Since I am now new in Australia and not bound to a contract anymore, I am thinking about what my next mobile phone will be. I do not think I am the typical BlackBerry user. It’s definitely going to be a smartphone. I always liked the iPhone, especially with the new enhancements of the iPhone 4, but since the sale of Android-driven smartphones seems to increase permanently (see this post ^[1] for instance), maybe I’ll get one of those, since it seems to be a lot more open than the iOS when it comes to apps.

The HTC Desire HD ^[2] caught my attention:

A new iPhone 4 (32GB) without contract would be AU$999 from the Apple Store. The HTC Desire HD is around AU$630 without contract according to Shopbot.com.au ^[3] and gets really good reviews from CNET Australia ^[4].

HTC Desire HD with Vodafone AU

With Vodafone AU ^[5], you get a 24 months contract with the HTC Desire HD for AU$60 per month (total: AU$1,440) at the moment, whereas the 12 months plans start with AU$85 (total: AU$1,020) – both plans include the phone, 1 GB data and infinite calls and texts within Australia. If you buy the phone on your own, you can get an infinite plan (including 1 GB of data) for AU$45 on a monthly basis.

Take 24 months at AU$45 each and add the AU$630 for the phone, you’ll be at AU$1,710 – which means owning the phone and being able to cancel the plan within one month. The 24 months contract is the cheapest altogether, but you’re bound for two years. Take the 12 months contract and add another 12 months with AU$45 per month, you’ll be at AU$1,560, owning the phone after one year and being released from the contract.

It sounds like the last option is the best… if the phone is going to be unlocked after the first 12 months and no additional fee is charged for doing so. If so, the unlocking fee should be less than AU$150 to still make this option cheaper than buying the phone upfront yourself.

What about the iPhone 4, then?

iPhone 4 (32GB) with Vodafone AU

If you choose the iPhone 4 (32GB) as your smartphone of choice, you can also get either a 12 months plan or a 24 months plan with Vodafone AU ^[6], which both include the phone. Without the phone, you can choose the same AU$45 plan as the aforementioned one for the HTC Desire HD.

The cheapest 24 months plan with the iPhone 4 (32GB) is AU$69 per month, which makes a total of AU$1,656. The cheapest 12 months plan is AU$100 per month, which makes a total of AU$1,200 after 12 months.

Doing the same calculation as for the HTC Desire HD, we’ll be looking at this:
24 months are AU$1,656. 12 months for $100 plus another 12 months for AU$45 each would be AU$1,740. Buying the iPhone upfront from the Apple Store and using the AU$45 “phoneless” plan results in a total of AU$2,079. Again, the 12 months plan would be the best option if no unlocking fee applies.

Unfortunately, at this time you’d have to wait 4 weeks to get an iPhone from Vodafone AU.

BTW: For Australia, you can easily find out the cheapest plan that suits you at www.whistleout.com.au ^[7].

Which phone and plan to go with?

It seems like the HTC Desire HD is a bit cheaper than the iPhone (but you’d have to add a microSD, I suppose, since the internal iPhone 4 memory is 32GB if you choose the bigger one, the HTC merely 1.5GB). The HTC Desire HD has the better camera resolution (8MP compared to the iPhone’s 5MP). On the other hand, the iPhone has the higher display resolution and more network band options.

What appeals to me with the HTC Desire HD is the bigger display, the cheaper price, and the open source idea of the Android system. On the other hand, the iPhone has probably been tested for a longer time now and appears easy to handle out-of-the-box, integrating seamlessly with iTunes and docking stations.

What do you think? Should I go iOS with an iPhone 4 or Android with the HTC Desire HD?

And will 1 GB of data be enough, no matter which smartphone I’d end up buying?