Are you trying to decide between iOS and Android? Here's what you need to know about devices, software, security, and more. Android vs iPhone is always a busy topic of conversation. Chances are, if you own a smartphone, you already have an opinion on which platform you prefer.
If you're looking to choose which phone to buy, we're here to help. Here's what you need to know in the great iOS vs Android debate.
iPhone vs Android, price and range of devices available
While there are far fewer iPhones available than Android phones, there is a growing selection of iPhones to choose from. The cheapest is the iPhone SE, which is a great smartphone that keeps Apple's old design, with the home button and touch ID.
The iPhone SE still has a single lens camera, so keep in mind that you won't get the same photo quality with this phone as you would with a newer phone, like the iPhone 13. This phone is great for anyone who loves the old, design smaller than the iPhone but wants to upgrade.
The iPhone 13 has a SuperRetina XDR OLED screen which makes the colors sharper and darker and has 5G technology, which will ultimately allow you to have higher data rates. However, as there aren't many 5G towers yet, you may not notice the benefits for a few years. This phone is a step up from SE technology and will be the default choice for most.
The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max are the two higher-end iPhones. The latter has a huge 6,7-inch display, which brings it closer to an iPad Mini than many smartphones.
While Apple has some great options, Android has a lot of them. The biggest Android brands include Samsung, Google Pixel, LG, Motorola, Nokia, OnePlus, and Sony.
As there are so many different types of Android phones, the price range is vast. The Samsung S21 FE 5G is a good alternative to the iPhone SE, with an intuitive design, a decent camera, and a crisp OLED display.
The Samsung S21 Ultra 5G is a great alternative to Apple's iPhone 13 Pro. It has a long battery life, a 4x periscope zoom camera, and 16GB of RAM.
The average lifespan of an Android phone is between two and three years. Many Android phones don't get the updates you need for maximum app security and efficiency - something to consider when deciding when to upgrade.
Apple supports iPhone models via software updates for five years or more. Their convenient battery replacement schedule means you can potentially go a long time without having to upgrade.
IOS versus Android security
According to software security giant Norton, studies have found that a higher percentage of malware tends to prey on Android phones than iOS.
Since Apple only allows iPhone users to download iOS applications from their App Store, all the apps you download for your iPhone are guaranteed to be safe. If there is malicious content in a submitted app, the App Store does not allow it to be distributed.
iOS uses a practice called "sandboxing" which prevents any installed app from collecting information from other applications, promoting both security and privacy.
The Android system is owned by Google and Google is constantly working to improve the security of its Android operating system. If you are an Android user, you can easily customize your privacy settings to make your smartphone more secure.
However, software updates are an important part of smartphone security, and not all Android phones get them, especially at the cheaper end of the market. If your phone is older, make sure you have the latest Android software update, and if you aren't eligible, you might want to consider buying a new phone.
Availability of iPhone or Android apps
iOS has approximately 1,96 million applications available for use in its App Store. Since iOS tends to be a more profitable way for developers to release their latest products, it is common for newer apps to be released first on the iPhone.
Google Play, the Android App Store, has approximately 2,87 million apps available for download. However, more isn't necessarily better as Apple has much higher standards for what it does and doesn't allow access to the store.
While Android has more options, Apple protects you with the app security features we discussed above. Quantity is not always synonymous with quality, especially when it comes to technology.
Customization
One of the best features of iOS 14 was the introduction of widgets and more options for designing the home screen. When this update came out, iPhone users had a lot of fun customizing their phones and posting screenshots of the results on social media.
You can use the WidgetSmith app to give you access to multiple widgets on your iPhone.
You can also change the look of your icons on the home screen. For example, if your home screen wallpaper is superhero themed, you can change the appearance of the icons to match that theme using photos downloaded from Safari.
This process can take a long time, so there are application icon packs available to easily customize the icons.
Android phones have home screen widgets available from day one. And while Apple is adding more customization features now, Android phones have covered this territory for a while.
You can tweak your phone to make it yours with the best launchers that change the whole look and you can even change your android fonts.
Connection with other devices
Apple devices connect well with each other. For example, when you use the Notes application on your iPhone, it will automatically sync with your MacBook.
Also, if you have an iPhone and a newer MacBook, your phone calls and text messages arrive on your computer, and you can take calls and talk on your Macbook while you work.
Android integrates with Windows 10 in a similar way using the Your Phone app.
One drawback of iPhones and Android phones, from a connection point of view, is that many of the newer models don't have a headphone jack. Both connect with other devices via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and USB connections.
Both platforms are compatible with the cloud. iOS works well with iCloud, and on both you can use your Google account to access your emails and Google Docs.
Software updates
iPhone makes its latest software update available for models released up to seven years earlier, hardware permitting. So even if you have an older iPhone, you can still enjoy the customization and ease of use of iOS 14.
For maximum security, iOS updates frequently. This ensures that your iPhone and all of its sensitive information are protected and that your phone will continue to run apps efficiently.
Android is very different from the iPhone when it comes to software updates. There are only a handful of Android phone models that are guaranteed to get Android 12. Most devices only get one or two full updates, and many don't get any at all. Security updates are more common.
Of course, the number of updates you get on an Android phone varies depending on the model of phone you buy. But don't expect much more than two or three years of support.
Who is better: iPhone or Android?
The gap between iPhone and Android isn't as big as it once was. Both platforms have incredible hardware, and the differences between the software seem to shrink with each update.
Android is, of course, Google-centric, which some people may not like. Apple, in comparison, is expensive, so if you're on a tight budget you might prefer to see what Android has to offer. This could be one of the factors that explains why Android is the most popular platform in the world.
Further Reading:
- How to transfer photos from iPhone to PC
- How to view the battery on iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max
- Galaxy S10 vs. iPhone XS: a high-end duel
- How to secure Google Drive on iPhone and iPad with Face ID or Touch ID
- 8 solutions to help you restore call history on your iPhone
