iOS vs Android : how do you choose ?

  

It’s an age old rivalry; IOS vs Android, The hardware comparisons, the OS comparisons and price comparisons. I have been using Apple products for a few years now, but i’ll try my best to do a thorough, well researched comparison between the 2 OS based smartphones.

Let’s jump in through the Hardware, Software and benefits of buying each device In this essay by making comparisons with other Android based flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S20, The Google Pixel 5 and the Oneplus 8T.

 

I have used an iPhone 12 and an S20 and I can confidently say that the Android software drags down the photo experience. The app, the 100 weird options and the lack of advanced software processing because of the One size fits all software skin ruins the photo experience. I can view the crisper and sharper parts of the smaller objects in both devices, but the iPhone shines in the darker and gloomier environments when the S20 and 8T are a little better in the brighter scenes. 

The Pixel has a terrible camera, it has a cheaper overall feel; it’s covered with this weird rubber that some people would say would say that it’s “rugged material” but I’m not buying it.it feels more like a mid-range device than a flagship. 

The iPhone has always been leading in the chips, but the 8T’s and S20’s 120hz display makes the screen way smoother than the iPhone’s OLED 60hz screen.

I also want to talk about the design where the iPhone excels with the boxy shape, I feel that the 5/SE’s  boxy  feel is better to hold than the S20 or the 8T’s curved edges, because it cuts into your palm’s ridges instead of slipping through. Probably the only thing I dislike about the iPhone’s design is the notch, which every other smartphone maker has discarded, but they also don’t use a secure face id, so that’s something to keep in mind.

Apple is a bit more protective when it comes to consumer involvement. I recently swapped the battery on my 7 plus and it works smoothly. I haven’t charged my phone in 2 days and I still have 75% left. The iPhone 12 has a tight seal that cannot be opened unless you give it to Apple Store guys or if you toast it on a hot skillet for 5 minutes. That’s a problem because Apple claims they care about the environment, but they don’t even give you the basic right to fix your own phone ! Which in the end creates more waste because most iPhone owners would rather get a new iPhone than paying $230 for repairs.

But Apple has always been very tight and anti- consumer’s choice, their OS is generally uncustomizable compared to the Android and the new Harmony OS by the Chinese company Huawei. I mean, my sister can change the whole Home screen layout on her Android !

What problem I have with Android is the rather may I say, complicated, junky feel of the  OS.navigating an Android phone feels like driving through the Boston city, complicated roads, angled turns. It feels like you have to memorize the whole route to find an app. 

Even the phones, even if they are good, they feel overstyled and over done. Even if they have those quirks and features, Apple taught us that we can do behind a clean design. I hate overstyled items, cars, houses, even clothing. That’s why I like Tesla’s design, that’s why I prefer clean, plain clothes over something with a hundred thousand words and logos on them. iOS has a clean and well rounded interface built around convenience, while the Android OS is built around jamming all the features in the lightest and cheapest skin because they make so many phones with the OS.

Another thing I should point out is that it’s very hard to leave the Apple Ecosystem, the Apple Watch, the Macs, the various streaming services. Yeah sure, you could use other apps and other ecosystems, it’s not that wide compared to the Apple ecosystem. Samsung has its watch, but who uses it ?t. I have to subscribe to Spotify instead of Apple Music. Why ? I might keep all my data in one company instead of giving it to 50 corporations who WILL end up selling my personal info..

Speaking of data, another reason I like to stay in Apple is their approach towards user data. You see, Google is known for data mining and I worry about that. I don’t like people looking at my data. For that reason, I don’t use social media, I don’t post images of myself online and I don’t like sharing personal info on the internet. Of all companies, the last people I would trust with my privacy is Google and Facebook. Because of that, I’ve even stopped using Google chrome as my default search engine. Now, why would I trust such a company with my personal calls and text messages?

Meanwhile Apple does everything to protect your data. Though any tech company is mandated by the Federal Government to share any data they receive from their users, so Apple tries its best to take the least data they can from their users. It’s not the most private, but it’s a step towards it.

 

In conclusion, buy whatever you want. If you value hardware, openness and high compatibility, get an Android. Or if you want an Ecosystem, an easy to use software and high quality premium hardware, then go get an iPhone.