If you buy a new phone today, it is highly likely that you will use one of the two mobile operating systems that dominate the market, iOS or Android. Of the mobile devices that were sold in 2019, 87 percent had Google’s and the rest were from the Apple environment, according to data from the consulting firm International Data Corporation (IDC). So when it comes to choosing, your options boil down to the next question: which is better between these two platforms?
The projections also do not predict changes in this scenario for the coming years. Microsoft has already thrown in the towel with its Windows Phone, while the latest cell phones made by BlackBerry also had the Android system. For now, the only unknown is what will happen with Huawei and its differences with the United States government.
Which of these two alternatives is better for your needs? We compare them in detail not so much to choose a winner, but so that you appreciate their particularities and choose the ones that suit you best. And it is that both operating systems are excellent, and far from what many think they have enough things in common, although there are some important differences that you should consider.
We are going to face Android with iOS in practically all the categories that we can think of, and we will choose a winner for each one. Of course a tip: choose among all these sections which are the ones that most concern you, put them together and you will have a personalized recommendation.
Affordability
Apple has always been at the top of the market in terms of pricing, but the iPhone X took things to a whole new level with a starting price of $ 1,000 and the iPhone XS Max at $ 1,100. If you need something more affordable, the iPhone 11 starts at $ 700 and the iPhone SE (2020) starts at $ 400. If you don’t want to spend a lot, you can delve into the second-hand market.
With Android, you can spend a lot if you want, for example, with Google’s Pixel 4 XL and Samsung‘s Galaxy Note almost match the prices of Apple’s iPhone, but there is also a wide variety of good and low-cost phones from a wide variety of different manufacturers. The most recent Galaxy S20 starts at $ 1,000, but goes as high as $ 1,400 with the Galaxy S20 Ultra.
The fact that Android is also a leader in the field of free applications makes it the natural choice for those who are concerned about their budget.
Winner: Android
Applications
If we take a look at the number of applications that we will approximately find in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store:
- Android apps: 2.7 million
- IOS applications: 2.2 million
Although to be honest, we should not be guided by the number of applications that each platform offers, since it is very unlikely that we will use all of them and, in addition, the most popular and useful ones are available in both operating systems. Traditionally, iOS has been a more lucrative platform for developers, so there has been a trend for new apps to appear there first, but that has been changing, thanks to the rapid growth of Android.
In the US, iOS continues to lead the way, but developers in other parts of the world have been prioritizing Android. On the other hand, the Play Store still has a higher percentage of free applications, if we compare it to the App Store. However, the best mobile games keep coming first on iOS and don’t always hit Android. Ultimately, quality outweighs quantity, so this narrow win is for iOS.
Winner: iOS
App Store
We are sure that organizing millions of applications and games should not be an easy task, and the truth is that neither Google’s Play Store nor Apple’s App Store do it perfectly.
Overall, we believe that Apple’s app store provides a better browsing experience on your phone and does a better job with selected recommendations. For its part, the Play Store is easier to search for applications and to queue and install applications from the web browser on your PC or laptop.
Currently we love the option of being able to buy applications using the fingerprint through TouchID on iPhones, however, you can also do it on Android phones with fingerprint sensors, if you wish.
On the other hand, we believe the Play Store earns points for having a seamless refund policy within 2 hours of purchase. Although, there are some questionable apps in both stores, Apple tends to be more strict when blocking certain types of apps. This fact may be good for overall quality, but it’s a bad thing if you like classic console game emulators.
Winner: iOS
Alternative applications
It is relatively easy to download applications on Android. You just have to check a box in the settings, download an APK and voila, it’s configured. It’s worth noting that there are plenty of alternative Android app stores beyond the Play Store as well, but sideloading can expose you to malware risk. On the other hand, Apple opposes third-party app stores. So if you want a wider selection of apps and easy side loading, Android is your best option.
Winner: Android
Maps
Apple Maps wasn’t off to a great start, but has improved significantly. The key features are similar, you can download maps for offline use, get accurate estimates based on current traffic conditions, and find detailed driving or walking directions. You will also find public transport and the integration of travel reservations. They all work well and should get you where you want.
