Summary
iPhone vs Android.. Selecting between Android and iPhone can be the most difficult decision when purchasing the greatest smartphone. To assist you in selecting the one that best suits your requirements, we’ve gone over their distinctions.
Overall Findings
- Closed hardware and software ecosystem.
- Manufacturer: Apple.
- Built-in assistant: Siri.
- Also compatible with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung Bixby.
- Fewer versions available at a time.
- Features limited to what Apple implements.
- Easy to download apps from both official and unofficial sources.
- Manufacturers: Google, Samsung, Microsoft, Garmin, and others.
- Built-in assistant: Google Assistant
- Also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Samsung Bixby.
- Available with a variety of features and prices.
When picking up your first smartphone, your first choice will be which one to purchase; the iPhone and Android are the two main possibilities. Though they both have a ton of amazing features, iPhones and Android phones are not the same.
Hardware: Android Has More Options
iPhone
- Only a few models available at a time.
Android
- Available from a variety of manufacturers, some of whom are better than others.
The first area where the iPhone and Android vary from one another is in hardware.
Since Apple is the only company that produces iPhones, it has strict control over how the hardware and software interact. Conversely, Google provides Android software to numerous phone manufacturers, such as Motorola, HTC, and Samsung. Android phones differ in terms of dimensions, weight, features, and build quality as a result.
High-end Android phones are on par with the iPhone in terms of quality, but you could just need a less feature-rich Android phone.
You must choose a model if you’re purchasing an iPhone. You have to select a brand and a model because there are numerous firms that produce Android devices. While some might favor the options that Android provides, others value Apple’s superior quality and ease of use.
Operating Systems Both Have Benefits
iPhone
- Runs on Apple’s iOS.
- New versions launch annually.
Android
- Runs on Android, with some manufacturers using a slightly different version.
- Android may update less regularly.
iPhones utilize Apple’s iOS operating system, whereas Android phones use Google’s Android operating system. Generally speaking, they function in the same way: your most used applications, such as games, utilities, a phone app for making calls, a camera app for taking images, and a messaging app for texting, will be listed on your home screen. In addition, they make use of touch interfaces. For additional features, the device could have hardware such as gyroscopes or accelerometers.
Approximately every autumn, Apple introduces a new version of iOS, with further upgrades to come all year round. Updates were not as frequent or consistent in the early days of Android (Android 2.0 was released in 2009, and both 3 and 4 were released in 2011). But as of late, Android has become increasingly reliant on yearly updates. A significantly altered version of the operating system is used by some manufacturers of Android devices, such as Samsung.
Some Android phone manufacturers update their devices to the most recent version of the operating system slowly, or not at all. Apple’s support for older phones can be superior than Android’s, especially since the platform is available to other manufacturers, even if older phones will ultimately lose support for the newest OS.
Apps: Android Has More Options
iPhone
- Only available through Apple’s App Store.
- Over 2 million apps.
Android
- Available in the Google Play Store and through third-party sources.
- Nearly 3 million apps.
Although Google Play has a larger selection of apps than the Apple App Store, it’s not the most important consideration.
Google has looser guidelines for Android applications, but Apple has more restrictions on the apps it permits. Although there are fewer options in Apple’s app store than in Google’s, this also means that downloading malware is less likely due to Apple’s stricter supervision.
Apple guarantees that everything in its centralized shop is compatible with the devices that are currently on the market, which is an additional advantage of the arrangement. Because there are several Android phone manufacturers and the Google Play Store has less filtering, you could not be certain that an app you want will be compatible with your specific phone.
Having said that, some users might find the wider variety and option to download Android apps from sources other than the official Google Play Store appealing.
Price: iPhones Are Generally More Expensive; Androids Have a Wider Range
iPhone
- General range: $500 – $1,500+
Android
- General range: $100-$1,750+
The pricing of the iPhone is commensurate with Apple’s positioning it as a luxury smartphone. For less than $500 or so, you won’t find a replacement. Android-compatible phones, on the other hand, range in price from about $100 to twenty times that much.
Even while you may find Android phones for less money, you can end up getting what you paid for. If you’re in the market for a new Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel, high-end Samsung smartphones might cost double or triple that of an iPhone. The quality differences between Android and iPhone are not really noticeable at this end of the spectrum. However, if you’re not in need of a fancy camera or other capabilities, a less expensive Android can work just fine for you.
