Database Info

Android vs iPhone War

April 5th, 2011 by Andrew Greenfield
Today’s myth has brought up quite a stir in the community recently. The Android vs iPhone war is bringing a lot of people back to the Mac vs PC wars of the 90’s. So what’s the myth today? The ol’ “it’s one device vs a million” cover.
“Of course android has a greater market share. If I gave away a bunch of phones for free it’d sell better than the iPhone too even if they were crap. You’re comparing a phone to an OS, that’s not fair. How many android phones are beating the iPhone. Zero. Developers would rather develop for one phone than a hundred that are so severely fragmented that half the apps don’t work. Also, Google makes NOTHING on their phones. Apple makes a killing on the iPhone…” (goes on to make nerd jokes and the whole “all Android users still live with their mothers” thing)
It’s beautiful isn’t it? While yes, both of these parties have these people, the fact that the competition is so good that these people exist is great for business. While it’s easier to see competition helping in Android than iOS (only because Android is updated more frequently), both parties should be thankful for the other. Without this kind of competition our phones wouldn’t be half as good! Enough drooling over the free market…
“You’re comparing a phone to an OS, that’s not fair.”
I see this comment a lot, and honestly, I’m really confused why the hard core Apple supporters continue to use this. Yes, iOS is only on one mobile device (technically more if you count the fact that the iPhone 3G is still being sold). Yes, it is true that if you include iPods and the iPad iOS probably has a greater user base than Android. But that’s not what this war is about (at least yet…Tablet wars are definitely in the future). This war is about which company can put more phones in people’s hands. We (as in the Android community) are not comparing a phone to an OS, we’re comparing a mobile OS to another mobile OS. It’s Apple’s choice to only sell one device. It’s a great thing for their bottom line and right on par with the company’s brilliant business strategy. However, the fact that Android phones are now selling faster than iOS phones (note, iOS phones, not “the iPhone”) means that the market is shifting to Android and away from iOS….Which brings me to my next point:
“Developers would rather develop for one phone than a hundred”
This is false, and precisely why market share is important. Think about it this way: You’re selling girl scout cookies. You have the option to sell to one neighborhood that is admittedly, much more prone to buying your cookies. Or you have the option to sell on a county level. Which would you pick? Anyone with an understanding of economics would pick the latter. The larger your market, the more opportunities you have to make money. This is why developers think Android will be the best to develop for. It’s the same thing Apple did to RIM. Why would anyone choose to make an app for Blackberry when they can make it for iOS and have an audience that’s many times larger. If you look at it from a third party point of view, those companies will back the OS that has the most users. It’s exactly what happened during Mac vs PC. Only now (with Apple’s impressive growth in Mac sales) are programs being developed for both (here’s to hoping Engineering software will soon be brought to my Macbook Pro!). It’s a vicious cycle. If you fall behind in market share companies stop developing for you. If they stop developing for you, you lose customers (market share). The cycle continues and continues. It’s what happened to Apple computers in the 90’s, it’s what’s happening to Palm and Blackberry now, and it’s what happened to the PSP in its early scraps against the DS. Do I think this will happen to iOS? Absolutely not. iOS is too good and has too large of a user base to be pushed out of existence. However, it should worry the iPhone crowd that as Android continues to dominate you may have to worry about whether Andoid apps will be ported to iOS instead of the other way around.
“…so severely fragmented that half the apps don’t work”
There are two ways to answer this. First, I could make the point that most apps require 2.1 or higher, and 80% of Android users have at least 2.1. Secondly, I could bring up the notion that most of the people who REALLY care about their phone aren’t on the few that are running something under 2.x. The small share of Android users that are obsessed with their OS probably own the latest and greatest Android phone. Does my mom care that she has 2.1 on her phone? No. I don’t even think she knows what that is, let alone when she’ll be upgraded. The fact of the matter is is that the majority of the market won’t care if they have an older OS than the person sitting next to them as long as their phones work. Will older phones be useless eventually? Yeah, I can’t argue that the few people that are still running 1.5 are probably running into a lot of problems. However, the amount of people upset with their 1.5 phone aren’t even CLOSE to the people who have an iPhone 3G and are upset with how iOS 4 crippled their phone. It is important to note that not ALL iPhone 3G’s are slowed to a crawl with iOS 4, but the product was widespread enough that Apple is still offering fixes and updates to help out. 4.3 is MUCH better than 4.0, but a lot of 3G users still say that the problem is getting better, but not fixed (this only caught my attention because one of my good friends has the iPhone 3G problem and sent me this funny video to explain to me why she was praying that the iPhone 5 comes soon). I’m not pointing fingers, I’m pointing out that EVERY technology company has this problem; it’s just pointed out with Android more often because of how quickly it upgrades. Is it a “bigger problem” on Android than on iOS? Yeah. But it’s not half as bad as anti-Android enthusiast claim it to be, and whatever OS camp you reside in has the same problems.
“Also, Google makes NOTHING on their phones. Apple makes a killing on the iPhone.”
This statement is true. Apple makes a lot of money on their phone sales, Google makes next to nothing (if not nothing) on the their phone sales. However, unless your bottom line depends on Apple’s, this means nothing in this debate; but that’s for another time. The fact of the matter is is that these are just different approaches at making money. Apple’s business strategy is probably the best of any company out there right now; I can’t think of another company (except maybe Nintentdo) that is having more fun rolling around in their money. They make a lot of it. Google isn’t exactly hurting though. While Apple banks its earnings on the immediate sale, Google looks more long term (and even if you like Apple’s strategy better, you have to admit Google as a company knows what it’s doing…how often do you use Yahoo search?). They know if they put the device in your hands, you’ll buy apps, you’ll search, you’ll hit ads, you’ll use Google appliances, etc. Apple takes the “less devices, more money per” approach and Google takes the “more devices, less money per” approach. Both work in their own right. Apple has been doing it for years and they’ll continue to be immensely successful at it. They’ve never given a crap if Macs beat PCs in sales. They could be selling one Mac for every 400 PCs for all they care, as long as that one Mac is still pulling in as much money (and probably more) than the 400 PCs. Same with iOS. Apple users are so excited to have been the top dog in OS for once. They fail to realize that that’s not Apple’s business strategy. iOS will more than likely not be the most used OS in the mobile world at the end of the day, but who cares? Apple will still make a killing on the large market they still have. If you don’t believe me look at video game companies. Nintendo is the only company that makes money off selling its consoles. They make money on every DS and Wii they sell. They’ve been around for years, clearly their strategy works. Microsoft and Sony (Sony especially) take HUGE hits when they sell a console. Before costs were reduced, Sony took some $100 loss for every PS3 sold. They banked on making money once the device was in the consumers hands. They’d buy games and other services to negate that loss and eventually turn a profit. Both Sony and Microsoft are still around, so clearly their business strategy works. Just because you don’t agree with a business strategy doesn’t mean it isn’t successful. Tell either Apple or Google that they need to rethink their business strategy and they’ll walk away laughing.
Closing Thoughts
Anybody can take facts and spin them towards their preference. The original quote was taken from someone who took facts about Android/Apple and spun them towards Apple. I took the same facts and spun them towards Android. The fact of the matter is is that neither of these companies are in any danger of being phased out. Android has a lot of work to do before it truly passes iOS as the preferred OS, but at the same time iOS has a lot of catching up to do to be able to compete with the innovation of Android. This is how competition works. Now, as a consumer, sit back and reap the benefits; whichever device you prefer.
http://www.talkandroid.com/36011-debunking-the-sheep-part-3/