One thing that Google Maps offers that Apple Maps does not do is ride a bike. Overall, the scale and quality of Google Maps are second to none. It has more points of interest and is generally more detailed than Apple maps, but the accuracy may vary from place to place.
Given the option, we will always choose Google Maps, and although you can get it on iOS, it is better on Android because it is the default navigation application.
Winner: Android
Battery
When it comes to battery life and charging, it’s hard to compare the two platforms because they don’t have common hardware. We could say that iOS is optimized to get the most out of the battery by the mAh rating, but you can buy an Android device with a much bigger battery, which will last longer than the regular iPhone.
Both Android and iOS allow you to see battery usage whenever you want, but only Android shows you an estimate of the battery life you have left. Both offer power saving modes that can extend battery life by limiting performance, connectivity, and other features, but we must admit that Android is more efficient.
For a long time, Android had an advantage in charging, as many Android phones offered fast charging and wireless charging capabilities. However, Apple’s iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X offer wireless charging and fast charging. But it is worth noting that if you want a wireless charger for Apple you must buy it separately, unlike Android phones, which comes in the box.
Winner: Android
Updates
Apple’s iOS offers consistent and timely software updates and useful security patches. If you want the same Android experience, you must buy one of Google’s Pixel phones. This is how sharing the iOS version, according to data from the Apple Developers site:
- iOS 13: 70%
- iOS 12: 23%
- Previous versions: 7%
About 70 percent of iOS devices are running the latest version. That figure is much lower for Android. Statistics have not been updated for Android 10, but only about 10 percent of Android devices are running the older version, Android 9.0 Pie. This is how Android breaks down, according to the official Android Developer website :
- Android 10: 8.2%
- Android 9.0 Pie: 31.3%
- Android 8.1 Oreo: 14%
- Android 8.0 Oreo: 7.3%
- Android 7.1.1 Nougat: 5.4%
- Android 7.0 Nougat: 7.5%
- Android 6.0 Marshmallow: 11.2%
- Android 5.1 Lollipop: 7.4%
- Android 5.0 Lollipop: 1.8%
- Android 4.4 KitKat: 4%
- Previous versions: 1.9%
If you want the latest features, bug fixes, and security updates, then you should choose iOS.
Winner: iOS
Personalization
This has always been one of the main strengths of Android. It’s very easy to theme your phone: you can configure the design you want on your home screen, add widgets and shortcuts, and even change your entire user interface with launchers. You can set up funds on iOS, and there is limited support for widgets, but it doesn’t give you the same level of freedom. Android also allows you to set third-party apps as default options for many things that are still blocked on iOS. If you like to touch up, or if you want a truly unique and personalized look for your home screen, Android is your platform.
Winner: Android
Accessibility
The perception that Android is more complicated than iOS prevails, but you don’t need to dive into the customization options if you don’t want to. Both platforms offer a good range of accessibility features.
If you are looking for a device for an old relative or a technophobe, you will find some specialized offers on Android, but they tend to narrow everything down too much. Manufacturers like Samsung also include some options like “Easy Mode”, which makes the interface bigger, simplifying the whole experience. You can also choose a third-party application to do the same. There are many good apps for older people on Android and iOS.
Ultimately, iOS is simpler and easier to use. It is uniform on all iOS devices, while Android is slightly different on devices from different manufacturers. We also believe that iOS is less ornate and more functional than most Android phones, although Google’s stock for Android is as elegant as it is affordable.
Winner: iOS
Calls and messages
The basic calling and messaging functionality is good on both platforms, but it can be confusing on Android. Google seemed to be incorporating everything into Hangouts, allowing messages, SMS, video chat, group chat and more via Wi-Fi over your data network, but then Allo and Duo launched somewhat confusingly. There are also Android Messages — which used to be called Google Messenger — which is the default text messaging app. To make matters worse, you will find that many manufacturers like to offer their own alternatives. Many Android phones come with their own bookmarking and messaging apps, which either add to or remove Google’s messaging apps. It looks like Chat – based on the new Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging standard – will unify things, but it will be a while before it’s available on all Android phones.
FaceTime and iMessage come pre-installed on every iPhone and iPad, making it remarkably easy to connect with your friends and family. While iMessage is very easy to use, it works best when communicating with other iPhone users. You’ll find third-party app integration, fun stickers, GIFs, and more in iMessage. We give iOS the victory for its consistency and ease of use.