However, you can simply get a higher-end phone by paying for it in monthly payments rather than all at once thanks to the several payment plans that Apple, Google, and shops provide. With these choices, cost is less of a concern.
Security: Apple Keeps It Locked Down
iPhone
- Encrypted end-to-end.
- App Store designed to prevent malware.
Android
- Encrypted in transit.
- Wider third-party app availability can open a device to malware.
The iPhone is more secure than the Android smartphone if security is a concern for you. There are many different reasons why, but the following are some of the more significant ones:
Apple’s applications are compatible with end-to-end encryption. “End-to-end” refers to the fact that a text message, for instance, gets jumbled during the whole transfer from the transmitting device to the recipient. Android typically uses encryption “in transit,” which means that data is safe while it’s traveling but might be exposed at “stops,” such as when it passes through Google servers.
Downloads are managed by Apple. The most popular method of jeopardizing digital security is through the download of malware, which is software intended to steal data or interfere with a device’s functionality. The App Store is the only location where you can download iPhone apps, and Apple works hard to prevent viruses from showing up there. Thus, the openness and flexibility of Android may turn into a drawback.
Though it’s less likely to be targeted than Android-based phones, iPhones are nonetheless susceptible to security risks.
Intelligent Assistant: Google Assistant Beats Siri
iPhone
- Default platform: Siri.
- iPhones can use Google Assistant or Bixby through apps.
Android
- Default platforms: Google Assistant or Samsung Bixby.
- Android users can’t use Siri.
Voice interfaces and artificial intelligence will dominate smartphone functionality in the future. Here, Android is clearly in the lead.
The most well-known intelligent assistant for Android, Google Assistant, is quite strong. It streamlines your life by utilizing all of the information that Google has about you and the globe. For example, Assistant can alert you to depart early if your Google Calendar detects that you have a 5:30 meeting and that there is awful traffic.
Apple’s artificial intelligence response to Google Assistant is called Siri. With every new iOS version, it gets better. Nevertheless, it is still restricted to rather easy tasks and lacks Google Assistant’s sophisticated intelligence. While Android users cannot use Siri without an Apple device, iPhone users who dislike Siri may still utilize Google Assistant.
Ecosystem: Apple’s Is Closed but Powerful
iPhone
Seamless interaction with Macs, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and other devices.
Android
Less interactivity between Android devices, especially from different manufacturers.
In addition to their smartphones, many individuals also utilize tablets, laptops, and wearable technology. Apple provides a more integrated experience for them. Apple provides capabilities that Android might not since it produces laptops, tablets, watches, and the iPhone.
You may utilize your iPhone, for instance, as an Apple TV controller. Alternatively, you may use an Apple Watch to unlock your MacBook or iPhone. Without sending an email, you can quickly move files and links between an iPad, Mac, and iPhone using AirDrop. You may resume a YouTube video on your iPhone and Apple TV from where you left off thanks to additional continuity capabilities. With AirPlay, you may utilize an iPad as a second display or share the screen of your Mac with an Apple TV.
All Android smartphones are compatible with Google’s services, including Gmail, Maps, Google Now, and others. However, Android lacks a cohesive cross-device experience unless your watch, tablet, phone, and computer are all manufactured by the same firm (which is rare, as only Samsung produces goods in all of those categories).
Serviceability: Get Android for DIY Fixes
iPhone
- Self-repair is difficult, if not impossible.
- You’ll need to take your device to a service provider or Apple Store.
Android
- Many manufacturers make their devices user-serviceable.
With the iPhone, Apple prioritizes simplicity and beauty above all else. This is a major reason why consumers are unable to change the iPhone’s batteries or increase its storage (new iPhone batteries are available, but need professional installation).
However, owners of Android phones are frequently able to upgrade the phone’s storage and swap out the battery.
Android is a little less attractive and more complicated as a trade-off, but it can be preferable to running out of memory or avoiding having to buy a costly battery replacement.
iPhone vs Android: Why iPhone is better
You have financial stakes in Apple’s network. Although this may sound like a flimsy justification, Apple undoubtedly produces a wide range of digital goods, so purchasing an iPhone makes a lot of sense if you already own a Mac, iPad, or Apple Watch.
You may save a lot of time by using the many continuity features that Apple has built in, which let you transfer work and data between its devices. Consider Handoff, which enables smooth transitions between iOS and macOS for online pages in Safari and phone conversations on your iPhone. Using Universal Clipboard, text that is copied to one platform may be used on another. Continuity Camera, which lets you use the camera on your iPhone to snap photos and scan documents, is another one of our favorites. You can view and edit these files on your Mac. With Apple Pay, you can even use your iPhone’s biometric verification features to finish transactions on your Mac.
