Time to upgarde on Verizon: HTC Droid Incredible or BlackBerry?

[McCrutchy]

So, on June 4, I'm going to be able to upgrade my phone on Verizon, and I wanted to get some opinions on whether I should get an Android Phone like the HTC Droid Incredible or whether I should go with a new BlackBerry like the 9650 rumored for June on Verizon.

I know that BB owners tend to love their devices, but I don't think I'm looking for a BlackBerry. Here's why:

I want the most fully featured web browser available--I've read that BBs current browser is sluggish and limited.

I want some sort of free GPS, be it Google Maps Navigation on the Androids, or another program that would work on a BB.

Although I like the look of the BB units, I'd be interested to hear about daily usage of the ones where the keypad is built-in to the keyboard--does this make entering phone numbers tricky or complicated, moreso than having a touchscreen dialpad?

However, I would like:

Long-life battery--a seemingly common complaint of the Incredible is a short battery life compared to BB devices.

and ideally:

Worldband functionality--obviously the Incredible is CDMA only and will not work outside the USA, and I'd love to have a phone I could take on vacation to Europe, et. al.

However, even though the 9650 is Worldband on Sprint, comparatively Verizon is pretty limited on Worldband phones, and so I'm afraid that even when the 9650 does show up on Verizon, it could be CDMA only.

What do you think I should do, go with the Incredible, or is there a BlackBerry on Verizon that has everything I want?

[DJ Manyak]

blackberry

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by computergeek

blackberry

Care to expand a little?

[Simplayer]

Well, if you go with the 9650, it should have the ability to upgrade to OS 6.0, which has a better browser (I'm not sure if it's better than Androids, or how it compare, but it's certainly better than the current one).

Google Maps works perfectly fine on Blackberries.

Blackberries have about the best battery life of all smartphones.

I have no idea about Verizon. Kinda sounds like you're screwed either way.

One major drawback for the Blackberry is the limited app storage space and the limited selection of apps to get in general. The 9650 has great storage, as far as Blackberries go, with 512MB of app memory. Be sure to check out App World/Android Market to see if you're okay with either's offerings.

[Secretagentnumber6]

I have an Iphone, but if I did switch to Verizon I would most definitely get the Incredible. Overall it just seems to be more feature rich than the berry. Berries seem to be more for business pros, which may be very well good for you. The incredible overall looks to be an all purpose phone and will have everything you need. The worldwide is a problem for you so that may be a dealbreaker, but Incredible looks to be a better phone at least for use in the states.

[xtop]

i would pick the incredible for it being superior in every way imo. BUT, you want to take it overseas, so the only obvious choice is something not verizon

you can get the nexus one (incredibles brother) on other carriers

[fatediesel]

I've got a Blackberry and love it but from the sounds of it the Droid might be more appropriate for you. The browser for Blackberrys isn't great and I don't know if there are any decent free GPS. I use my Blackberry for business and it's great for email and synching with my Outlook calender, but I'm not sure if that is something that is important to you. I've never had any problems with the built-in keypad and am quite fast at texting and typing emails but I've never had a touch screen so I don't really know how different it is that touch screen typing. I don't really know a lot about worldwide functionality. I know some Blackberrys can be used worldwide, but am not sure what needs to be done to make that possible.

[cajmoyper]

It sounds like you've already made up your mind. Especially considering you're wanting to travel with it. And I have the Incredible, as I just bought it a couple of weeks ago, and yes, the battery isn't very good.

As far as the browser on the Incredible, I downloaded the Dolphin Browser and it's by far the best on the Market.

And I don't know if it's capable of the cross-country ability that you like, but I would check the HTC Evo 4G. First, I'd check if your area is 4G-capable. But I don't think it's a coincidence that the day you're looking to switch carriers is the day this phone comes out....In fact, not that I don't like my phone, but I kind of think maybe I should've waited for it. It is feature-loaded like no other phone. The WiMax thing I think is just crazy awesome.

[Septimus Prime]

Originally Posted by cajmoyper

It sounds like you've already made up your mind. Especially considering you're wanting to travel with it. And I have the Incredible, as I just bought it a couple of weeks ago, and yes, the battery isn't very good.

As far as the browser on the Incredible, I downloaded the Dolphin Browser and it's by far the best on the Market.

And I don't know if it's capable of the cross-country ability that you like, but I would check the HTC Evo 4G. First, I'd check if your area is 4G-capable. But I don't think it's a coincidence that the day you're looking to switch carriers is the day this phone comes out....In fact, not that I don't like my phone, but I kind of think maybe I should've waited for it. It is feature-loaded like no other phone. The WiMax thing I think is just crazy awesome.

Question about your Incredible: how does it charge? I'm hoping its compatible with USB mini-B, since I have a bunch of those cables already.

[McCrutchy]

Thanks for the replies, everybody, especially the info on the BB. I think I'll get the HTC Incredible and just get a prepaid when I vacation overseas, which is not that often, unfortunately.