Awesome article, i have both the iphone and an android phone, xperia x10. im gonna post this article on my facebook page just cause this morning in my status i posted that i would use both and see which is user friendlier. Then came all the hate, but it really just comes down to preference. Ios and android are going to rule the mobile os for now and both will be succesful. The debate mostly comes from new android user and some old iphone users and how the newer version of android are actually as user friendly as an iphone. Iphone was on its own for a while but since the newer version of android, more and more people are as satisfied with the their android devices

AT LAST!Someone who speaks with reason on the matter!I don't care whether you prefer iOS or Android,I just care that you have a balanced opinion on the matter.It all comes down to personal preference.What do I care if the guy/gal next to me prefers a different OS than I do?Yeah,I'm one of the guys who use Ubuntu as their daily OS on my PC,so what?Does that make me better or worse than the guys who use Windows or Mac?No.Same with phones.
More people should read your article.From me you have a well earned thanks.

Nice article

.......or you can just remember the old saying "arguing on the internet is like special olympics, even if you win, your still retarded" , and do something better with your time ....
no offense at op , but the average fanboy is dumber than a rock and even worse with apple

Lawl no one cares for WP7? xD

I really love my Apple products, and that includes all sorts of things (even some screwdrivers, hats, pens, water bottles ...)
But my iPod touch 1g is running Android. Apple has dropped support for me with that product, and I figured I may as well do the same thing to them with it

Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App

Yes... sadly enough WP7 is done for in a few ears...

The argument is APPLES and ORANGE.......... or to put more succinctly a non-sequitor
Apple market approach is and has been always has been to market the image and sell the image " only apple is unique or the best, only the best people, etc."
This is a piggy backed approach from the IPOD basis, which capitalized on online music in a mp3 format. It was and is a successful. But,... they're approach still states that they sell you WHAT THEY think is pertinent and decide on what you need, then charge you retail plus 20% for it. It is and still remains a locked and closed system. Creating a image fervor much like when xbox 1st came out, ...long lines customer fights etc.......... 2-digit mob mentality.......... they are good at this .....and it shows.
Android, on the other hand was not created to be closed system since it was based on Linux, it was open source, and the effort was to see if the public would drive development as well as create the new market that would automatically follow...... in essence a novel experiment.......... The result speaks for itself. An open more stable platform that has been embraced around the world. People need to remember that the market is not USA or Europe, but the Entire World. And that, Android has taken over and will continue until the market share of the Iphone IOS will be that of the Mac to the Windows platform. A solid following but, a minority player.
THE DANGER,---- is if Android then is turned upside down by Google, who then figures we are all addicted so now pay up or no support.......... I personally do not think this will happen, BUT... then I don't trust any corporation at all and so, I never let my guard down.
Like I said different animals vying for the same market................