Winner: iOS
The default email apps on Android and iOS are very easy to use and quick to set up. You can access multiple email accounts and view them in a single inbox, if desired. Android and iOS also have a wide range of third-party email apps available. However, Gmail is a more powerful default email app than iOS mail. Since Gmail is the world’s most popular email address system, it makes sense for the Gmail app to be a winner. You can also add email addresses from different providers in Gmail with ease.
The only problem is that Android phones often offer alternative email apps created by manufacturers, which may not be as good.
Winner: Android
Camera
This is a difficult category. In the past, we’ve argued that Apple does the best job of capturing lighting, colors, and other details, but the latest Android smartphones are casting a lot of doubt on that claim. Google’s Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL have great cameras, but so do the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max.
While most current flagship Android models are good (or sometimes even great), there is little variety in their cameras, and the camera quality of many of the mid-range models doesn’t come close to the quality of iPhone cameras. . Unsurprisingly, most lower-middle-budget Android phones have lower-quality cameras.
The camera apps on both platforms are very good and very fast. But to facilitate its use and obtain the best results without the need for adjustments, the iOS camera application takes the cake here. There are more variations on Android, simply because original equipment manufacturers tend to add their own camera apps with lots of features, some good and some less so. We are going to give this section to iOS, but warning that the best Android phones, in particular the Pixel 4, can match the iPhone in certain areas and even surpass it.
Winner: iOS
Photo backup
If you use the Photos app on Android, you can automatically back up all your photos and videos. There’s no question that Google Photos is the best choice because it offers unlimited free storage, as long as you don’t mind the 16-megapixel limit for images and the 1080p resolution limit for video.
You can back up photos and videos in the original resolution with iCloud or Google Photos, but you only get 5GB of free space with iCloud, compared to the 15GB you get with Google Drive.
This category is complicated by the fact that the default app on iOS is iCloud, but you can also use Google Photos on iOS. However, since most people choose the default option, we give Android victory here.
Winner: Android
Cloud services
Apple still lags behind when it comes to cloud storage and automatic backups. Google Drive offers 15GB for free and has cross-platform support. You only get 5GB with iCloud, and it only works with Windows, Mac and iOS.
If you need a lot of extra space, then Google Drive comes out cheaper: $ 2 a month for 100GB ($ 20 a year), although Apple lowered its prices to better compete, and charges $ 1 a month for 50GB or $ 3 a month for 200GB. The price for the 2TB at Apple jumps to $ 10 per month, while Google offers the same price, although you can get a discount if you hire it for $ 100 for the whole year ($ 8.33 per month).
Android cloud storage is easier to use and more effective than iCloud, and you can use Google Drive on an iPhone, under the circumstances that iCloud is for iOS only.
Winner: Android
Voice assistants
You can do many of the same things with Apple’s Siri as with Google Assistant, but Siri is more like a direct helper for scheduling appointments on the calendar, searching the web, or making calls. The Google Assistant has an extra layer. It can offer helpful hints proactively and has a more “conversational” side, offering entertaining games and contextual information based on what you’re doing. In other words: it is smarter and more versatile than Siri.
Adding Siri shortcuts to iOS 12 – which lets you configure voice commands to trigger automated task groups – is a big step in the right direction, so Siri is also starting to make more suggestions based on your iPhone usage. , but for now, Google Assistant can do more.
Winner: Android
Security
There has been a lot of talk about the supposed “toxic stew from hell” that is Android, but the threat of malware is exaggerated. The truth is, most people will never run into a problem because they don’t leave the Play Store for apps. Specific manufacturers like Samsung have made additional efforts to strengthen the security of the business market. But the sloppy nature of updates on many Android devices can seriously delay major security patches.
Quick updates are now more important than ever because security breaches are becoming more serious. Android is lagging behind in the world of updates, unless you have a next-gen Android device, making it less secure. Because millions of Android phones still run years-old software, they can be vulnerable to serious attacks like Heartbleed and Stagefright.
