Choosing between Apple and Android can only be likened to swearing allegiance to a tribe. The choice is not that obvious! And while Apple may be dominating the market in the US, it is only by going through the technical specifications carefully that you can arrive at the critical decision of which one to go for.
Whether you’d like to admit it or not, purchasing one of the latest phones goes beyond owning a gadget that’s a status symbol. Our phones are no doubt extensions of ourselves. Our lives quite literally revolve around them. This rings true for any die-hard Android user or iOS zealot. From taking that Zoom call from your boss to creating content to upload on your favorite social media app, or even playing at a no deposit mobile casino that’s all the rage, our phones are indeed our lives!
Ease of Use and Customisability
When it comes to interface use, Apple is more user-friendly. Over the years, all phone interfaces have been improved to become easier to use; however, there is still one main difference. Android smartphones permit users to have more control not just over the phones but the applications they can download. If you like to be in control when using your phone, Android wins this one as users are allowed to set their phones the way they want to, even when it comes to the home screen.
Android lets you tinker with dynamic widgets and permits you to download third-party replacements for services, such as web browsers, keyboards, and media players. You can also set these as default versions if you prefer a third-party app to the one preinstalled on your phone. While iOS has improved in this aspect over the years, its customizability is still behind when compared to the options offered by Google.
Software Updates
iPhones may be better when it comes to releasing new updates or patches, as every detail is controlled by Apple. Thus, when Apple releases a new update or patch, all phones that support it get it instantly.
On the other hand, Android vendors like Samsung and Google do an excellent job of keeping their Android distribution packages and software up to date. This means that Android users need to update their software less frequently than Apple. Also, Apple hasn’t always had the best reputation when it comes to quality assurance of updates. Users have complained of experiencing Wi-Fi problems after an update. This isn’t ideal for a company that controls every bit of its hardware.
AI and Voice Assistants
When it comes to Siri vs Google Voice Assistant, the latter beats the former, hands down.
Google Assistant has an excellent interface and there’s no question that Google Calendar and Google Maps have made everyone’s life simpler. There’s just nothing like Google Assistant to notify you to leave for a lunch meeting earlier because traffic close by has intensified.
Siri has remained quite basic. It doesn’t do much other than answer questions. However, this shouldn’t be a reason to choose Android over Apple as Google Assistant is now also available for iPhones.
Open Systems vs Closed Systems
It’s important to understand that if you’re going with Apple, you’ll be trapped inside the Apple software ecosystem as long as you’re the owner of an iPhone. So when Apple falls out with a game creator over payment methods, as an Apple user you need to keep in mind that your ability to play that specific game is severely limited.
Android works like open-source software and is far more open to other applications than Apple. Apple doesn’t transfer its apps to Android and most probably never will. And while some users swear by iMessage, some find it bothersome because it’s incompatible with other messaging systems. You may send SMS messages to Android texting apps, but a lot of features will get lost in translation.
USB vs Lighting Port
Connecting your phone to other gadgets or devices might prove difficult with an Apple device. iPhones, iPods, and iPods require additional gear that will connect them to their respective Lightning port.
Android wins this one by a mile as its devices use standard USB ports enabling them to connect to any gadget. Another plus point for Android is that its USB cables and devices are way cheaper than Apple’s Lightning-port ones. The same goes for AirPods, which are also flimsier and easier to lose. Android’s headphone jack may be less elegant and cool-looking, but it’s also more practical.
Price
This one is a no-brainer: Android is way more affordable. There are cheap Android phones under the $500 mark. No matter how much you afford to spend, you can always find Android devices on a budget. The same cannot be said for Apple. Unfortunately, Apple devices remain top of their price, only to come down after successive generations.
iPhone’s least expensive phone is the iPhone SE, which has a great performance and is currently priced at around $430. Its design is however outdated, and the screen would be considered too small by some.
Conclusion
So, which one should you go for? This isn’t a one-size fits all solution. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and it also comes down to budget. While owning an iPhone may be simpler and more convenient to some, it’s best to keep in mind that Android grants you more leeway in terms of hardware and software features to use, the apps you want to download, and the freedom, not to mention the fun, you can have when it comes to customizability. Whichever choice you make, think of your operating system preferences first and go from there.
