What new phone to choose?

[ATV_Hightower]

Dear Community,

I´m facing a really hard decission. I´m looking for a new phone but can`t decide which one I should buy. So I´m asking the Mobile Nation Community on CrackBerry, Android Central, WindowsMobile and iMore for advice.
First of all: some background information:
My name is Chris, I´m living in germany (thats why my english skills are not the best) and i like all tech-related stuff. For years I´ve been using BlackBerry phones, starting with a Curve 8900, Torch 9800, Z10 and a Passport. The Passport is my daily driver since 2015 and I really really love it. I love the big screen, I love the keyboard, I love the BlackBerry Hub and I love the design. I have a bachelor degree in Informatic and I like my Surface Pro 4 and Windows 10. I like my RaspberryPi and having Linux on it. I never have had a Mac or an IPhone or an Android Phone. I'm a 6'6 guy (1,98m) and not afraid of big phones
For most of the time I'm using my phone for emails, messaging (BBM, Whatsapp, Slack), listening music (spotify, amazon music) and browsing. I use twitter from time to time, but I'm not really into social media. I dont have facebook, I dont have instagram, I have no clue why Snapchat is a hype and I'm not blogging. Also I have used my phones cam just a few times over the last 7 years and no, I'm not gaming.
My phone just should get every work done - quick, simple, intuitive. And it should just be able to do everything if I need it to do so!
All in all I´m still happy with my Passport, but lets be honest: OS10 has no future. I'm tired of patching android apps everytime I need one, I'm tired of seeing Whatsapps "your device will not be supported after July 2017"-notification and I think I have to choose another system.

The IPhone
Last week my mobile carrier gave me an unlocked Iphone 7 (32GB, black) for free. I havent opened the box, yet. Everything is originally sealed. My whole family is using Iphones. I mean, really, everyone! I´m the only one who is not using an Apple device. They all use facetime and iMessage and this could be my chance to join them. The design of the IPhone is some kind of borring since it hasnt changed for a while now. But there are some features missing, that are important to me:
Filemanager
Using your phone as a USB-Drive or connecting an usb thumb drive to my phone;
network integration (my passport acts like a normal pc in a wireless network, so i can copy and paste files from pc with windows explorer).
maybe thats a stupid feeling, but i think that I´m not an IPhone Guy.

The Windows Phone
Since the Lumia 950 I´m very interested in Windows10 Mobile and everything around it. Because I like my Surface Pro 4 and Windows 10 I think it would be nice to have a windows phone. Especially the HP Elite X3 has gotten my attention. But more and more big players like Spotify are cutting theyr support or never had an app for Windows Mobile. I´ve been on this road with BlackBerry the last 4 years and I don`t want to miss things again. My other concerns are, that nobody knows what will happen with Windows Mobile. I have read, that Microsoft is planning support for x86 Apps but that they will need at least the Snapdragon 835 Processor. So if Microsoft cuts windows 10 mobile, the Elite X3 is a very expensive pocket watch and if they are really going on it will not get the newest features :/

The Android Phone
I totally dislike Android. For me It`s ugly. Yes, I know, there are skins and launchers and themes and icons, but thats not what i mean. The whole android concept is a mess. There is no consistency, every manufacturer is doing what he thinks is the best - resulting in many different systems and just a few are constantly updated. Security is a mess, phones are getting old really fast and not every android phone has the same set of features.
But Android may have everything I'm looking for. There is an app for everything. Your looking for a special function? I bet there is an app for it.

The BlackBerry
BlackBerrys Keyone is a real beauty. I love the design, i love the keyboard. But I simply dont like android. What kind of compromis would that be: love the hardware, hate the software? Maybe it is the best compromis i could get: hardware keyboard, beautiful design, lots of apps, expandable memory and long lasting battery with an OS-Design I dont like. Next to the keyboard all BlackBerrys have the BlackBerry Apps preinstalled. So I don`t have to pay to get the Hub back. The Keyone is the only reason why I would eventually switch to android.

Conclusion
Finally I have to decide between 3 devices: IPhone 7, HP Elite X3, BlackBerry Keyone
I dont want to start a fanboy war, but I would like to hear different opinions. Maybe you guys can tell me everything I don`t know yet about all the platforms and devices. What do you guys like on your chosen OS?

 

[robertk328]

Welcome to iMore, @ATV_Hightower

Not sure what phone is right for you as I only have experience with iPhone but I'm sure you'll get some good info!

 

[MooMooPrincess]

Most people here will say they like the responsiveness and simplicity of the OS and constant updates. Oh and the customer service~ so I don't think you would get much of your needs from the iPhone. You can't use your phone as a USB drive , the network integration isn't there either. Windows phones aren't very supported either. If I may, I would offer maybe trying the one plus 3t if it has your bands, it's on android but it's only 400 and is on par with the pixel.

 

[jmr1015]

For your needs, an Android device should be fine. i also wouldn't feel the need to stick with a high priced flagship, as you're not running any apps that require the best of the best in terms of processor/ram/Gpu, but you seem to have your mind made up on deciding between those three devices, yes?

As stated above, the OnePlus 3T is an awesome device for the price. I'd also seriously consider the Moto G5 Plus. It's not a flagship, but it is very well equipped for the price.

Out of the three you listed, for your needs and usage, I'd go for the BlackBerry KEYone.

 

[Just_Me_D]

For you?...The Blackberry KEYone is probably the one you should get.

 

[ATV_Hightower]

Thank you all for your answers. If have to say that I'm a little bit sad about the USB drive and network stuff. The more I look at the box on my desk with the IPhone in it the more curious I get about it. Unfortunately these two features are really important to me. The OnePlus 3T and the Moto G5 may be interesting. I will have a look at them. Thanks for your help!!

 

[Chemy JMHT]

Thank you all for your answers. If have to say that I'm a little bit sad about the USB drive and network stuff. The more I look at the box on my desk with the IPhone in it the more curious I get about it. Unfortunately these two features are really important to me. The OnePlus 3T and the Moto G5 may be interesting. I will have a look at them. Thanks for your help!!

I was wondering, you like tech things, have you tried anything VR related? I know you dislike Android very much, but right now Android has some nice things on VR running, in my particular opinion the Moto Z is one great option because you can add some features and it's also Daydream compatible which mean it's able to handle the last Android Tech for VR available.

I will recommend you to try one of your family iPhones and see how it does, try some VR and see if this worth the try and you can always change your device if you are able to sell it or give it away.

 

[Trees]

Sounds like the KEYone is a good choice. If local native file system capability and option to act like a PC on WiFi are important to you, then you may be frustrated by iOS and need to use iTunes or a cloud storage service to emulate local file storage. Those are some things that keep me from using iOS as a primary mobile device.

 

[ATV_Hightower]

Okay, thank you guy for your help. I sold the IPhone and will save the money for some time until the the first full reviews of the KEYone are out. Then I will decide which phone would be the best choice.
VR is very interesting and I will try that in the future. I will let you know what phone will be my next daily driver