Apple is firmly rooted in American companies and has also worked on improving security for consumers in general, especially with its Touch ID and FaceID on the iPhone X. Apple’s strict supervision over applications and the ability to send Updates to more devices and faster gives you a definite advantage over Android. The company also encrypts the data in iMessage and its other applications.
Apple prioritizes user privacy, so you can feel safe knowing that Apple does not store or read your personal data. Everything is encrypted. For its part, Android also encrypts some data, although your privacy is less protected. Google extracts your data for information that it can use to sell better ads and market products. Your data is also stored and read to give you a better artificial intelligence experience.
Google says it is committed to fully protecting user privacy and continuing to provide the artificial intelligence services it offers, but some Apple security experts argue that Google presents a false choice between privacy and artificial intelligence. Apple even had a fierce battle with the FBI to guarantee your right to encryption. It’s hard to beat that kind of dedication.
Winner: iOS
Rooting, bootloaders and jailbreaking
We have seen how to root your Android phone or tablet before. It’s not for everyone, but if you want full access and control over your device, the way to get it is through the root . Routing gives you access to more applications, the latest OS updates without waiting, new software updates to get the look you want, the opportunity to get rid of vendor and vendor software, possible tweaks to speed up your device and battery life, and more.
Many Android OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) also offer a way to unlock the bootloader, which determines how the operating system loads on your device. Apple is completely against this kind of thing. Jailbreaking is an option for iOS, which allows you to download and install applications from outside the App Store and avoid some other limitations.
Winner: Android
Covers and accessories
The average owner of an iPad or iPhone spends more money on more things than the average owner of an Android device, and Apple has created a large ecosystem of peripherals for their phones and tablets. There are many more products aimed at the iPhone than any other device, although Samsung’s Galaxy S10 would come later.
On the other hand, Android devices have adopted the Micro USB or USB-C standard, while Apple insists on its Lightning cable, which means that it is much easier to find a charger if you do not own an iPhone. This often means you have to buy an overpriced Apple adapter. Peripheral manufacturers may still have iOS as their primary target, but it is very rare to find anything without Micro USB or USB-C compatibility.
Another thing that concerns Apple is related to the abandonment of the standard 3.5mm audio port, abandonment that started with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. You get an adapter in the box … easy to lose. Also, the choice of headphones with 3.5mm audio jacks far exceeds those of Lightning jacks. Of course, some Android phones are now unhooking the 3.5 headphone jack and opting for USB-C, so this difference may not continue to accentuate for much longer.
It’s also important to note that Apple’s ecosystem of products works together very well. IPad, Apple Watch, MacBook and HomeKit products work in perfect harmony. MacOS, WatchOS and iOS are well connected, making it easy to have all Apple products on hand at the same time
Since Android phones are produced by many different manufacturers, product ecosystems vary. Samsung has a great ecosystem, yes, and its phones are compatible with Home, Chromecast and Android Wear. However, it is not so transparent.
Overall, considering all the accessories available, you have more options with an iPhone, so iOS wins here, but with caveats.
Winner: iOS
Conclusion
In numerical terms, Android wins 10 categories, while iOS prevails in 8. But the Apple system triumphs in some of the most important. We don’t think rooting or alternative app stores are as important to most people as accessibility or security, for example. It is very difficult to compare the two. Because Apple controls its hardware and software, find that iOS provides a more uniform experience across all your devices.
A direct comparison of the latest versions of Android and iOS would not be very representative of the experience of most people, since many Android devices do not have the latest version of the operating system installed. The experience you get is further complicated by the fact that most Android smartphone manufacturers add their own user interface. As a result, there is a huge difference between using Google’s Pixel 4, the Samsung Galaxy S10, and the Huawei P30 Pro, for example.
If you decide to buy an Android device, be sure to do some research and see the version of Android that it runs, the manufacturer’s user interface, and its registration for software updates.
Ultimately, the different categories we’ve listed above will matter differently to people, so pay attention to the ones that really count for you, making a decision based on this. If security and privacy are an important factor for you, then the iPhone will be your best option. If battery life is at the top of your list, and you also want to be able to personalize your phone, go for Android better.
In short, both Android and iOS are mature platforms, full of features, with many more similarities than differences. We can inform you here, and that is what we have tried to do in the best possible way. The decision, now, is all yours.
