Research
- Why we love iOS
- Where Android is better
- Do you have to change?
Why we love iOS
Fast software updates for many years:iOS's biggest advantage over Android is software updates: Apple generally supports new iPhones and iPads with iOS updates for five to six years from their release date, and all of these devices receive the same updates at the same time. You get new features and apps, support for new image and video formats and security protocols, and fixes for online threats and vulnerabilities that could allow others to get your phone information. Older supported devices may not support all features of the latest software, but they will still receive most of the functional improvements and all security updates for the life of the hardware. Among Android phones, there are only Google Pixel phones and size phonesandroid oneguarantee fast updates: the actual update period varies depending on the phone manufacturer. Google offers three years of OS updates and up to five years of security updates, while Samsung offers four years of One UI/Android OS updates and five years of security updates.
Long term value:Since Apple has supported iOS devices for a relatively long time, you can give them away to friends and family without worrying about app compatibility or security risks. And they hold their resale value better than Android devices, so you can sell them for more money or get more back when it's time to upgrade.
Reliable customer service:If you have a hardware or software problem, or if your device is two or three years old and it's time to replace the battery with a new one, it's easy to get help. The company offers dedicatedsupport applicationjwebsitewith different remote options or you can bookmake an appointment in personat any Apple Store (although it can take some time if the Genius bar is busy, and repairs can be expensive if your device is out of warranty or if you don't have an AppleCare+ protection plan).
Best App Selection:The range of apps in the Apple App Store is also slightly better than the range in the Google Play Store for Android, although the difference between the two is smaller than before. Apps and games often come first on iOS and are of higher quality because app developers make more money there; and iOS has a larger selection of "pro" apps for creating and editing images, video, and audio. Also, these apps are often optimized for both the iPhone and the larger iPad screen; many Android tablet apps look like extended versions of phone apps.
Better security and privacy:All software companiesapple included, sometimes make headlines for high-profile security bugs, and privacy is inherently difficult when you're carrying an internet-connected device that can always see where you are. But compared to Google, Apple puts more effort into keeping your devices secure.Your private dataI fasttries to correct errors. Rapid updates delivered directly from Apple without going through a carrier mean that if you run into serious security issues, you can get a fix as soon as it's available. Apple services like iMessage, FaceTime, and iCloud make extensive use of encryption to protect data sent to and from your phone and data stored on Apple servers.
While Apple collects and analyzes user data to study behavior and improve its products, the company wantsanonymize this dataso you can detect trends among all the people who use your products, without being able to see how someone uses their phone. A report by Vanderbilt engineering professor Douglas Schmidt, commissioned by the digital context now trade groupto introduceAndroid collects large amounts of data about your browsing habits, location, and app usage, whether you're actively using your phone (or Google apps) or not.
Check out ours for more information on the specific iPhones and iPads we recommendA guide to the entire iPhone line, jour iPad guide.
Where Android is better
We really like iOS, but it's not the best option for everyone. Good Android phones come in many more shapes and sizes than iPhones, and the best cost about the same as an iPhone, but you can buy themgood for less than $200jfantastic for less than $400. The Android platform has been slow when it comes to fast and consistent software and security updates, but it's gotten better since then. It is also much more customizable than iOS. Here are some other things we like about Android.
Greater variety of equipment:The biggest advantage of Android is the hardware, not the software. althoughour guide to the best Android phonesrecommends full-featured fast phones, Android is available on a wide variety of hardware, including options for people who want larger styluses and screens, fantastic battery life, and even a physical keyboard. And if your favorite phone's manufacturer removes a feature you rely on, such as a headphone jack or fingerprint reader, from your newer phone, you might find what you're looking for elsewhere. On iOS, Apple's options are the only options.
Phones at all prices:You also have more flexibility in terms of price. The professional flagship iPhone costs more than $1,000 and is relatively inexpensiveiPhone's SEat $429, it lacks the large screens and low-light camera improvements only found in more expensive iPhones. A high-end Android phone from Google or Samsung is just as expensive, thoughPixel 6a for $450 GoogleThis is a unique offering that does not give up on the camera andother advanced Android phones— including some that will soon receive software updates — are available for $200 or less.
More customization options:If you like the freedom to customize computers, tablets, and phones to suit your needs, iOS may not be flexible enough for you. In recent years, Apple has made it easy to customize your iPhone: you can resize text, rearrange home screen icons, install third-party keyboards, use widgets, and install lock screen wallpapers, among other tweaks. you even cancustomize the appearance of application iconswith some effort. But all Apple devices still look and work the same. Android offers similar customizations, but it's also possible to completely replace your device's home screen with any number of flexible and customizable app launchers. Android also lets you choose your own default apps for different tasks or file types, just like a computer: iOS 14 added the ability to change the default web browser and email app, but the rest of the OS is still locked down. .