^_^
thank you for your objective approach.

Android: Does the OS sell the hardware? or is the hardware selling the OS?

When it comes to android, you know that you have an outstanding range of hardware. From the low-end Optimus T/S to the titans of the OS such as the Galaxy S2, and everything imaginable in between. These days, you can even find generic china phones running an, often dated, android. Every carrier has it, they come in all price ranges, and they're available on demand. The question I pose to you, "Is android's key selling point the hardware?"
I understand that numerous XDA members and even some outsiders enjoy the limitless customization options made readily available in android and that's awesome. However, the general consumer is happy to end customization at setting their own ringtone. It's not a breaking factor for the majority that you can swap out kernels. Overall, android is a decent enough platform, but for the masses, I see little that it offers, hardware aside, that it's competitors don't.
Here recently, a thread was posted regarding the ASUS Transformer 2, a pentacore processor in a tablet. Now, most people have yet to exhaust the resources on their dual core phones. A penta-core device seems to be pushing the limits. Considering that it is running a mobile OS, by the time those cores could be utilized, wouldn't the tablet be long outdated? However, I know it will sell well because the word "Penta-core" sounds too awesome for the masses to pass up.
Another occurrence I've seen, having worked in retail shops for some time. A lot of customers, when asked about what OS their phone is running, will reply, "HTC" or, "Samsung." A lot of them have no idea what our little green friend is. Another point towards my personal opinion that the hardware is a huge selling factor.
Overall, android is a very complete platform. It is not my daily driver, but I do enjoy it whenever I have time to tinker. I am inquiring about this matter to get your opinions, what sells? Hardware or software?

I think for me its a little bit of both. I like the fact that the hardware is there in my 3d when I need to push the system really hard. Its not often I do, but its good that when I do, it executes the tasks with ease.
On the same hand there are huge software benefits for me. I love the UI and that I can set swype gestures to open particular apps or settings. It makes multi tasking tthat much easier and fluid for me.
Also, at least from what I have seen with iOS5 (my girl has the 4s) is that android seems to be ahead in certain areas of functionality. For example it is not an innovative thing (to me anyways, being an android user) to be able to back up your device without the use of a computer... I have been doing wireless backups and internal backups since I bought my first android phone.
I think one thing you mentioned before... I think it was you, anyways... was pretty much right on when you said that android is capable of meeting so many different needs in the sense that you have a wide range in variety of devices to choose from and at different costs. There are high end phones available such that perform to today's standards in the mobile world, and there are lower end ones available that are more cost effective.
I feel if you yourself are innovative and creative, you are way more capable of taking an android phone and building the UI to what you want/need. I don't sacrifice functionality for speed, ever. In the end it is still just a phone, but I prefer this platform because it caters to that need I have to customize my phone the way I want it to be, not what somebody else feels it should be.
---------- Post added at 02:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:13 AM ----------
And to address your comment about the bajjillion core tab....
Seems the hardware is way ahead of the software in this case... therefore, I am not impressed by it.
I have a Motorola xoom and it has plenty of power to do what I need it to do. I will not be taking it back to simply have two more cores under the hood. And somebody else mentioned the new kal el device only has 1gb of ram? In my opinion that is really disappointing for a device with that kind of processing power.

i buy phones based on hardware specs
the OS is optional
I prefer to load my OS of choice
just like my PCs / Laptops

z33dev33l said:
When it comes to android, you know that you have an outstanding range of hardware. From the low-end Optimus T/S to the titans of the OS such as the Galaxy S2, and everything imaginable in between. These days, you can even find generic china phones running an, often dated, android. Every carrier has it, they come in all price ranges, and they're available on demand. The question I pose to you, "Is android's key selling point the hardware?"
I understand that numerous XDA members and even some outsiders enjoy the limitless customization options made readily available in android and that's awesome. However, the general consumer is happy to end customization at setting their own ringtone. It's not a breaking factor for the majority that you can swap out kernels. Overall, android is a decent enough platform, but for the masses, I see little that it offers, hardware aside, that it's competitors don't.
Here recently, a thread was posted regarding the ASUS Transformer 2, a pentacore processor in a tablet. Now, most people have yet to exhaust the resources on their dual core phones. A penta-core device seems to be pushing the limits. Considering that it is running a mobile OS, by the time those cores could be utilized, wouldn't the tablet be long outdated? However, I know it will sell well because the word "Penta-core" sounds too awesome for the masses to pass up.
Another occurrence I've seen, having worked in retail shops for some time. A lot of customers, when asked about what OS their phone is running, will reply, "HTC" or, "Samsung." A lot of them have no idea what our little green friend is. Another point towards my personal opinion that the hardware is a huge selling factor.
Overall, android is a very complete platform. It is not my daily driver, but I do enjoy it whenever I have time to tinker. I am inquiring about this matter to get your opinions, what sells? Hardware or software?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First time I have to agree with you pal.BUT:
i)Those guys/gals whose customisation needs end with setting the ringtone are the ones who won't care or even won't realize if the OS is different between an iPhone and an Android device.
ii)Android offers most(if not all) of the things other OSes offer,plus the infinite customisation capabilities no other OS has.Now this is what matters for those of us who can do more than changing the ringtone.
Other than these two things,I generally agree.In the end,though,it's user preference that matters.And people's idiocy in fact.Hell,many people buy their phones depending on how many megapixels their camera can do!

