You know how it is: Every now and then (about 18 months) you grow "bored" of your current smartphone. It works perfectly well but you see new releases and think "I want something new".
I have reservations about this nowadays. Google wants everyone to go for the latest version of Android, which is released on a yearly basis. Only a select few mobiles are ever updated to the latest version, so there is either a requirement to upgrade to the latest handset, or you stick with what you have and hope that it doesn't become obsolete within two years.
iPhones are another story - They rarely last two years, so if you are tied in to that ecosystem you are pretty much compelled to upgrade as soon as you are able to do so.
Windows Phone thankfully allows the majority of handsets to update to the latest version (Windows 10 Mobile should be available to all Lumia phones with over 1GB of RAM within the next few weeks).
But sometimes you need a change.
I have used Android phones since 2010, but have dipped into Windows Phone for months at a time since then.
I recently bought a Microsoft Lumia 640, which is a decent phone, and thought that I'd be tied in to the OS forever more. However, I recently used it as a satnav, and the HERE Maps app crashed, restarted and froze at least six times on a very important journey. This isn't the first time that this has happened - I've experienced this problem on a Nokia Lumia 620, 635 and a Microsoft Lumia 535.
The fact is that I need my phone to work reliably as a satnav occasionally, and whilst the HERE Map app is great for offline navigation, it's no use if it doesn't work.
Microsoft UK were kind enough to loan me a Lumia 950 on a ten day trial recently.
It runs Windows 10 Mobile, and whilst things like the Edge browser are a massive improvement, and you can finally attach files to emails when replying(!) it is still way behind Android's capabilities.
Trialling the Lumia 950 made me realise that all smartphones are only as good as the apps that they use, and the apps available for Windows Phone are years behind their Android and iOS counterparts.
A year ago I decided to ditch Android in favour of Windows Phone, and I have put up with the limitations for a year. When my 1st generation Moto G updated to Android 5.1 I was horrified at the requirement to swipe or tap additional times to sort out notifications, and the settings are still hidden in wierd places.
Trialling the Lumia 950 made me realise just how similar Window 10 Mobile is to Android 5.1, but at least Android doesn't have the same limitations.
So, thanks to Microsoft for the trial, but all it has really done is made me go back to my old Moto G to see if I prefer it to Windows Phone - And I believe that I do.
Over the last year I'd never had said that I'd be going back to Android, but it's simply more useful on a phone. Many ignore Windows Phone due to the perceived "app gap", but when core apps simply don't cut the mustard, you have to wonder why you are putting yourself through this torture.
My 1st generation Moto G is still good. It's certainly no worse than any of the lower end Lumia phones, and at least everything "just works" - I used to prefer Windows Phone because it "just worked", but having compared Android 5.1 with Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 10 Mobile, I feel that Windows is merely borrowing ideas from Android and yet still managing a sub-par job of it.
Will I stick with Android now? For now, yes.
I've moved my calendar and email back to Google, and everything works how I would expect it to on a smartphone. I don't feel like I have to get my laptop out every other day to complete tasks that I had to put off due to the limitations of Windows Phone.
Oh, and Google Maps works brilliantly.
Going back to what I said about many people wanting to change their phones regularly: Most people don't switch operating systems, but they should at least give it a go occasionally.
Being part of Microsoft's trial community has been interesting. Some users do appear to be considering moving from Android to Windows.
Having been firmly in the Windows camp for a while, I doubted that I'd find myself heading back to Android, but after only a week with my Moto G, I can't see myself reinvesting in Windows Phone.