There are very few Android phone manufacturers with hardware ecosystems that can rival Apple’s, and even those that do—like Samsung—don’t provide the same level of integration as the iPhone does with other Apple-made products. With its new Your Phone app for Windows, Microsoft is helping Google partially bridge the gap by enabling Android users to reply to SMS and notifications on their PCs, albeit there is still room for improvement and the user experience is a bit awkward.
Numerous additional noteworthy instances of consistency exist throughout iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and macOS — and the iPhone plays a crucial role in this picture, particularly in light of the ease with which iPhone apps may now be converted to macOS. Power users who are already well-versed in Apple products have a lot to gain by including an iPhone into their collection. Not to mention friends and relatives who would rather communicate via FaceTime and iMessage.
Simply said, the third-party apps are superior. This one is really a matter of taste, but having switched back and forth between iOS and Android, I can honestly say that every time I’ve been amazed by the quality of applications created on iOS, and I’ve been generally let down by those on Android.
Please understand that while excellent apps and developers exist on Android, they are, in my opinion, more difficult to locate. For example, Tweetbot 5, one of our favorite Twitter applications, is only available on iOS; in stark contrast, Fenix 2, one of the best third-party Twitter programs we’ve seen for Android, is far worse. (Farewell, unaffiliated Twitter clients.) Henry T. Casey, one of our employees, uses Bear on his Mac and iPhone to write blog entries, but we’ve had trouble finding an Android note-taking software that’s equally feature-rich and elegant.
In fact, you might discover that iOS applications for well-known businesses—from banks to airlines—work a little more fluidly and cleanly than Android apps, and they integrate better with the phone’s main features, including Wallet.
An increased assortment of accessories is available. Aisles of cases for every iPhone manufactured by Apple can be found at every Best Buy or Target; the same cannot be said for the Android market, outside of flagship models from the largest manufacturers. You’re out of luck after you pass the rather wholesome assortment of goods designed for the newest Galaxy S handset. Forget about expecting a selection of accessories at any physical store for your new Pixel or Motorola phone. Yes, you could get a $4 case from Amazon online, but you would always get what you paid for.
More often than not, people don’t understand how much of a difference it makes since iPhone covers, screen protectors, vehicle mounts, and other accessories are just more readily available for this phone than for any other. The issue of not being able to locate a case that they like will never arise for iPhone customers.
App tracking notifications come with improved privacy options. Notifications about app monitoring were included in one of the most significant recent iOS versions, giving you the option to disable app tracking on your entire phone. This was a significant victory for proponents of privacy and a setback for several third-party businesses, including Facebook.
We don’t think Android will ever have this capability; it just doesn’t. Apple still gathers a lot of personal data on you, so don’t get trapped in the idea that iOS is intrinsically more private than Android. However, iOS is still a little more resilient to outside parties. Denying an app the power to monitor you feels so good.
Bloatware is not present. You won’t find any preinstalled bloatware on your iPhone when you initially power it up, regardless of how, where, or what kind you purchase. This indicates that it’s uncontaminated right out of the box, with no hidden applications stealing power or data or interfering with your system’s operations.
If you’ve ever seen how a new Android phone comes out of the box, especially if you purchased it through a carrier, then that’s a relief. Purchasing a Galaxy Z Fold 5 for $1,800 does not exempt AT&T subscribers from the humiliation of having apps like CNN and DirecTV Now clog their app drawers. Furthermore, it can grow worse if you get a low-cost phone that a cheap carrier has generously subsidized.
Bloatware is less likely to be installed on an Android phone purchased without a service agreement from one of the finest unlocked phones. It also relies on the business. For instance, unlocked Pixel phones are free of any third-party apps; nonetheless, it is not unheard of for some unlocked phones to have the occasional unwanted piece of sponsored software (or advertisements). One recent example of this is OnePlus, and Samsung’s phone advertisements are infamously intrusive.
Software upgrades happen more quickly. With the exception of Google’s Pixel phones, Android phones receive less upgrades than iPhones, and when they do, they happen less frequently and frequently later.
