When it comes to choosing a smartphone, many factors to consider. But for many people, the biggest decision comes down to choosing between Apple vs Android. Both platforms have pros and cons, but which one is right for you?
Apple and Android devices are the two most popular mobile operating systems. Both offer a variety of benefits to users. Here is a comparison of the two systems to help you decide which is right.
iPhone vs. Android: How To Choose The Best Smartphone For You
1. Ease of use
People love Apple products because they “just work.” The iOS interface is very easy to use. The Android interface is just as easy to use. You can use both, so you’ll have no problem using one.
They were blown away by the iPhone’s debut ages ago when Windows Mobile and Nokia Symbian phones were still in the competition. It was back then. Now it is.
Today, all phone interfaces are more intuitive than ever and much easier to use. Control is what makes the difference to me. Android smartphones offer more control than Apple phones over their apps and phones. I love control. You can be happy with the Apple home screen. Add a photo to make it personal. But I prefer being able to customize my phone as I see fit. I can do this with Android phones.
2. Fit, finish, and price
Some, such as the Samsung S22+ and Google Pixel 6 Pro, are just as appealing as the iPhone 13. Apple ensures that iPhones are perfect in fit and finish by controlling every stage of the manufacturing process. The top Android phone manufacturers also do this. Despite this, some Android phones are simply ugly.
Apple only makes luxury phones. An iPhone will never be cheap. An iPhone that isn’t expensive will be your only option.
No matter how beautiful a phone’s exterior, you will likely hide it behind a very ugly, sturdy case to protect it. An OtterBox case may not be considered beautiful by most people. It protects my expensive smartphone, and that’s what it does.
You can get a decent Android phone for as low as $300. Although they may not look as good as iPhones, they are still very affordable and can be stored in a case.
3. Closed vs. open systems
The iPhone is still proprietary. You can keep whatever you want in your pocket, provided you can’t purchase it from Apple. However, keep in mind that your iPhone will forever lock you into the Apple software ecosystem. When Epic, the maker of Fortnite, fights Apple over how to pay, your ability to buy or play the game will be severely limited.
Android is an open-source program. Android is also more open to alternative applications.
Apple has never ported its apps to Android, and it won’t work in the future. iMessage is the most irritating iPhone-specific app. It is a favorite of my friends who use it. It has one problem. It does not work with other messaging systems. You can send SMS messages via Android messaging apps. However, the translation will not allow you to use many features people love.
However, users will not notice if a software company fights with Apple directly impacts an app they love, as Fortnite did. Android is the only option if you prefer open systems over closed ones.
4. Voice assistants and AI
There is no doubt that Siri is outperforming Google Assistant when it comes to Siri vs. Google Assistant.
Google Assistant does more than provide a voice interface for Google Search. Google Assistant is a great tool for simplifying your life if you use Google apps, such as Google Calendar or Google Maps. Imagine you are meeting someone downtown for lunch, and the traffic is terrible. Google Assistant will inform you that you must leave early to make your appointment. This is awesome.
Siri may be the first product to hit the market, but it is still very basic. Siri is fine for answering questions but not as an artificially intelligent assistant.
If you are looking for an obvious reason to choose one OS, Google Assistant might be it. It’s also available on iPhones.
Below is a short demo of Siri vs. Google Now:
5. Timely updates
Apple is the clear leader in software updates. Regardless of whether they are supported or not, all phones get an update or patch from Apple. It’s all about praying and hoping that the best for Android phones…
Unlike the iPhone, which has every detail under Apple’s control, and Google supplies the base operating systems and some bundled programs, it’s up to the phone manufacturer to provide the patches and upgrades. You can be sure that the patches will arrive on time if you have a high-end phone. However, you won’t see the security patches on many other Android phones.
Skycure, a mobile threat defense vendor, claims that nearly three-quarters of Android devices have out-of-date security. This is a surprising number. I would have thought that 90% of Android devices had out-of-date apps.
Samsung and Google are two of the most prominent Android vendors. They do a great job keeping their Android software and distros up-to-date. Everyone else? But not so.
This is a great way to get old.
iOS updates can also be slow. Apple must do better with quality control. I don’t recall a single instance where a major iOS update caused Wi-Fi problems. This started with iOS 6 and continued to iOS 7, which had its fair share of Wi Fi, Bluetooth, 4G/5G, and 4G/5G issues.
This is a strange thing. Apple owns every bit of hardware. Why is it so difficult for Apple to get wireless connectivity, fundamental to a smartphone, right?
Android updates “just work” for me. They will be available as soon as I can.
While Apple generally offers more updates, Android phone manufacturers offer better patches.
6. Security
It’s not that Android is vulnerable to malware, but that Google is less strict than Apple regarding which apps it allows into its App Store. To keep malware from your Android device, you should only download apps from the Google Play Store. Google says that malware is present in 0.6% of all apps.
