I must be honest, when I started researching this piece, I knew very little about Android phones and their operating system. For work, I do have both an Android and an iPhone, but I only use the android for mobile testing purposes. I’ve been a iPhone and Mac person since birth. I’ve read that Androids are extremely capable devices, but I’ve never explored this topic until now. So, let’s see what each system has to offer.
Hardware
Apple has made their ecosystem very attractive. High integration and continuity among their various devices. Apple devices share apps and documents with ease.
Among the various smartphones, there’s not much separation when it comes to hardware. If you buy a top-of-the-line iPhone or a top-of-the line Android, you’re going to get comparable quality processors, screens and cameras. Although, with an Apple there is not much variety to choose from. On the other hand, Android phones are made by multiple manufacturers with an array of the options, in a wide range of price points. So, while to top tier models offer a similar value to price ratio, the Android models are available in lower end models for the more budget conscience.
Software
The software on the phones starts with operating system (OS). As noted previously Apple’s OS (known as iOS) is mature, compatible and well-integrated throughout Apple’s ecosystem of products. The Android OS has come a long way in catching up with Apple and some would say it has now surpassed it.
When it comes to apps, Apple maintains a tight grip on the apps that allowed to run on iOS. It’s much more difficult for an Apple app to get approved and included in Apple’s app store. Also, when you buy an Apple product, you can expect the same uniform and familiar series of apps to be preinstalled – not so with the Android. Depending on the Android phone’s manufacturer, the phone will come with very different set of default applications out of the box.
Android gives you a much greater variety of apps and widgets available at your fingertips. But this variety of apps may come with a price. Android’s app software goes through less stringent quality control and approval requirements than Apple’s app store. As such, the quality and stability of this software is more of a gamble – particularly for less mainstream apps. Less rigorous requirements and approval also increase the possibility of malware or spyware.
Another annoying aspect of Android’s software infrastructure and marketing is bloatware. Depending on what manufacturer or telecom you get your phone from, it will be potentially loaded with a dizzying array of apps you have no need for. It can be a time-consuming process to sort those all these apps and figure out what they do and if you should keep them. It reminds me of back in the day when you bought a new windows machine and opened it up to find a trash heap of garbage software loaded on your shiny new computer – not nice.
Cost
There’s no way around this issue, but Apple products are expense. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Apple products, but they come with a notable price premium. Top of the line, comparable, Android products are not far behind, but in general, there is a noticeable price gap. And the same can also be said for the apps available within each ecosystem. Apple apps are more controlled and more costly, while the wild west of android apps also has a noticeable price differential. I suppose android app developers operate in an environment of increased competition.
The Battlefield
So far, we’ve seen that Androids offer more variety in models and software – particularly in the sheer quantity of available apps. This is also evident in each phone’s skin. With the iPhone you can change a few basic settings to make the phone appear different, but in actuality, all iPhones look pretty much the same. Androids tend to look completely different from manufacturer to manufacturer. Their look and feel is also much more customizable enabling you to personalize your phone to a larger extent than the iPhones.
Conclusion
If I employ an analogy to this analysis, although it may not be completely valid. Apple iPhones are akin to sticking with the stable releases of mainstream, well tested software while Androids may be likened to the latest development release candidates of more cutting edge software. Apples offer a safe, reliable, familiar, and comforting experience, while Androids give you cutting edge hardware and software that can potentially outperform. Which are you – conservative or progressive?