Over an Android phone’s lifespan, the number of updates it receives is mostly determined by its price, the carrier from whom it is purchased (or not at all), and the software support policies of the phone manufacturer. Although the update practices of Android phone manufacturers have improved recently, Apple continues to provide more. For instance, even though the iPhone XR was released five years ago, it recently received iOS 17.
Additionally, every model that supports it may instantly install the latest version of iOS, which is made accessible to everyone on the same day and at the same time. Android updates, on the other hand, are distributed to specific phones in waves rather than merely according to model.
Better retail support is provided by it. Let’s imagine your iPhone has a catastrophic malfunction and requires repair. Alternatively, you can want to have a professional apply the screen protector for you, since they will ensure that there are no bubbles or dust particles visible once the film is applied. It’s helpful to have a location to go, regardless of the problem, and the Apple Store is a great option for iPhone owners.
Not all Android phone owners get to enjoy that pleasure. You’ll most likely need to send it back to the manufacturer if it needs a new battery or a screen replacement and you didn’t buy a protection plan from the store where you got it. That is a really time-consuming inconvenience, considering how much we all rely on our phones every day. For Pixel phones, for example, certain trustworthy repair companies like uBreakiFix assist in bridging the gap a little.
iPhone vs Android Why Android is better
Every pricing range is covered by phones. Android powers the great majority of smartphones worldwide, and since so many manufacturers produce Android phones, they are accessible at all price points. There are some of the greatest large and compact phones under $500, as well as some extremely expensive phablets and foldable phones that cost much more than $1,000. One such example is the Pixel 7a. It’s likely that you can locate an Android smartphone that meets your needs or budget, regardless of your spending limit.
That cannot be said of iPhones, which traditionally have been pricey at release before seeing price reductions with subsequent iterations. The iPhone SE (2022) is the cheapest iPhone model available from Apple. At $429, it’s an incredible gadget with amazing performance, but some people may find its screen too tiny and its style outdated.
It offers greater customization. Even though both iOS and Android have changed over time, Android has long been known as the platform of choice for consumers who enjoy tweaking and customizing their gadgets. First up is the home screen launcher, which with iOS 14 has just lately caught up to the iPhone, offering dynamic widgets and the capability to put applications wherever on a page or in a drawer, out of sight. You may even replace the launcher on your Android phone with a different one that you download from the Google Play store.
If you prefer a third-party software to one that came preloaded on your phone, Android also allows you to download third-party replacements for fundamental services, such as web browsers, keyboards, and media players, and set them as the default versions. Over time, iOS has made progress in this area, despite the implementation still being a little awkward.
Lastly, we must discuss manufacturer skins, which are unique Android system software and user interfaces modified by certain phone manufacturers. These skins offer additional capabilities and frequently the option to personalize your whole experience using themes. Some enthusiasts of Android like Google’s “stock” version of the operating system. But many users prefer the proprietary software developed by phone manufacturers, such as OxygenOS by OnePlus or One UI by Samsung, due to its additional features, such the ability to save images and movies in password-protected folders and create scrolling screenshots.
However, with Android 12, Google made changes and introduced the new Material You design language. This approach offers greater customisation and improves upon Android’s appearance and feel over the previous several years. A pseudo-theming system adjusts the system-wide shade based on the colors of your wallpaper.
The storage can be expanded sometimes. Even while it’s not as common as it once was, some Android phones still have expandable storage. As a result, you may save files, programs, and other material on a microSD card in addition to the internal capacity of your device.
Considering the outrageous costs Apple and other phone manufacturers impose when you purchase your device, having double or quadruple capacity is an incredible perk. If you don’t even know if you’ll need an extra 128GB or 256GB of storage, why add another $100 to $150 to the cost of a new phone when you can just spend $70 on a 512GB card later?
Furthermore, some Android phones still include headphone jacks, despite the fact that this function is becoming increasingly uncommon on high-end phones these days. Apple removed headphone jacks from its phones in 2016, which was a much wanted feature. For those who still like wearing their dependable old wired headphones, that’s a huge issue.
USB-C is compatible with all devices. These days, most Android phones use USB-C connections for data transmission and charging, which is quite handy if you’re one of those individuals who prefers to travel light and carry only one cable. These days, a lot of PCs and the Nintendo Switch both include USB-C. It is quite lovely.
While Apple’s Lightning cord is a holdover from the days when every computer manufacturer had to create a unique proprietary connector, USB-C is the perfect single-port solution that the industry is striving for. Additionally, it makes way for quicker charging methods.
