In the world of rivalry, everyone seems to be taking sides: Beatles vs Stones, Xbox vs PlayStation, red sports team vs blue sports team – and the rivalry between Android users and iOS fans can be just as feverish.
Both operating systems have their pros and cons – but with the announcement of the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, Apple Watch 8and AirPods Pro 2Now might be a good time to (whisper) consider switching from your Android device to iOS?
We don’t want to let the internet explode, but there are some good reasons to consider switching allegiances.
iPhone 14
With the release of the iPhone 14, 14 Pro and the rest of the lineup, Apple has once again raised the bar in terms of what its handsets have to offer.
On the Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple has finally done away with the notch. This has been replaced by the Dynamic Island, where the aperture of the perforated camera now changes size and shape depending on which notifications you receive. It’s a brilliant idea that no Android device currently offers.
There are also updated screens and improved cameras, and the Pro and Pro Max phones get the new A16 Bionic processor. There is also satellite communication, which currently only provides the Huawei Mate 50 offers among Android devices (that is, without going into the limited services offered by Huawei devices).
These are flagship devices that have been significantly improved and certainly offer some compelling reasons to switch from Android.
The Apple Ecosystem
If you already have other Apple devices like a Mac or an iPad, it’s much easier to integrate an iPhone with those devices than trying to get an Android device to communicate with them.
Tools and services like iMessage, AirDrop, FaceTime, and iCloud let you switch from one device to another and have more or less instant access to everything you were doing on the other device. It just works, in a way that truly rivals the Android ecosystem.
One of the reasons Apple’s system works so well is that Apple designed everything that way. With the huge range of Android devices on offer, it’s just not that easy to get everything to play nicely together. Which brings us neatly to point two.
Apple Watch and AirPods
Two other major announcements at Apple’s latest event were the latest versions of the Apple Watch — the Apple Watch 8 and the Apple Watch Ultra — and the AirPods Pro 2.
The Apple Watch has had a major impact on the smartwatch market in recent years, with an estimated 30% market share in 2021 (opens in new tab). It is widely regarded as one of the best if not the best smartwatches on the market – but the Apple Watch only works with an iPhone, so if you want an Apple Watch, you need an iPhone.
The Apple Watch Series 8 brings a number of new features to Apple Watch, such as temperature measurement – which can be especially useful for tracking women’s menstrual cycles – crash detection and new fitness features.
The Apple Watch Ultra brings even more to the party: it’s designed for extreme sports, including scuba diving, and it even includes an 86-decibel siren if you’re out alone and need help.
Apple’s AirPods are compatible with Android devices, but they don’t have the same seamless integration as iPhone. With an iPhone, you simply open the case and it automatically connects your AirPods or Beats headphones to your phone. And once you’ve connected them to one device, they’re automatically linked to other devices that share your Apple ID.
When you pair AirPods with an Android device, you also miss out on other useful features, such as ear detection, battery check and Siri functionality.
Privacy and security
With businesses and fraudsters alike desperate for our data, privacy and security are two key factors worth considering. And while Android does its best to keep you safe, iOS seems to do a better job overall.
According to Norton (opens in new tab), a much higher percentage of mobile malware targets Android devices than iOS. Apple closely monitors its ecosystem, restricting which apps are allowed on the App Store and thus limiting the possibility of rogue agents. It also offers regular software updates that are relatively easy to install.
iOS devices also offer great privacy controls, such as intelligent tracking prevention in Safari, password monitoring and a custom privacy report help to reduce the data that third parties can access.
Software support and bloatware
One consideration that many of us overlook when choosing our device is how long it will receive software support, but as we keep our phones longer it becomes more and more relevant – and this is where Apple goes a long way for its Android. rivals in software features and the iPhone 14 lineup.
We already know that iPhones as old as the iPhone 8 will be compatible with iOS 16. That means Apple will provide its devices with solid software support for five years.
By comparison, the Pixel 6 gets three years of Android updates, plus another two years of security updates — and that’s for a phone made by the people who make the operating system. Samsung, on the other hand, offers four years of Android updates and five years of security updates for its latest phones, but that’s still not as good as what Apple offers – and some other manufacturers are even less competitive.
As we’ve already emphasized, Apple controls its ecosystem very closely, and this means that the user experience is almost identical no matter which model of iPhone you have. The same cannot be said for Android devices.
The various manufacturers using Android on their devices often overlap stock Android with their own interfaces, apps, and other bloatware, which not only threatens to hinder performance on the device, but means that a user who moves from one Android phone to the other switches, possibly a new interface and some new apps.
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