More storage options:While you can't expand the iPhone's internal storage (what you buy is what you get), some Android phones have a microSD card slot that allows you to increase the amount of internal storage available for apps, photos, and videos. and you can use Google Drive space to store everything from photos to documents. Apple's iCloud can also be used to download photos and videos, and iOS offers a few other tricks (like uninstalling rarely used apps and games without losing any saved data) to save space. But you still can't add local storage to an iPhone afterwards, and Google's free Google Drive tier gives you 15 GB of cloud storage (shared between Google Drive, Google Photos, and Gmail) for free, compared to Apple's 5 GB.
Check out our guides for the specific Android models we recommendbest android phonesibest cheap android phones. Most people should stay away from Android tablets, but if need be,these are the least bad.
Do you have to change?
If you're frustrated with certain aspects of your current phone, or if newer models of your phone don't have the features you need, you may be tempted to switch operating systems. In general, however, we do not recommend this. By the time you've used your phone for a few years, you'll have spent a lot of time learning about its quirks and probably invested a decent amount of money into apps, games, music, or movies. you have to buy again if you change. And the really important features like screen size and camera quality are pretty comparable between phones in the same price range these days: iPhones had much better cameras and Android phones had much bigger screens. but that is no longer true
That said, moving from Android to iOS is a bit easier than the other way around, as you don't have to move most of your stuff around if you don't want to. Google is making versions of its most popular apps, including Chrome, Gmail, Photos, Maps, Drive and Google Play Books, Movies and Music, for iOS, making the transition easier. and AppleMove iOSapp helps you move the rest of your stuff. This is different when moving from iOS:apple musicjAppleTV+Besides, Apple makes it difficult to use iCloud services or access media on non-Apple devices.
The same Google services also make it easier to switch from iOS to Android. GooglerecommendsusingApp to switch to Android, a Lightning to USB-C cable for direct data transfer, or the Google One iOS app with backup to transfer contacts, calendar events, and photos from your phone to the Google app. Moving from iOS to Samsung Galaxy device, Samsung has its ownsmart switchapp If you make the change, you will lose notes, reminders, and some other data stored in iCloud, though photos and videos can be transferred to Google Photos. You also can't communicate with iOS users via iMessage or FaceTime, which can be a big problem if you have a lot of friends and family who use iPhones. For now, the most popular apps and games are available on both iOS and Android (although you may need to repurchase them after the change).
If you're having trouble sending or receiving text messages on your Android phone after the change, it could be related to iMessage; don't forget to factory reset iPhone to sign out of all apple services or usethis pageto manually unsubscribe your number.
This article was edited by Arthur Gies and Caitlin McGarry.
FAQs
Iphone vs android: which is better for you? ›
Both iPhone and Android provide solutions for people with different needs. If you already own Apple products like the Mac, iPad, or Apple TV, getting an iPhone is an easy choice. If flexibility or apps are important, go for an Android. Different categories matter more for certain people.
Is it better to have an iPhone or Android phone? ›Both iPhone and Android provide solutions for people with different needs. If you already own Apple products like the Mac, iPad, or Apple TV, getting an iPhone is an easy choice. If flexibility or apps are important, go for an Android. Different categories matter more for certain people.
What are the disadvantages of iPhone compared to Android? ›- It has a review process, when developers want to publish an app they need to send it to Apple for review that takes around 7 days and it takes even more in some cases.
- Applications are very large when compared to other mobile platforms.
- Using iOS are costly Apps and no widget support.
- Information security. Information security companies unanimously agree that Apple devices are more secure than Android devices. ...
- The Apple ecosystem. ...
- Ease of use. ...
- Get the best apps first. ...
- Apple Pay. ...
- Family Sharing. ...
- iPhones hold their value.
- iPhones Are Overpriced. Apple increases the price of iPhones every year. ...
- iPhones don't come with a Headphone Jack. ...
- Apple Ecosystem. ...
- iPhones Have Fixed Storage. ...
- iPhone Apps Take Up Too Much Space. ...
- iPhones Have No FM Radio Built-In. ...
- iPhone Accessories are Expensive. ...
- iPhones have Short Battery Life.
Fewer Security Risks. iOS devices have the upper hand when it comes to cybersecurity. iPhones have tighter security than Android, thanks to the exclusive Apple App Store, closed ecosystem, and prompt updates.
What are the disadvantages of Android? ›- Need internet connection.
- Sometimes slow devices.
- Wasteful battery.
- It requires to continue internet connection.