Now that Apple’s other mobile devices are USB-C compatible, the iPhone 15 series has made the switch. However, before every iPhone user has switched to a smartphone without a Lightning connector, a significant period will pass.
There is a real file system (supporting drag-and-drop on PCs). The majority of individuals don’t need to interact directly with the file system on their smartphone. Nevertheless, it’s helpful to know that Android offers you the choice, should you want it. Even better, you can drag and drop files into folders on a Windows PC using an Android handset exactly as you would with any other disk.
This implies that if you have an exceptionally large library, you don’t need to subscribe to a monthly cloud service because your media libraries and documents are easy to transfer over and save locally. When handling music, papers, and other media, iPhones may be quite unpleasant since they hide the file system from the user for everything but images.
Certain Android phones, such as the Galaxy S24 series, even come equipped with unique capabilities that allow you to see and operate your smartphone like a desktop computer. One notable instance of this is the DeX interface from Samsung. Given its adaptability, a top-tier Android phone may justifiably serve as a substitute for top-tier Chromebooks or other ultraportable PCs.
Android phones are typically the first to adopt new features. Yes, Apple has a sizable financial cushion. But it’s just one corporation, with one mentality, all the same. Because of this, iOS sometimes adopts new technology more slowly than the Android community.
It should come as no surprise that Android partners frequently release mobile advancements before Apple does, given the large number of firms who produce Android phones. Prior to the release of the iPhone, Android handsets were the first to ship with features like multi-lens cameras, real multitasking, copy and paste, NFC, 4G LTE, 5G, OLED screens, in-screen fingerprint sensors, water resistance, and wireless charging.
This is not to argue that Apple hasn’t made some innovative discoveries of its own, of course. While facial recognition on a phone wasn’t new, the iPhone X was the first to use it consistently and safely. Still, a lot more Android phones are introduced annually from a range of manufacturers, so it’s only a matter of scale that Google platform-running hardware adjusts more quickly.
Is it worth switching to iPhone from Android?
People with varying demands can find solutions with both Android and iPhone. Choosing to purchase an iPhone is simple if you already possess Apple goods, such as the Mac, iPad, or Apple TV. Choose an Android device if portability or applications are essential.
For some people, certain categories have greater significance. While some individuals are more concerned with battery life or mobile gaming, others will place a more importance on hardware choice. For some users, both systems provide excellent options. You must choose which features are most essential to you in order to get the phone that best suits your requirements.
How many people use Androids vs. iPhones?
When combined, Android and iPhone users possess 99% of all active mobile phones. Because of the significant price differential, there are much more Android users than iPhone users. Global statistics as of 2020 indicate that around 1 billion people own an iPhone, whereas 2 billion people own an Android device.
What can I do on an Android that I can’t do on an iPhone?
A guest mode account allows you to share your Android phone with other users, which is one of the many features that the security of an iPhone prevents you from doing on an Android. In addition, you may work with split-screen mode, expand storage with an SD card, get information from applications without opening them, and utilize an Android File Manager to move files straight from your PC to your phone. This method of photo transmission is exclusive to iPhone.
What can I do on an iPhone that I can’t do on an Android?
To transfer data to your new iPhone device, just place your old phone next to your new one and utilize the QuickStart function. With the integrated iPhone Messages app, you may send and receive money on your iPhone. FaceTime, which allows you to video communicate with other iPhone users without installing a third-party software, is another fantastic feature.
Which should you choose iPhone vs Android?
Which smartphone should you select, an Android or an iPhone? Like many other selections you make when making a purchase, the platform you choose will largely rely on your priorities.
It’s easier and more handy to own an iPhone. There are less things to worry about, and as Apple’s iPhone is the most widely used smartphone brand, you can find plenty of support everywhere you go, whether you need to replace your battery or are just looking to pick up a new cover. Additionally, there’s the iMessage draw—at least in the US.
In those aspects, owning an Android cellphone is a little more difficult. However, it’s also more liberating since it gives you more options: you can choose the hardware and software features, customize the experience, and decide how much money you want to spend. If you’re a really picky consumer when it comes to technology, Android may be more liberating—dare I even say fun—but you’ll also probably be disappointed by the comparatively small selection of high-quality accessories and applications (like Twitter).
Our rankings of the greatest iPhones and Android phones are the ideal places to start if you’re unsure about which specific gadget you should choose. Make sure the gadget you choose is compatible with your operating system.