So, you desire a new telephone. The place do you begin?
For most individuals, it ought to software program. And on fashionable smartphones, there are actually solely two choices: Android or iOS, which runs on the iPhone.
The talk on which is best has raged ever since each platforms grew to become in style. Finally, which is able to higher go well with you is determined by a spread of various elements, which we’ll run by on this article.
By the top of it, you’ll have a transparent thought of what are the strengths and weaknesses of each platforms, which is able to make your choice simpler. In fact, if you happen to’re already set on one or the opposite, or already personal an iPad, Android pill or different ecosystem product, there’s in all probability no want to change.
However if you happen to’re in any respect not sure, right here’s what every brings to the desk.
What’s Android?
Android is an open-source working system developed by Google. It powers an enormous array of Android telephones and tablets from varied producers, providing customers a excessive stage of customisation and suppleness.
Android boasts a thriving ecosystem of apps, video games, and providers obtainable by the Google Play Retailer.
The most recent model of this method is Android 15.
What’s the iPhone?
The iPhone, however, is not only software program however a line of telephones designed and developed by Apple.
Operating on Apple’s iOS working system, iPhones are identified for his or her glossy design, seamless integration with different Apple units and providers, and unique App Retailer.
The most recent model of this method is iOS 17.
How are Android and iPhone totally different?
The first distinction lies of their nature: Android is an working system utilized by a number of producers, whereas the iPhone is a particular line of telephones produced solely by Apple.
This distinction impacts varied facets, together with {hardware} selections, software program updates, and ecosystem integration.
Which telephones run Android?
Quite a few producers produce units operating on the Android working system, together with Samsung, Google, Apple, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Honor, Motorola, Nothing, HMD, Realme, Asus, Huawei, Vivo and Sony. If you happen to embody those who don’t launch units in Europe or North America, there are a lot of extra.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
For instance, a number of the finest Android telephones on the time of writing are:
A whole bunch of Android telephones are launched each single 12 months, together with a number of handsets from nearly each producer. It couldn’t be extra totally different to the iPhone.
Which iPhone fashions are there?
Apple is the one firm that makes iPhones, and it solely are inclined to launch new fashions every year.
These vary from the flagship iPhone sequence, resembling the latest iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Professional and iPhone 15 Professional Max, to extra budget-friendly choices just like the iPhone SE.
Nevertheless, Apple doesn’t instantly withdraw older fashions from sale when the brand new one arrives. Listed here are all of the iPhone fashions which are at the moment in the stores:
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
As well as, many older fashions are nonetheless supported with updates, even when they’re now not obtainable from official distribution. Right here’s an inventory of iPhone fashions which have obtained an replace to the most recent model of iOS 17:
Though each the most recent and older fashions can run the identical software program,
What’s Android higher than iPhone for?
Every platform presents distinctive options and experiences, catering to totally different preferences and desires.
Listed here are a number of the key Android benefits that stand out towards iPhones:
- Customisation: Android presents larger flexibility and customisation choices, permitting customers to personalise their units extensively
- Range: There’s a variety of Android units obtainable from varied producers, providing totally different options and value factors. It’s additionally the one software program obtainable on a folding telephone
- Open ecosystem: Android has an open ecosystem, permitting customers to put in apps from third-party sources and customise their machine far past what’s attainable on iOS
- Google integration: Android seamlessly integrates with Google providers like Gmail, Google Drive and Google Pictures, offering a cohesive expertise for customers closely invested within the Google ecosystem
- Value vary: Android units cater to numerous funds ranges, providing choices for each budget-conscious shoppers and people in search of premium options
Simon Chandler / Foundry
Simon Chandler / Foundry
Simon Chandler / Foundry
What’s iPhone higher than Android for?
Listed here are a number of the key options of iPhones which are arduous for Android telephones to match
- Person expertise: iOS presents a refined and intuitive person expertise with a constant interface throughout all units, making it straightforward to make use of for inexperienced persons and skilled customers alike
- Well timed updates: iPhones obtain well timed software program updates instantly from Apple, guaranteeing customers have entry to the most recent options, bug fixes, and safety patches. The gradual rollout of a brand new Android model usually takes a number of months
- App high quality: iOS tends to have higher-quality apps, as builders usually prioritise iOS as a consequence of its profitability and standardised growth setting
- Safety: iPhones are identified for his or her robust safety features, together with common safety updates and encryption, making them much less prone to malware and different safety threats
- Integration with Apple’s ecosystem: iPhones seamlessly combine with different Apple units and providers like iCloud, iMessage, and FaceTime, offering a cohesive ecosystem for customers with a number of Apple merchandise
Apple
Apple
Apple
Which options are unique to Android?
