet regarding specs.

http://www.droid-life.com/2011/03/15/droid3-poses-again-this-time-with-keyboard-showing/

 

[Beev]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I think I'll wait for the Droid 3. I'm not in a huge rush or anything, and I like the picture of it

 

[gsaldivar]

I would hold out for a dual-core, and FFS stay away from Samsung...

 

[dpodblood]

Well if you were to go with the Nexus S you will be getting the build quality of a Samsung phone, with the software support of Google. It's just too bad the specs of the Nexus S doesn't match the Galaxy S2.

 

[H54]

Well if you were to go with the Nexus S you will be getting the build quality of a Samsung phone, with the software support of Google. It's just too bad the specs of the Nexus S doesn't match the Galaxy S2.

Excellent point, that is pretty much the only way I would ever buy another Samsung device. I don't know if the OP is willing to switch from verizon though.

 

[akugami]

Wait a couple of months for the iPhone 5, sell it, then get a new phone that better suits you?

 

[boom314]

the thunderbolt is android and has a full keyboard

 

[mb]

OP, if there was a phone you really wanted badly and it doesn't have a physical keyboard, you could get a bluetooth keyboard.

I know it's not as practical but it could work.

But I'd probably just wait for the Droid 3. 4" screen and 5 rows of keys sounds nice.

the thunderbolt is android and has a full keyboard

What world do you live in?

 

[JayBlay77]

Just note that from all reports that I've seen, the Droid 3, like the X 2, is not going to be a LTE phone.

If you're not near any major cities, that won't be a problem, but I'm near Chicago so I wouldn't want to be waiting for a phone release on a 3g phone.