AllGamer said:
I prefer to load my OS of choice
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd prefer that too, but mobile hardware is pretty much completely closed, so this is not really possible in practice, except maybe on very very few models.
To answer the title question: I don't know about others, but for me it's definitely the OS. Android is the closest to Linux as I'll probably get on a phone, people are free to cook up their own ROMs (not completely free in many cases, there's closed components in every ROM, but oh well), vast customization capabilities, for getting software you're not limited to one store with draconian rules and sometimes arbitrary decisions.

Certainly a combination of software + hardware with a little bit of company preference.
But considering the range of manufacturers for android based phones, I find it hard to lag behind hardware wise.

1) I look for a device that I think will last me the three years of my contract or at least the majority of it
2) I look here on XDA and see what the dev community is like
3) I buy the phone

I would guess that for 80%+ of phone buyers the main factor is price. Sure they know about the iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy devices, but for most those phohnes are out of their price bracket. So they find the device which has the same sort of idea but in a cheap package, which has helped Android no end since there are low end Android devices, and Apple have little interest in that.
For myself as a more techie person, I use Android becuase of the freedom to do what i want with my hardware. At least that's why i got into Android. Now I will continue to buy Android devices, but the major reason is I've invested in the app market, I have tens of pounds worth of apps for Android. To jump to anotehr platform now would mean having to start over with that. That's the power of these stores and markets, once you are invested changing platform is a lot more of a jump that just deciding which you like the most at the time.

countstex said:
I would guess that for 80%+ of phone buyers the main factor is price. Sure they know about the iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy devices, but for most those phohnes are out of their price bracket. So they find the device which has the same sort of idea but in a cheap package, which has helped Android no end since there are low end Android devices, and Apple have little interest in that.
For myself as a more techie person, I use Android becuase of the freedom to do what i want with my hardware. At least that's why i got into Android. Now I will continue to buy Android devices, but the major reason is I've invested in the app market, I have tens of pounds worth of apps for Android. To jump to anotehr platform now would mean having to start over with that. That's the power of these stores and markets, once you are invested changing platform is a lot more of a jump that just deciding which you like the most at the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen the price comment being made multiple times but aren't these devices pretty close to each other in terms of price after a 2 yr contract? In fact if you shop around, you can find some of these highend units for nearly nothing from online stores such as amazon
As for me, overall package is what sold me to galaxy s2. Form factor, hardware specs, overall implementation of the OS (gpu acceleration various places), etc. Version number really doesn't really bother me (2.3.3 vs 2.3.4/5/6/7) as long as there aren't any key features missing in the current revision that exists in the newer revisions.

Gusar321 said:
I'd prefer that too, but mobile hardware is pretty much completely closed, so this is not really possible in practice, except maybe on very very few models.
To answer the title question: I don't know about others, but for me it's definitely the OS. Android is the closest to Linux as I'll probably get on a phone, people are free to cook up their own ROMs (not completely free in many cases, there's closed components in every ROM, but oh well), vast customization capabilities, for getting software you're not limited to one store with draconian rules and sometimes arbitrary decisions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HD2 was a great example
then there are many other HTC devices that did the same
and a few Samsung devices as well
and there's the HP Touchpad
and...

For most people it's both.
They're attracted for the first time by the look and find the OS easy to use.
Despite people stating that the iphone is for people who just want to use a smartphone for the first time etc and Android is for techies and geeks to customise, if that were actually true then that would mean that there are a hell of a lot of geeks out there, which obviously isn't the case.
I would guess the majority of Android users' extent of customisation is changing the picture of their wallpaper, and that's the thing, with Android you can do that, it's easy to use, with the extra buttons it can seem more logical to new users compared with the single button on the iphone for instance.
It has the "apps and the wifis" that average users want, it looks good and you can make it look pretty much how you like.
Being able to just plug it into another computer and transfer files is a huge boon too, something a colleague was very disappointed with the iphone4 because of it's lack of ability.

There is 500+ android devices on the market globally, its the brand name and hardware specs that sell. Not the os.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

I'd rather say that that none of those sell the other: it's actually the price selling both, plus the "status symbol" factor thatbhas to do with Apple things. Androids are generally cheaper then both the iPhone and WP7 phones. This, plus the fact that most people don't seem to like WP7 tiled ui, basically because it doesn't "look like an iPhone" enough. That might sound harsh, like saying that most people are dumb, but it's not (only) that actually: people got used to icons since the day they got their first pc, no wonder they go for something that looks more familiar to them when they wanna buy a smartphone. Maybe Win8 will totally change the name of the game, but that's it for the moment (sadly enough I dare say).