Android units provide a plethora of options not discovered on iPhones, making them interesting to customers who worth customization and flexibility. Some unique options of Android embody:
- In depth widget assist: Android’s residence display screen widgets enable customers to entry data and carry out actions with out opening apps, enhancing productiveness and comfort
- Deeper system customisation: Android customers have the liberty to customize their machine’s interface extensively by third-party launchers, icon packs and themes, offering a novel and personalised person expertise
- Multi-user assist: Many Android units provide multi-user assist, permitting a number of customers to have separate profiles and personalised experiences on a single machine, which is good for households or shared units
- Expandable storage: A big benefit of many Android telephones is the presence of a Micro-SD card slot, enabling customers to broaden storage capability inexpensively, offering extra room for media, apps, and recordsdata
- Google Pay: Google’s cellular cost service permits any Android telephone with Google providers (all offered in Europe and North America) and NFC to make funds on-line, in shops and inside apps. On Samsung units, Samsung Pay can also be obtainable in its place
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Which options are unique to iPhone?
Whereas Android excels in customisation and flexibility, iPhones provide a special set of unique options that cater to customers deeply built-in into the Apple ecosystem and people who prioritise simplicity and ease of use.
Some unique options on iPhones embody:
- iMessage: iMessage is Apple’s messaging platform that gives end-to-end encryption, seamless integration with different Apple units, and options resembling learn receipts, typing indicators, and high-quality media sharing, enhancing the messaging expertise for iPhone customers
- Apple Pay: Apple’s cellular cost service permits iPhone customers to make safe funds in shops, apps, and on-line utilizing their machine’s built-in NFC chip and Contact ID or Face ID authentication, providing a handy and safe cost answer
- Face ID: A safe 3D authentication system which lets you unlock units, affirm funds and log in to some apps. It additionally works at nighttime, not like most face unlock options on Android
- Tightly built-in ecosystem: iPhones seamlessly combine with different Apple services and products resembling iCloud, Apple Music, AirDrop, and Handoff, offering a cohesive ecosystem expertise and easy synchronisation throughout units
- Unique optimisation: iPhones profit from Apple’s tight management over each {hardware} and software program, leading to optimised efficiency, environment friendly battery life, and well timed software program updates for a clean and dependable person expertise
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Will an Android telephone or iPhone last more?
In the case of software program assist, iPhones often obtain updates for an extended time frame in comparison with most Android units, however not all the time.
Apple doesn’t state an official size of software program assist however is well-known for offering a few years of OS updates to iPhones. Usually, every iPhone will see six variations of iOS in its lifetime so the latest iPhone 15 sequence ought to make it to a possible iOS 23 in 2029.
Then again, the assist of a specific Android telephone is determined by its producer, in addition to its value level and objective.
For instance, each Samsung’s and Google’s newest flagships sequence, the Galaxy S24 vary and the Pixel 8 lineup, promise as much as seven years of replace assist. In distinction, their mid-range telephones, such because the Galaxy A55 or the Pixel 7a, provide solely 5 years and three years of system updates, respectively.
And a few funds telephones solely provide 1-2 years. If you happen to’re not sure, it’s value checking on a device-by-device foundation. The data is all the time included in our evaluations.
In fact, whether or not a telephone lasts a very long time can also be depending on how nicely the {hardware} holds up. Apple and lots of Android telephone makers provide restore providers, however solely a handful of Android units, together with the Nokia G22, and Fairphone 5, may be simply repaired at residence.
Henry Burrell / Foundry
Henry Burrell / Foundry
Henry Burrell / Foundry
How straightforward is it to change between Android and iPhone?
Switching between Android and iPhone has change into more and more easy due to instruments like Apple’s Transfer to iOS app and Google’s suite of providers for iOS customers.
Nevertheless, some variations in ecosystems, app availability and person interfaces could require a interval of adjustment for customers transitioning between the 2 platforms.
If you wish to know the right way to transfer from iPhone to Android or the right way to transfer from Android to iPhone, we’ve bought you lined.
