Android vs. iPhone: Pros And Cons To Find Out Which Is The Best

When it comes to the iPhone vs. Android debate, the jury seems to be still on the fence. What’s more, we “live and breathe” through our phones today, so noticing the differences between Apple and Android phones is inevitable.

Yet, is the iPhone better than Android purely because it’s now a status symbol for many millennials? Or does Android actually have a lot more to offer? Let’s find out.

iPhone vs. Android -The Ultimate Battle

In order to weigh out the pros and cons, we’ll have to focus on not just the similarities but differences between Apple and Android phones. At first glance, it seems their OS is somewhat similar. In fact, they kind of look the same, as far as smartphones go – the design is always sleek and thin; practically minimalist.

However, one phone packs a lot of punch in terms of security, while the other one allows us an amount of storage we could have only dreamed about.

iPhone vs. Android: Hardware

If someone is looking for a phone that won’t be as similar to what others have, they won’t find that in an Apple store. The truth of the matter is – all iPhones pretty much look the same. But that’s not a bad thing at all!

Given that Apple is adamant at them being the only ones that have a say when it comes to design, iPhones are, in terms of hardware, quite similar but reliable. They’re not plain nor bulky – they’re sleek and sophisticated, with minimalist features that don’t overwhelm the user.

Still, when it comes to Android phones, we do have a lot more choices. The Android OS is used by many brands, most notably Samsung, Motorola, and LG. Thus, if the way our phone looks is what matters most to us, we will be able to find a fantastic phone. However, quality is not the same across the brands.

iPhone

Pros:

Reliable design, always sleek and sturdy
Minimalist

Cons:

Not a lot of choices

Android Phones

Pros:

A huge variety of phones from many brands
Sleek design, but it depends on the model

Cons:

Varying quality; some brands are just better than others

iPhone vs. Android: Apps And Games

Of course, our phones are not just our trusty assistants. We often use them for all other sorts of things, such as polishing our social media accounts, sending emojis, etc. Because of that, we will have to download a few apps here and there. Nevertheless, one of the main differences between Apple and Android phones is the level of control and the choice of apps.

Both of these types of phones have their respective stores -the Apple App Store and Google Play. However, those who have an iPhone won’t be able to download a whole lot of apps. Since Apple is big on security and wants to avoid malware as much as possible, the choice is limited, and usually, the apps are not free.

On the other hand, Android users have plenty of apps to choose from. Most of them are also available to iPhone users, so they won’t miss out on much. However, the safety of the phone is always in jeopardy purely because Google Play is a bit more relaxed with the rules than Apple. Furthermore, we won’t be able to download just about any app if it’s not compatible with the phone brand or the OS version.

The brands mentioned above all use the same Android system (albeit different versions), and the phones are also different. Every app has to be compatible with the phone and the OS version it uses. It’s no wonder then that most iPhone apps don’t have an Android counterpart. It’s just too tedious to create that many versions, not to mention downright expensive. Thus, the winner of the iPhone vs. Android battle, at least in this case, is clear.

Best Device for Gaming

If one is looking for a phone that will allow them to play games all day long without any hiccups, it’s safe to say that the iPhone is the winner. Because Apple has set itself apart from the competition with its technology, it holds the monopoly over the smartphone gaming industry.

Also, by creating games for iPhones, developers can charge users who are willing to continue playing the game. Meanwhile, the same cannot be said for Android users because it’s sort of expected that the apps are free (and dangerous). Thus, even though Google Play has a few hit games, it’s still nothing compared to Apple.

iPhone

Pros:

A small group of 100% secure apps
Developers are more inclined to create iPhone apps

Cons:

Limited choices

Android Phones

Pros:

A huge variety of apps, most of which are free

Cons:

Incompatibility
Malware
Too expensive to develop games and apps – not worth it

iPhone vs. Android: Software

Since Apple loves having everything under control design-wise, if we decide to go for an iPhone, we won’t be able to change a lot of things in terms of software. Customization is not Apple’s forte, but it is what Android excels at.