I think we have to remember that 'most' people don't include the tiny fraction of the consumer market that are active on XDA. We make choices on a range of factors as we are better informed about both hardware and software. When we walk into a phone shop we want to assess the phone on build quality, size, Android version, display type, etc.
When the average punter walks into the same shop their buying choice usually boils down to no more than, 'Oh look, a shiny thing. I want that one'.

.
Thread moved to Android. Would advise you to read forum rules and post in correct section.
Failure to comply with forum rules will result in an infraction and/or ban depending on severity of rule break.

Do you review the content of my threads before moving them or do you see my name and play pin the tail on the donkey with the final location of the thread?

what can an android do?

I have just gotten an upgrade for my carrier and I am having trouble deciding if I would like to stay with an iPhone and get the iphone4s or go to an android and get the Samsung galaxy s2,I have never owned an android so I was wondering what can an android do compaired to iphone.

bigger screen and expandable storage, feels more like a computer than iphone does. They can both achieve the same goal but with different methods I think.

iOS shoves you into a shoebox.
Android shoves you into a moving box.
While both boxes, at least android you can move your elbows around.
Through rooting you have a wide range of customizing your phone with competing ROMs. These roms most often allow you to have a more optimized experience. But choose your manufacturer carefully if ROMing is what you want to do. Some manufacturers make this process easier or harder, but generally you'll have a bunch of super nerds that are more than willing to help you out.
iOS has a claim to stability over android. But think of it as having a paint by numbers and apple hands you the colors one at a time and forces you to do it their way. Android has versatility.
Uncle Rico: "I…I said the twelve pack, not the twenty-four pack. You're just gonna have to mix and match." Napoleon: "Shut up, say it so that the whole world can hear."

IOS Devices -
Smoother (High end androids such as SGS2 are about as smooth)
More Games.
Easier to use
Siri? (4s only - There are similar android apps but i don't believe any are as good.)
Android -
Customization (You can basically change everything on stock android.)
Larger variety of apps (Keyboards such as Swype, Launchers, etc)
I Don't really see why people complain about android Crashes/FC. They rarely happen on Stock roms (Not enough to be annoying) and usually occur due to doing something that isn't meant to be done (Task managers, Bad ROMs), or a faulty app.
Also, Rooting is pretty useful. It basically allows you to do anything with your phone (Such as install ubuntu, Android roms, better Radios for better signals, uninstall system apps, etc)

Everything!! I'm on my way to root this very instant.

From my personal experience, Android is far superior than the iphone 4 (can't say much about 4s as i just upgraded from the iphone 4).
Yeah iphone 4 has more apps but the majority of them are useless and get boring FAST. Whereas, flashing roms like cyanogenmod is totally addicting and so much fun (shame my phone is stuck in alpha version for cyanogenmod). I havent seen much of a difference in the retina display because my phone's screen is larger, looks crisp and looks beautiful.
Best thing is if you dont want to root you can still install emulators for free regardless of rooting. I <3 pokemon on my android.
Choice is yours but i am never going back to iphone because my phone is more fun.
Cheers
Sent from my SGH-I727R using XDA App

Well I like iPhone. I am using Android now. I like the spirit of android that trust its' user.

I like android, because you can experiment a lot
Sent from my HTC Runnymede using xda premium

Apple makes something that just works. but if you don't like the way it works, too bad. Android devices work just as well, albeit differently, but it's nice to know that if there is anything in the UI that isn't to your liking, you can simply change it. in the early days of Android, the UI was sluggish and riddled with incompatibilities and crashes, which gave the iPhone a heightened sense of 'perfection.' this is a thing of the past. new, high-end Android devices are well-polished and just as snappy as any iPhone. ICS will further bridge the gap, especially in dual core devices.
one area Android cannot compete with Apple in, though, and I don't know if it will ever be able to: battery life.. and when you consider what the device is (above all else, it's a phone.. you probably need it to communicate, and therefore you probably want it to be powered on at all times), that's as important as any other feature. there's just no comparison. even if you spend 5 hours tweaking settings to minimize draw, your fancy shmancy Android device's battery will never last as long as an iPhone's. of course, again, we come back to the customization thing: with Android devices, you could just get a ludicrously overstuffed battery replacement and probably come near iPhone uptime, something you cannot do with Apple devices.
my honest opinion? (keep in mind I have owned 6 android devices since the Dream first came out.. I'm not an Apple fanboy at all - I'm not a fanboy of any fancy telephone. it's a phone, not my life) I would own an iPhone 4S over any current Android offering if I hadn't boycotted Apple years ago. they're not the type of business I willingly support... but give them respect when it's due: they make fantastic mobile devices.
for now, I'm more than happy with my MT4GS. I like the phys keyboard, which is superb, and I don't have to look like a halfwit when I'm sending e-mails on the go to the executive team. I like the hardware, which is identical to the Sensation's. I like the 3.7" screen coupled with HDPI resolution, which gives me plenty of viewing area on webpages and whatnot without crazy battery draw like you'll get from these gimmicky 5" HD screens. the camera is phenomenal for a phone. and even though it ships with the most disgusting form of Sense imaginable (T-mo's espresso), as I've said, it's easy to change things around to get the experience to my liking thanks to Android's ease of customization.
to all of the Android zealots who have posted here and will surely continue to post: get over it. the iPhone is the benchmark, that's the way it is, and in the foreseeable future, that's the way it will be. there's a reason for that, and it's not just because people who are Apple loyalists are idiots... ALL of apple's products are highly refined and very user friendly. if you're the kind of person who doesn't have the patience for technology, but wants to stay connected, you'd be dumb to go with anything but Apple. if you don't fit into that category; if you like to tinker, if you don't like feeling locked down by your mobile OS, buy an Android device and enjoy it... quit getting your panties in a bunch because the entire world doesn't see eye-to-eye with you concerning your choice in the realm of glorified telephones. if it works for you, that's all that matters, and who cares what your buddies with their iThings say? it's all just stuff in the end... stuff that will end up in a landfill just like the rest of the stuff you own.
just my $.02 (more like $.05, that was a novella)

