[Holywar] Android vs. iOS.

[Adiasporical]

Despite whatever you use as your daily driver, a smartphone is something most of us probably have. So let's indulge ourselves in a civil, but passionate discussion of what makes Android or iOS better than the other.

[Callie Del Noire]

I’m conflicted.. I like my iOS devices and the fairly good security they come with.. BUT I wish certain APIs were there to be utilized ..

For example, for WiFi scanning/troubleshooting I find my kindle with a free ap is more useful that my iPad Pro is. i can pull out my WiFi scanning app and see who is running on which channels and move my router’s channel around a bit. I got SOMEONE in my complete whose router sits across like six of the 2.5 ghz range channels. (It’s a huge mesa in the scan()

I don’t think one or the other is particularly BETTER overall but have perks

I do know three of my android favoring friends usually root their phones as soon as they get them to remove what they call ‘service bloat’ something I don’t have to do with my iPhone

Keep it polite folks.

[Vekseid]

Apple preaches 'Think different' but practices 'Make everyone the same.'

I am eager to see how Fuchsia turns out.

[dasein]

Apple preaches 'Think different' but practices 'Make everyone the same.'

I am eager to see how Fuchsia turns out.

I agree wholeheartedly with this.

I usually try to switch between the platforms and use an iPhone for 2 years and then an Android phone for 2 years. Generally I find that Android is more flexible but less polished in the UI. Apple's UI standards are higher so the look and feel of applications is better. Over the years the app ecosystems seem to have equalized but it was touch and go for Android in the early days.

Just my 2 cents!

[Tolvo]

As a very casual user I use IOS. But I honestly hate it, a lot of my problems though just seem to be there generally for smart phones no matter the maker, and I'm not really fond of any of the companies involved. So I just go with the easy to get my hands on one that our family uses. And pray that I don't have to sign into my apple account because every time it is a nightmare.

[dasein]

As a very casual user I use IOS. But I honestly hate it, a lot of my problems though just seem to be there generally for smart phones no matter the maker, and I'm not really fond of any of the companies involved. So I just go with the easy to get my hands on one that our family uses. And pray that I don't have to sign into my apple account because every time it is a nightmare.

I hate forgetting my AppleID. Such craziness is involved to try and unlock it.

These companies and all this data. Do we really trust them?

[Callie Del Noire]

Apple does an intense job in protecting client info. We couldn’t do much buying guide folks in resetting passwords or give ANY info without verification.  (And I was a senior tech)

I think apple should unclench in some areas. (Porn, some tools such as the aforementioned WiFi tool) and such..but the closed store means a healthier eco system for novice or casual users..

This rush to make everything two-factor authenticate drove me nuts.

[Adiasporical]

Well, I am a clear advocate for Android, but firstly I want to say some things that I do like in Apple products:

   
• Ecosystem. It just works, unless it doesn't sometimes. As far as I can tell from my personal, though miniscule, experience, and from experience of other people, ecosystem is something that's out of the way.
• Privacy. One of the few major companies that happen to care about privacy as much as their users do.
• Ease of use. If you simply need a thing that works, Apple products are most probably a great choice. As long as you don't have some "niche" need "everyday consumer" (by Apple's standards) wouldn't need, you're absolutely fine with what they have to offer.
• Build quality. Yes, there are other manufacturers that also have great build quality, but even I would have serious doubts and be extra sceprical when something is proclaimed as having build quality superior to Apple products.
• Brand. It costs a lot. Everyone knows that. Thus, having an Apple product automatically lets other assume that you easily have money to spend on such a product. (Though it's just an assumption and nothing more.)

I will not claim that this list is exhaustive, or that anything not listed here is not worth mentioning because it's not an advantage of Apple products. This is simply a list of features I personally admit as being pros for Apple products. These are my subjective opinion, however. Just pointing that out.

And with that out of the way, here is something I find appealing about Android:

   
• Customization. With different phones to a different degree, but you always can make your smartphone yours. Custom launchers, keyboards, default apps, along with extensive community that allows for extensive choice in each aspect of how your phone looks, feels, and functions, are in short reach of any app store or third-party sites you have access to.
• Freedom. Again, each phone is different, but consumer has a clear choice to find a product that is as free as they wish. Being able to install whatever OS and whatever flavour of OS, recovery utilities, root the device, and modify it in each and every way imaginable and beyond... True heaven on Earth for any tech savvy user.
• Open source. Being open source by nature, Android allows others to expand and build upon anything and everything, which is a key factor in creating more niche and simply sophisticated tools that Apple users might find struggles having.

Five years ago, I wouldn't have anything to say against claims that iOS is faster, better, or anything else, but right now progress have reached the point where having the best phone out there isn't necessary anymore. For most use cases, iOS and Android-based products have so little to differentiate each other in hardware power division, that the only thing that's left is software. And this is, frankly, the thing that simply boils down to personal taste.
Though I would frown upon anyone who would claim that iOS products are better without having any meaningful experience with Android.

[CopperLily]

iOS. I've used Apple products for a long time, and I find them more intuitive. Also, Google has done a really good job in the last few years of undermining my trust.

[Regina Minx]

I may or may not work for one of the two companies involved in the question and have signed an NDA about the nature of my work. All I'll say is that I use Apple products exclusively. I used a Samsung for a while and did not care for it at all, and I'm back to iPhones now.