For example, the iPhone home screen cannot be changed all that much. We can add the apps and other widgets to some folders, but that’s about it – the scheme is sort of always the same. Meanwhile, with Android phones, we can create a home screen that suits our needs entirely.

We can have just one blank screen where we can use a picture of our dog as a screensaver, and then have another one show the date and time. In essence, we can customize it however we want, and as much as the software allows us.

However, we ought to mention the flexibility of the iPhone. Android users are basically limited to services that are compatible with their phone. In contrast, iPhone users get the best of both worlds. They can use both Google and Apple services. Granted, some of those work better on Android phones – but in the end, there’s always a similar app in the Apple Store. Plus, every time we upgrade our iPhone, we don’t have to learn how to use it again. Android phones tend to change up the OS so much that it almost feels like an entirely different system each time we get a new one.

No phone is safer than an iPhone

As far as security goes, protecting our data is a breeze if we have an iPhone. Apple emphasizes the importance of protecting user information, and given that they keep a close eye on the apps we can download, malware infections are quite rare. In essence, the data is encrypted so well that if you don’t have a passcode for the device, you can toss in the trash because you won’t be able to crack it. In contrast, Android has a much bigger market share, making it highly susceptible to malware. Still, that can be avoided if we get an antivirus program and refrain from downloading dubious apps.

Finally, we cannot move on until we mention the assistants – the well-known Siri and the Google Assistant. At one point, it seemed as if Siri was the clear winner. However, given that the Google Assistant is just like Google – it knows everything about us – its performance is beyond compare.

iPhone

Pros:

Flexibility – users can use Google services too
Top-notch security

Cons:

Limited customization options
Although known for her wit, Siri is still a pretty basic assistant

Android Phones

Pros:

Can be customized
Google Assistant is the smartest assistant

Cons:

The software keeps changing all the time
Limited to Google services
Easier to hack and infect with malware

iPhone vs. Android: Battery, Storage, Device and Peripheral Compatibility

Finally, when it comes to not-as-important differences between Apple and Android phones, we have to mention the annoying ones too.

First off, the battery life. We all know that iPhones don’t excel in this department, so most users have a bone to pick with Apple on this. However, it seems they have changed a few things here and there, so iPhone batteries can now last a bit longer, though we cannot change them ourselves. Still, it’s safe to say Android wins in this case, as some Samsung phones can live off one charge for a few days! But it always depends on the brand, the screen size and the number of apps we use.

Another thing we ought to mention is the peripheral compatibility. With Android phones, it’s fairly simple – in order to charge the phone or transfer data, we use the same type of USB port. However, the iPhone is fancier there. Apple uses the Lightning port, which limits the accessories we can use with the phone and our ability to charge the battery with any other charger.

As for storage, Apple won’t yield just yet. They don’t allow extra storage space with each model, and in any case, it sure isn’t cheap. Meanwhile, for an Android phone, we just need a microSD card, and we’re good to go.

Despite all this, Apple phones excel at device compatibility. We can create a cross-platform environment that allows us to boost our productivity by using a few devices at the same time. We can connect the phone to our Mac, our Apple watch, and all other Apple products. In contrast, Android users are limited to their phones, purely because many brands make them. As such, a unified experience is not guaranteed. It’s actually almost impossible.

iPhone

Pros:

Unified experience (use various devices at the same time)
Good battery life

Cons:

Unconventional port
No manual storage upgrades

Android Smartphones

Pros:

Low-cost storage upgrade with a microSD card
Universal USB port
Great battery life

Cons:

The user is limited to the phone

So Is the iPhone Better than Android?

In order to end the iPhone vs. Android debate, we have to consider what we are looking for in a phone. Both have their pros and cons, and some people will value security more while others will want to download as many free apps as they can.

Thus, the jury is still out on this one. But we do have one final thing for you to consider: apps come and go…but your data ought to remain safe. So before choosing your perfect smartphone, think about how and for what you’ll use it. That’ll help you make the right call.

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What do you get from three nerds (Joe, Ray, and Paul) that decide to create a functioning tech gadget review site? The first is data-driven arguments lasting way into the night. You can read more…