Don’t be too confident if you are an iPhone user. iPhone malware is out there, just waiting to be downloaded by an overconfident user.
iPhones are generally more secure than other devices. If you believe you can trust Apple with privacy, you are right. Although Google is often criticized for its inability to protect personal data, many people don’t find Apple trustworthy. Apple recently acknowledged that iOS 15 had recorded Siri conversations of some users in certain cases.
7. Peripherals
I don’t know if you do, but I like to connect my phone to other gear. Android is the clear winner here. Android phones all have standard USB ports. This means that you can connect many devices to your phone. You will need something to connect with the iPhone’s Lightning port.
An additional advantage of Android is that USB cables and devices cost less than Lightning-port counterparts. Although it may seem old-fashioned, I still prefer phones with a headphone socket. It’s easy to lose expensive AirPods. So, I will always choose a wired, good-quality headset that is affordable.
8. Battery life and charging
Because Android phones are so different, it is difficult to gauge battery life. My experience with Android phones is that they don’t require as much charging as iPhones. This is large because Android phones are compatible with Google, Motorola, and Samsung phones. This may depend on which phone you have and how much you use it.
9. Cloud integration
Apple’s iCloud continues to be a huge pain for me, regardless of whether I’m using it on an iPhone (or a Mac). It always fails to work. It’s not just me who has problems with iCloud.
Android is, however, tightly integrated with Google services and applications. For work and pleasure, I use Google Apps all the time. Android is the best when it comes to cloud integration.
10. Videoconferencing
Google is having trouble deciding its voice, video, and IM applications. Google Hangouts is, and Google Meet are its primary communications programs. They are great, and I use them almost as often as Zoom.
Facetime is the best video conferencing program for iPhones. Facetime is an excellent video conferencing program. It would be great if it could run on platforms other than Apple. You’re fine if everyone in your family or group uses Apple. But, grandma will not be able to use an Android phone. I believe that communication programs’ first job should be to communicate. Any obstacle in the way of this is a no-go.
Although it is possible to jury-rig a hack that allows iPhone users with iOS 15 to invite Android and other PC users to a Facetime chat, it is still a hassle. Hangouts and Meet are better than Facetime for me.
11. Cameras
Although I am not a camera expert, I know some people who are. Andrew Hoyle (my trusted colleague in this area), but all three of the top smartphones’ cameras to the testing. He found that the Galaxy S22 Ultra Camera outperformed both the Pixel 6 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro. Samsung’s 10x optical Zoom is unbeatable.
12. Software choice
One time you could argue that one app store had better apps than the other. It’s a tie these days. It’s not as if you’ll ever run out of apps. There are almost 3.5 million apps in the Google Play Store and 2.2million on the Apple App Store.
13. 5G and beyond
Up until recently, 5G was not widely available. Despite all the hype, 5G was not enough to justify buying a 5G compatible phone. That’s changed. Today, 5G is available in sufficient numbers to make a 5G phone worthwhile.
Which one should I get? It doesn’t matter what will work with your 5G phone company. 5G is a misleading term. There are four types of 5G, and they are not compatible. You should get the exact 5G version of the phone you want, whether it’s an Android or iPhone.
14. Price
This is a simple one: iPhones can be expensive. The iPhone SE, the third-generation iPhone SE, starts at $429. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is the most expensive iPhone, with all the trimmings, including a 1TB hard drive, at $1,599. Even without a pink diamond, that’s quite a lot.
The best Google Pixel line, Pixel 6 Pro, is available for $1,099. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, the most expensive model of the Galaxy S22 Ultra, will be available for $1299. You can get a fully serviceable Android phone for much less.
People are willing to pay more for an iPhone, in theory. According to a recent study, 87% of teens have an iPhone, and 88% plan on getting one. I’m sorry, but most teens that they interviewed were lying. Although they may be “cool” and want iPhones, being able to afford them is a completely different thing.
Although iPhones are more popular in the United States than Android phones, it’s not by nine to ten. This information is based upon the US government’s Digital Analytics Program (DAP), which gives us a running count on the technologies used by visitors during the last 90 days.
Which one is best for you? I suggest that you choose the most affordable smartphone that meets your needs. There is no one-size-fits-all solution that will work for everyone. Both phone ecosystems have advantages and disadvantages, as I mentioned initially. Here’s our Android to iPhone switching guide. We also have a guide if you own an iPhone and want to switch to Android.
It all comes down to what you value most and your budget. Android is my answer, although I won’t argue with you if an iPhone is what you prefer. We can all live with it if it works for us.
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Conclusion
There are many benefits to using either an apple or android device. However, some key differences between the two operating systems may make one better suited for your needs than the other. For example, apples are generally more user-friendly and have better customer support. On the other hand, Androids tend to be more customizable and have a wider range of apps available.
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