- Generally, power hungry.
- Very unstable.
- Android market is too much less control of the manager, sometimes there are malware.
- Externally in-consistence in design among apps.
The iPhone enables you to take advantage of online services—particularly if they are supported by an iPhone app—for example, banking, news, music, searching for information, reading books online, email, weather, etc.
Which is better Apple or Samsung? ›It all comes down to what you want out of your software. Android is more customizable and has more features and complex options, while iOS is more straightforward, easy to use and has a higher level of security. Most apps are available on either operating system, but more Android apps are available than iOS apps.
Is iPhone more secure than Android? ›So what is more secure: Android or iOS? Studies show that mobile malware targets Android much more than iOS, so for this reason, and all the others stated in this article, iOS is more secure. While you can remove malware from Android and iPhone, it's better not to get it in the first place.
What is the main difference in iPhone and Android? ›
Android devices run on open operating systems, while Apple devices run on closed systems. If it's important to you to be able to make changes to your phone's software, then you might prefer an Android phone.
Why Samsung is better than iPhone? ›Samsung phones tend to have better cameras, battery life, and display quality, even on budget models. However, iPhones do offer better software support and data security.
What is the major difference between iOS and Android? ›Google's Android and Apple's iOS are operating systems used primarily in mobile technology, such as smartphones and tablets. Android, which is Linux-based and partly open source, is more PC-like than iOS, in that its interface and basic features are generally more customizable from top to bottom.
What is Apple's biggest weakness? ›Despite its dominance in the space of mobile devices and computing, the company does face some key challenges. Among these weaknesses are its highly-priced products, entering areas of higher competition, and incompatibility with other software.
Can I use Gmail on iPhone? ›The official Gmail app brings the best of Gmail to your iPhone or iPad with robust security, real-time notifications, multiple account support, and search that works across all your mail.
Are iPhone users happier than Android users? ›According to the 1,632 people Rebtel surveyed, those difference has a lot to do with happiness. While 80 percent of iPhone users are “very happy” with their phones, somewhat fewer Android owners, 68 percent, report the same level of satisfaction.
How often do people switch from iPhone to Android? ›As per a report by Android Central, Apple's market research teams revealed that the percentage of iPhone users moving to Android between 2019 and 2020 varied every quarter. During this period, quarter over quarter, the percentage of iPhone users moving to Android is 19%, 14%, 26%, 26% and 12% respectively.
Why you should have an Android phone? ›Android is a blessing if you need a phone with more storage options. Unlike iPhones, all Android devices come with Expandable storage, thus allowing you to use a Micro SD card to save important files without taking up your phone storage.
What is the main advantage of Android? ›You can develop your app and list it on the play store without the need to pay any large development fees. The application environment is not chargeable. Also, you have the option to develop as many apps as you want and get them listed on the Android play store.
Why should we use Android? ›Why choose Android as your operating system? The Android system gives you a lot of flexibility, allowing you to customise your device interface and is simple to use.
Why not to get an iPhone? ›
- The Apple Tax. The "Apple tax" colloquially refers to the unreasonable profit margins Apple charges on its products. ...
- Poor Repairability. ...
- Fewer Features Than the Competition. ...
- Not as Customizable. ...
- Limited Design Options. ...
- Not for Gamers. ...
- The Walled Garden.
While there are cheaper Android options present, none of them gets OS and security updates for as long as an iPhone does. Apple ensures that each of its iPhones gets the latest update for years to come, and it keeps its value in place. Further, the resale value of an iPhone is always more than an Android device.
How long will a iPhone last? ›For most users, this represents approximately two years of use, which is why most people believe that the lifespan of a phone is two years. However when it comes to iPhones, you can expect between three to five years (maybe more) with proper care. What does sustainability actually mean for smart devices?
Do Samsung phones last longer than iPhones? ›Average lifespan of a smartphone: A smartphone has an average life span of 2.58 years. According to reports, iPhones last 4-10 years, while Samsung phones last 3-6 years. Many factors affect a smartphone's lifespan, including the condition of the screen, the hardware, and the battery's health.
Do more people prefer Samsung or Apple? ›Android is the leading mobile operating system with 72% global market share compared to 28% for iOS. In terms of handset manufacturers, Samsung is the global leader with 32% market share, followed by Apple with 28%.
Is Samsung or Apple easier to use? ›Ease of use.
If you want simplicity, iPhone still reigns supreme. Android has gained ground with its latest operating system update, but Apple knows how to create an easy-to-use, intuitive interface.
What gets hacked more, iPhone or Android? Based on interest, it's likely Android phones get hacked more than iPhones. The two-factor authentication platform Rublon reported that there was 13 times more interest in hacking Android phones than iPhones in 2021.