I'd liken the iPhone to a safety bubble, where everything works well and doesn't overextend its boundaries. If you're someone who likes to tinker with everything, and wants more customizability, in terms of OS and phone choice, I'd go with Android.

This is how I recently described the difference between the iPhone and Android. I expected to get tutted at for saying it, but most people here agreed.
iPhones are for people who want to look like they know tech.
Android is for people that actually do know tech (or at least want to learn).

Nerds = android
IPhone = everyone else
If you wanna mod and my your phone and completely make it your own get an android.
The iPhone is great straight out of the box but is really locked down.
You basically need to tweak an Android phone to make it have decent battery life or get an extra battery.
Perks of android is options and oh btw ICS is amazing, it runs flawless on my phone, though I had to tweak it.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App

basically everything a computer can

Android is like having a normal car, with all the proper features. iOS is like having that car with only 1 pedal, 1 gear, and just the fuel gauge on the dashboard.

Skv012a said:
Android is like having a normal car, with all the proper features. iOS is like having that car with only 1 pedal, 1 gear, and just the fuel gauge on the dashboard.
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....and it's shiny....

sooyong94 said:
....and it's shiny....
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Ah yes, polished chrome for paint job that just blinds everyone else including yourself. Also, mirrors show what's in front of you rather than behind.

Most of the stated I agree with. I'd add that to me, iPhones are boring. What do you have when you turn on iPhone? Just a bunch of icons. Not very creative or different? Not even animated wallpaper. On Adndroid, half the fun is customizing the desktop. You can have live wallpaper, widgets, folders, icons... And yes, iPhone is probably a BIT smoother and more stable than most Android phones. But this is not the fault of Android phones, it is more a thing that you can't do half the things with an iPhone that you can do with Android. Apple limited their device and ofcourse it performs better because it doesn't do many things android does. Imagine only Live Wallpaper. How much more CPU power Android phones must use in order to display animated background.... then all the widgets. That constantly change/update.... while Apple devices only display rows of icons and no wonder they run slightly smoother. And in the end, as someone already stated, I will never buy an Apple product because I don't like the attitude of people using Apple. Those are mostly non-tech people that think they are so cool only because of something they OWN. IMHO it is way more cool to be ABLE to customize your device and understand how it works and tweak it than to be able to PURCHASE something. Just like they say in new Samsung commercial... one guy says "I could never have Samsung, I'm creative" and his friend replies "Dude, you're a barista" ;-) 99% of thos cool people are not businessman or even IT. They're waiters and shop assistents that need an ego boost....
P.S.
here it is for those that haven't seen it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&feature=player_embedded&v=6h5JSojJN3Y
Well, just my opinion, hope I didn't insult anyone.
regards,
D.

dalanik said:
Most of the stated I agree with. I'd add that to me, iPhones are boring. What do you have when you turn on iPhone? Just a bunch of icons. Not very creative or different? Not even animated wallpaper. On Adndroid, half the fun is customizing the desktop. You can have live wallpaper, widgets, folders, icons... And yes, iPhone is probably a BIT smoother and more stable than most Android phones. But this is not the fault of Android phones, it is more a thing that you can't do half the things with an iPhone that you can do with Android. Apple limited their device and ofcourse it performs better because it doesn't do many things android does. Imagine only Live Wallpaper. How much more CPU power Android phones must use in order to display animated background.... then all the widgets. That constantly change/update.... while Apple devices only display rows of icons and no wonder they run slightly smoother. And in the end, as someone already stated, I will never buy an Apple product because I don't like the attitude of people using Apple. Those are mostly non-tech people that think they are so cool only because of something they OWN. IMHO it is way more cool to be ABLE to customize your device and understand how it works and tweak it than to be able to PURCHASE something. Just like they say in new Samsung commercial... one guy says "I could never have Samsung, I'm creative" and his friend replies "Dude, you're a barista" ;-) 99% of thos cool people are not businessman or even IT. They're waiters and shop assistents that need an ego boost....
Well, just my opinion, hope I didn't insult anyone.
regards,
D.
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Also known as sheep.

