The controversy seems like it will never end at all. The more the cellphones are evolving the more these mobile operating systems give close competition to each other. And, users are more aware than ever before. They know how to compare the functionalities offered by both iOS and Android according to their requirements. Only after that, they settle for the product.
After all, every penny should be worth the purchase. Now, iPhone and Android users might brag about their devices and claim that their devices are the best. Well, as a user of both these products, I would make one thing very clear: iOS and Android have their own pros and cons. There are some aspects where I found the iPhone to be a winner; whereas the Android one impresses me more than the iPhone I have.
Currently, the iPhone is running on iOS 14.6 and the latest iOS 15 is about to hit the floor this fall. My Android device is supporting Android 12, right now. Let’s find out what are the instances that help me figure out the differences between an iOS and an Android device.
Pocket-Friendliness
Nowadays, every smartphone in the market flaunts amazingly super features. Let’s face it that you have to spend a good amount of money if you want decent performance, battery life, durability, and most importantly camera aspects. iPhones have got a bad reputation in terms of affordability if you add up the import charges and all when they’re marketed around the globe. Apple is more likely to invest in R&D, advertisement costs, reliability tests, and so on. That’s why the price range of iOS devices has always been this high.
However, Apple is currently producing some cost-effective iPhone models where it prefers to keep the design inspired from a previous model. On the other hand, Android devices are relatively cheaper than basic iPhone models. Additionally, they are providing an exotic array of features. But, this doesn’t mean that Android devices don’t cross a 6-figure amount. But, Android fans would get more choices compared to Apple ones when it comes to selecting a device within their budget. So, according to cost-efficiency, Android is the winner.
User Reliability
I believe that whatever device you’re currently using should be easy enough for daily use. When iOS was launched a decade or longer ago, the user interface was smooth as butter. Then, the scenario was different and none stood a chance before iOS. But, right now, it’s really tough to say which platform is better: iOS or Android?
When it comes to controlling your Home Screen and managing your applications then both operating systems are too good. If you think that Android provides you more flexibility then it’s time to think twice after using an iOS device. As per my opinion regarding user-friendliness on Android and iOS devices, it’s a draw between these two.
App Selection
And, I find my iPhone far better than Android in this category. When you’re considering installing applications on your iPhone and Android devices, then you have to rely on the App Store and Google Play Store, respectively. Not every developer can match the requirements of the iOS platform. Additionally, the security context of the iPhone is already known to everyone.
The applications and software have to be optimized for iOS and iPadOS devices. Talking about the design of Android apps on Android smartphones and tablets, they hardly make the aesthetics mind-blowing. Here, the iPhone wins in accordance with the app selection.
Battery Life
No one likes his or her smartphone dying, especially in a crisis moment. However, I feel this factor is a bit difficult to compare as iOS and Android-supported devices don’t have anything in common for such hardware aspects. Whether you’re using an iPhone or an Android device, you’re allowed to monitor the battery performance. Users can activate the Power-Saver Mode for ultimate use.
Currently, the fast charging trend has come into play. And, I must admit that Android devices are really killing it. Yes, iPhones also support the fast charging technique. However, you have to take wireless charging and MagSafe into consideration more. Because Apple has stopped providing wired charging cables with iPhone 12 and later production.
Well, it seems some leading Android manufacturers are following Apple and discarding power cables and earphones from the device box. For the specific Android and iOS devices I have, I find the android one to run longer in terms of battery life. Overall, it’s the Android device that gets the lead here.
Speed
Android users might nod with me that they are experiencing more freezing than it’s to be expected. I have fallen victim to phone-hanging every now and then ever after clearing the cache. Frankly speaking, I hate Android smartphones sometimes for this.
I think when it comes to the speedy performance of cellphones, the iPhone is the only one that I can trust. With the A-13 Bionic chip in it, my one-year-old iPhone is running much and much better than my few-day-old Android phone. Well, you might argue with the statistics of the different testing organizations; but, keep in mind that those are just initial trends. If you have to consider speed for a long period, then iOS devices are the answer.
Upgrades to Software
With every upgrade or update, the overall system gets more compatible with applications, security, and other recent innovations going in the industry. I think that upgrades should be more frequent and should be supported on a diverse range of devices. Considering the last upgrade of iOS, which was iOS 14, was launched in the fall of 2020.
And, iPhone 6S (released in 2015) even supported the upgrade. Whereas you can merely expect that such an old Android device would support the latest Android 12 update. Apple is more careful about its inventions and upgrades. iOS devices are popular for keeping stability optimized and to the core for a vast range of releases. I won’t hide but I love the iPhone series for this.
AI and Voice Commands
You are at the debate of iOS and Android: which one is better and you won’t encounter this; it won’t happen. The voice command support of the iOS device, Siri, is way older than Google even thinks of it. However, I found Google voice assistant as helpful as Siri. Whether you want to make both of them record a message, track your deliveries, find anything nearby, and all, everything is possible.
Google voice assistant seems to be a bit polite and smart while answering my quirky questions. Whereas I found Siri to be a little diplomatic and straightforward for the same questions. But, another advantage that I found on iOS was that Siri was more precise than Google voice assistant. Where the voice commands went wrong with Google sometimes, Siri hardly ever missed my queries and I’m mind-blown away with Siri’s actions.
Security & Privacy
As per my personal experience, I felt that it’s easier to fool Android’s security measures. And, I think that my assumptions are not wrong; Android devices and their security have been mostly compromised. Third-party applications can literally sneak into the user’s personal information if permissions are provided.
Whereas iOS has built tight security and if it finds that your privacy is at a vulnerable edge, it warns the user. If your iOS device is stolen or lost, you can make changes on iCloud or the Find My Phone application on a different device. And, you can wipe out all your data on your lost or stolen iOS device. Cool, isn’t it? Android devices are following the trend. However, they are way behind this as updates don’t conquer Android devices frequently.
Now, it’s Your Choice
I have picked up a few important factors that I think to be useful in judging iOS vs Android: which is better. Your opinions might differ from mine and you might be thinking about storage, application integration, browsing, camera quality, and so on. I personally feel that both iOS and Android devices make a great choice and it’s your turn to decide.
Well, I have avoided the camera functionalities and building platforms for iOS and Android devices. Because these operating systems are using different platforms and hardware specifications for these. If you want me to include them as well, let me know in the comment section. Keep following Digitally Inclusive for such interesting feeds.
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