Can an iPhone be hacked? ›While iPhones are generally considered secure, they are still susceptible to hacking, among other types of security threats. Despite Apple's efforts to enhance security features in iOS, you should still be aware of potential risks such as phishing, malware, and other cyber-attacks.
Is Android safe for banking? ›In general, android phones are safe for online banking. Android, like other cellphone models, can be used for online banking as long as it is secure in both password, and in your possession at all times. However, there are people who are unfamiliar with online banking and what the benefits are in utilizing it.
Can I FaceTime on Android? ›Can Android users initiate a FaceTime call? No. FaceTime is an Apple service, so Android users can only join FaceTime calls set up by Apple users.
Why are iPhones so expensive? ›
iPhones Retain Their Performance for a Longer Time
Compared to Android flagships, Apple's A-series chips for its iPhones perform better. Since it's custom-made for the iPhone, it can deliver an uninterrupted and smooth experience. It incorporates expensive and top-tier parts, making it super efficient and fast.
The best premium Android phone is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. A gorgeous design, superb cameras, even an integrated S Pen stylus for added versatility, Android phones don't get any more sophisticated than this. The best phone for most people is the Google Pixel 7 Pro.
Why switch to Samsung from iPhone? ›Samsung loyalists have long placed multitasking capabilities at the top of the list of reasons they prefer Galaxy devices. Galaxy devices leverage crisp, expansive screens to give users a variety of options for working across multiple apps.
Why do people choose iOS instead of Android? ›They offer security features like facial or fingerprint authentication to protect your personal information. The iPhone even stops apps from tracking your activity online because of a limited OS and platform. Its iMessages and FaceTime video calls are also end-to-end encrypted.
Which is more easy to use iOS or Android? ›iOS takes multitasking to the next level without any crashes that are common in Android. According to Tom's Guide, developers prefer releasing apps on iOS first and then on Android. Quality control across iOS devices makes them preferable, even though they have a premium price.
Why iOS will always be better than Android? ›Software and Hardware Integration
Apple's iOS is a closed ecosystem, which means that Apple manufactures both Operating systems and hardware and no other company uses either of them to integrate with their services. It gives Apple an edge over Android to provide a better synchronization between hardware and software.
It all comes down to what you want out of your software. Android is more customizable and has more features and complex options, while iOS is more straightforward, easy to use and has a higher level of security. Most apps are available on either operating system, but more Android apps are available than iOS apps.
Which is better Android or iPhone 2023? ›Android offers a more customizable interface and a larger selection of apps. But it may be less secure and have shorter battery life. The iPhone has a more uniform interface and a more curated app store. But it may have less processing power and be less flexible in terms of app selection.
Why should I choose Samsung over Apple? ›Samsung phones tend to have better cameras, battery life, and display quality, even on budget models. However, iPhones do offer better software support and data security.
Why do people prefer iPhone? ›iPhones offer more security and privacy
They offer security features like facial or fingerprint authentication to protect your personal information. The iPhone even stops apps from tracking your activity online because of a limited OS and platform. Its iMessages and FaceTime video calls are also end-to-end encrypted.
What is Android's version of FaceTime? ›
Google Duo
The app's been labeled as Android's official response to FaceTime, as it allows its users to receive calls even if they don't have it installed on their phones.
Duo is available for Android and iOS, as well as a web app, at no cost.
Which phones last longer Apple or Android? ›When it comes to the lifespan of a phone, Apple has always been the clear winner. And by lifespan, I'm talking about software and security updates.
Is Android harder to use than iPhone? ›Ease of use.
If you want simplicity, iPhone still reigns supreme. Android has gained ground with its latest operating system update, but Apple knows how to create an easy-to-use, intuitive interface.
Apple's line of iPhones continues to be a popular option to seniors, but Android phones offer a solid alternative. Capable of doing nearly anything an iPhone can — and often coming at a lower price — an Android phone is a great choice for any older adult looking for a more customizable phone experience.
Why Android is more preferable? ›Android is always a better, cheaper, and fantastic choice for people looking for something handy. Android devices offer a wide range of features that you won't get on iOS devices. For instance, fast charging and reverse wireless charging are one of the most demanding features in 2023.
What is the purpose of using Android? ›It is currently used in various devices such as mobiles, tablets, televisions, etc. Android provides a rich application framework that allows us to build innovative apps and games for mobile devices in a Java language environment.
What is the main purpose Android? ›What Is the Android Operating System? The Android operating system is a mobile operating system that was developed by Google (GOOGL) to be primarily used for touchscreen devices, cell phones, and tablets.