Thing is, I have recently fled from the flock of sheep (I had an iphone 4, got it from a friend for free as I lost my Galaxy). I absolutely love the creative ability of android, I miss being in a moving truck instead of a shoebox. If you're deciding on which to get, it depends on what you want it to do;
Want something to just work? Get an iPhone.
Want the phone to be more flexible and allow you to customize almost every conceivably possible option? Get an android phone.

android can do what chuck norris cant

Is Apple superior to Android?

I personally don't like Apple products: they're overpriced, designed for planned obsolescence, dislike the marketing campaign behind them, but I have to admit that when I use an Apple iPad, iPhone, etc, you can definitely tell there's a difference in the feel and experience that an Apple product gives you that Android just doesn't have. Why is this? Does Apple just use better hardware, screens, graphic processors, etc?
Let me know your thoughts.

DJRepresent said:
I personally don't like Apple products: they're overpriced, designed for planned obsolescence, dislike the marketing campaign behind them, but I have to admit that when I use an Apple iPad, iPhone, etc, you can definitely tell there's a difference in the feel and experience that an Apple product gives you that Android just doesn't have. Why is this? Does Apple just use better hardware, screens, graphic processors, etc?
Let me know your thoughts.
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Well, considering that Samsung(the S10+ actually has superior hardware and screen compared to Apple) makes parts for Apple........
Add to that the fact that android treats you like an administrator and iOS treats you like a user. Freedom vs being in a cage, having control of what you use instead of being forced to use what someone else decides for you to use.
It probably won't be too many years from now that Apple will cut their own throat somehow and lose the market due to Apple's tendency to not be compatible with anything except other Apple products.
They did this in the 80s-90s in their early days of making computers, they ended up falling behind then IBM and IBM compatible systems took over because it was like PCs today, the hardware pretty much works with everything in a mostly universal/interchangeable manner. This is similar to how android is more cross compatible with other hardware in a somewhat universal/interchangeable manner than Apple/iOS products are.
The gap has recently started to open between iOS and android with android starting to pull ahead. 80% of the world predominantly uses android, only the US uses a large percentage of Apple devices. I'm beginning to see people that have faithfully used Apple for 10 years switching to android.
Give it a few more years, things will begin to change more swiftly because Apple tends to rigidly stick to playing their own game. The last few phones they released didn't really change much of anything compared to previous models and they tend to take away features that a lot of their uses depend on, such as headphone jack, expandable storage slot, etc...
Sent from my SM-S767VL using Tapatalk

Yes but even years before this, I noticed that Apple iOS devices still had an edge on Android. I've always used Android and but a lot of my friends are diehard Apple users and they'll pay a premium for it. And I'm sure that the reason for it is the user interface is more engaging. I'm still wondering why Android can't offer this.

Curiosity kills the cat: Eager to know what the considerations of new buyers are in choosing a new device, either be it an Android one or an Apple.

Hi all, I fully realize that this is a difficult question in this forum of mainly Android adepts, but nevertheless I'm just curious what people drive to buy an Android device or an Apple one. Wherefore then this question? Simple, at this very moment there are two incompatible worlds, the Android one versus the Apple one, e.g. either you're an Android adept and hate Apple or vice versa. But there is since a short while a change in the stubbern Apple's philosophy to determine what you can do with it's devices, meaning nothing at all. Apple used to determine how you use the device. Since the release of Apple iOS14.5 there is a slight, but significant change, in this philosophy. Now you're able to customize your own home screen with widgets, etc. You're even able to get your Apple's home display look like an Android one (see attachment). I have been for many years an Android adept who always stated the Apple is for dummies. After the release of the iWatch 6 and noticing all of it's capabilities, I wanted one but neglected it cause I did not want an iPhone for the above reasons. This changed after the release of iOS14.5 and certainly after the release of iOS 15. I now own not only the iWatch 6 but also the Apple 12 Pro Max and customized my iPhone to my needs. So all in all, I'm just curious if this kneel from Apple towards it's users leads to a sort of "in between world", instead of two incompatible worlds. Kind regards kuzibri

IMO you can't compare Apple with Android, but at most Apple's iPhone with Android phones from different manufacturers, Apple's iOS with Android OS which is different from manufacturer to manufacturer.
My resume with regards to difference:
Phones with Android OS can be expensive, phones with iOS always are, although both are based on an unix-like kernel.

Hi, thanks for your post. It's not my intention to compare Apple with Android or vv, but just curious what drives people to either buy (one of the many) an Android device or an Apple one. Both sides have very great devices but the world between them is immense. Kind regards, kuzibri

In September, 2021 the worldwide market share of Apple iPhones and Android OS based phones in terms of devices with a mobile OS was
73% Android OS based phones
17% Apple iPhones
what I think says all.

jwoegerbauer said:
In September, 2021 the worldwide market share of Apple iPhones and Android OS based phones in terms of devices with a mobile OS was
73% Android OS based phones
17% Apple iPhones
what I think says all.
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These % do not mean a lot IMPO. There are lots of Android devices on the market (Samsung, Reno, Huawei, Google, Sony, etc, etc, etc) compared to Apple. So it's completely logical that Android sells more phones than Apple.

kuzibri said:
Simple, at this very moment there are two incompatible worlds, the Android one versus the Apple one, e.g. either you're an Android adept and hate Apple or vice versa.
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That's not entirely true. There are simple people and people who prefer simplicity, but it is not necessarily that simple. Until this year, I've always had both. The only reason I don't now is unfortunate circumstance (factory defect), not choice.
Realistically, there are a decent number of people with Android devices that went after an iPhone and either couldn't get it because it was sold out, found a novelty feature about an Android device that caught their eye, or were sold on how much cheaper it was to get something that the clerk said was "fundamentally identical" (where it mattered). Some go back immediately, some later, and some find they were actually fans of Android that just never knew it.

twistedumbrella said:
That's not entirely true. There are simple people and people who prefer simplicity, but it is not necessarily that simple. Until this year, I've always had both. The only reason I don't now is unfortunate circumstance (factory defect), not choice.
Realistically, there are a decent number of people with Android devices that went after an iPhone and either couldn't get it because it was sold out, found a novelty feature about an Android device that caught their eye, or were sold on how much cheaper it was to get something that the clerk said was "fundamentally identical" (where it mattered). Some go back immediately, some later, and some find they were actually fans of Android that just never knew it.
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Many thanks for your objective answer. This kind of answer is the sole purpose of this thread. Kind regards kuzibri

kuzibri said:
Hi, thanks for your post. It's not my intention to compare Apple with Android or vv, but just curious what drives people to either buy (one of the many) an Android device or an Apple one. Both sides have very great devices but the world between them is immense. Kind regards, kuzibri
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My preferences are simple. Expandable storage, and the ability to unlock the bootloader (proves manufacturer has nothing to hide/true ownership of the device), and dark mode. Blinding white screens were the dumbest idea ever. Anything else is a bonus.

kuzibri said:
Hi all, I fully realize that this is a difficult question in this forum of mainly Android adepts, but nevertheless I'm just curious what people drive to buy an Android device or an Apple one. Wherefore then this question? Simple, at this very moment there are two incompatible worlds, the Android one versus the Apple one, e.g. either you're an Android adept and hate Apple or vice versa. But there is since a short while a change in the stubbern Apple's philosophy to determine what you can do with it's devices, meaning nothing at all. Apple used to determine how you use the device. Since the release of Apple iOS14.5 there is a slight, but significant change, in this philosophy. Now you're able to customize your own home screen with widgets, etc. You're even able to get your Apple's home display look like an Android one (see attachment). I have been for many years an Android adept who always stated the Apple is for dummies. After the release of the iWatch 6 and noticing all of it's capabilities, I wanted one but neglected it cause I did not want an iPhone for the above reasons. This changed after the release of iOS14.5 and certainly after the release of iOS 15. I now own not only the iWatch 6 but also the Apple 12 Pro Max and customized my iPhone to my needs. So all in all, I'm just curious if this kneel from Apple towards it's users leads to a sort of "in between world", instead of two incompatible worlds. Kind regards kuzibri
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can read about my exploits with my Android phone here:
Any help rooting or unlocking bootloader on the incredibly unpopular Blu Life One X3?
So, here's my problem: I bought a Blu Life One X3 late last year since it was on sale for $150 ($100 lower than the current MSRP). Since it was still a new release, I thought that the modders would come after it eventually, so I just waited it...
forum.xda-developers.com
I chose Android because it's infinitely configurable... I've got mine to the point that there's no logging, no aGPS, no ability to remotely enable aGPS or any tracking 'features', no Near Field radio spying, no ads, no ad tracking, etc. My phone doesn't even have an Advertising ID. There's no 'phoning home' to Google or any of the advertising trackers whatsoever.
Everything 'Google' is either uninstalled or disabled completely except for the phone app (I can't find one that works well with this phone), and even that is neutered so contacts and phone calls aren't tracked by Google.
As such, my phone runs a long, long time. Even when using it, the battery only decreases by ~3% / hour. So I could literally talk for 30 hours straight and still have battery left.
Before I modded the phone, the CPU always ran warm because of all the corporate spyware stuff. Now I've got it throttled so when it's plugged into USB, it can run all 8 cores at speeds between 299 MHz and 819 MHz, and when it's unplugged, it's throttled to a single core limited to between 299 MHz and 442 MHz, with little noticeable lag.
My wife, on the other hand, got an iPhone... she's constantly plugging it in to charge, it tracks everything she does and says (and now they're perusing people's cloud storage, purportedly for CP), she gets all sorts of ads for stuff she's mentioned verbally. We've noticed the Siri 'creepy laugh' twice, and the camera came on by itself once... her phone isn't allowed in the bedroom.

Hi @electrofryed and @Lusty Rugnuts, many thanks for your posts and considerations on buying which phone. Your answers I was looking for when starting this thread, kindest regards kuzibri