iPhone vs Android: Which Phone Is Better?
97% of people in America own a cell phone, and a whopping 85% own a smartphone, such as the iPhone or Samsung Galaxy.
If you’re one of the few who have yet to upgrade to a smartphone or if you’re in the market for a new phone, here’s your guide to choosing between the two biggest mobile phone platforms: iPhone or Android.
The Operating System (OS)
An operating system, or OS, is the most important software on your computer or technological device. It manages its memory, processes and performs other necessary functional tasks. It’s one of the main factors to consider when shopping for a new device.
iPhone OS
iPhones use an operating system called iOS. One of the best aspects of iOS that makes iPhones stand out above Androids is that all Apple devices run on the same hardware ecosystem. This ecosystem allows for continuity on all your Apple devices: your iPhone, your Macbook, your Apple Watch, your iPad, and more.
Plus, iOS is much more user-friendly and more accessible for people who have never used a smartphone before. This ease of use makes them great phones for elderly individuals who are most susceptible to scam calls and viruses on their devices.
Essentially, the Apple OS runs each app in its own space. Even if a virus wanted to spread, it could not escape from one application and plague the next. This safety feature can help protect important privacy information from certain scams.
Android OS
While Android’s operating system is not bad by any means, it does fall short compared to iOS because it’s harder to navigate. It’s also not as intuitive to share information across all of your devices.
With that said, Android is an open system that gives users more freedom to change system permissions. This feature can be good for tech-savvy individuals who want to have more customization options for their phones’ features.
Locking
Security is an important feature of any technological device. Here’s how the iPhone and Android compare.
Locking Your iPhone
iPhones exclusively use a passcode lock consisting of a series of numbers. While passcode locks are usually effective, it’s the only option you’ll have on an iPhone model.
Additionally, the iPhone incorporates a new focus feature that lets you filter notifications for calls or messages. All filtered notifications are paused until you turn the focus feature off. This feature is great for work or study time, free from robocalls and other distractions.
Locking Your Android
Androids give you more options to secure your phone. You can use traditional passcode locks alongside pattern dotted locks, password locks, and other security features on Android devices. While iPhone passcodes usually work fine, Androids might be the better option if you like to have flexibility when it comes to security.
Unlocking
While locking your phone is important, unlocking quickly is arguably even more important. Here’s how iPhones and Androids compare.
Unlocking Your iPhone
iPhones come equipped with Face ID, which uses facial recognition features to unlock your phone. While it’s highly convenient, there are concerns about whether this feature is safe to secure your data, as your facial features are shared with Apple.
With that said, it’s pretty much impossible for someone else to get into your phone, as the Face ID technology is highly specific to your face.
Unlocking Your Android
Some Android devices use facial recognition as an option for unlocking the device, but many vouch for a fingerprint scanner that uses your thumbprint to grant access to the device. Not only does fingerprint scanning bring up the same security concerns as Face ID, but it’s also less effective when compared to Apple’s facial recognition features.
Screen Sensitivity
If you’re most concerned about the visual elements of your new phone, here’s how iPhone and Android phones stack up.
The iPhone Screen
The newest iPhone models use a super retina display, which features incredible brightness, contrast, and dynamic range. These phones also use OLED technology (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) which enhances some of the fluidity and visual elements of the iPhone. Apple is by far superior in terms of its screens over other smartphone models on the market.
The Android Screen
Almost all Android phones use OLED technology as well, though they do not use Apple’s proprietary retina display. While the on-screen quality will certainly stack up, iPhone is the clear winner if you’re looking for a phone purely based on how it looks and feels.
Cameras
Smartphones let you wield the power of a DSLR camera in your pocket. As smartphones make bigger and better camera models, here’s how to pick the best of the bunch.
iPhone Cameras
If you know anything about iPhones, you know that their camera quality is always top of the pack. The newest iPhone 13 uses a 12 megapixel wide and ultrawide lens and a telephoto lens. That’s three cameras in one, helping to deliver stunning quality photos in every picture and video.
Not to mention, long exposure shots make these cameras perfect for taking pictures in low-light settings without losing quality.
Android Cameras
There’s a lot of love for Androids, but no one buys them for their camera quality. While different Android models have different camera specs, none of them hit the same levels of contrast, brightness, and clarity that iPhones have perfected.
Cases
The structural integrity of a phone is just as important as its inner components. If you tend to be on the reckless or clumsy side, which phone is best for you?
The iPhone Case
The newest iteration of iPhones utilizes a sturdy aluminum casing alongside a ceramic shield, which Apple claims is tougher than any smartphone glass. While the exterior body may still dent and crack from a typical drop, the screen will likely survive much more intense action.
The Android Case
Again, since there are so many different types of Android phones, it’s hard to say if the casing on an Android outperforms an iPhone. The Google Pixel, for example, is made with highly durable Gorilla Glass Victus, but some models of the Samsung Galaxy are made with a low-quality plastic backing.
The bottom line is that you should go to your local cellular store to test out any new phone before purchasing so you can feel the durability firsthand.
Speed and the Cloud
The cloud is a storage system that keeps data on the internet rather than on the phone itself. Let’s see how these phones utilize this feature and how quickly they can accomplish simple tasks.
iPhone
The new iPhone uses an A15 Bionic processor, which has 15 billion transistors and graphics capabilities that have never been seen in an iPhone before. It’s perfect for multitasking and accomplishing complex tasks, like photo and video editing
This speed also helps make Apple’s cloud storage software the industry standard. On the Apple cloud, you can seamlessly transfer information between all of your devices.
Android
The newest Google Pixel phone is powered by a 1.6Ghz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor. This processor is highly powerful and can easily run different apps from the Google Play store simultaneously without slowing down.
While Android’s cloud software isn’t as seamless as Apple’s, it still gets the job done effectively.
Price
Finally, cost is one of the most important factors when buying a new phone. Make sure you’re getting the most from your investment.
iPhone Prices
The new iPhone 13 starts at $799, and the smaller Mini version starts at $699. The larger iPhone 13 Pro starts at $999, and the largest iPhone 13 Pro Max starts at $1099.
Obviously, those aren’t the cheapest price tags. Still, when you’re getting over ten hours of battery life, top-of-the-line features like FaceTime, and continued updates to the iOS software system, it might be worth it.
Android Prices
Androids vary in price, but they are more accessible. The two most popular models, Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy S21 start at just $599 and $799, respectively. With a similar quality to an iPhone, Android might be a good choice if you’re trying to find a high-quality phone at a low price.
Who Should Buy iPhones
iPhones are a must-have for anyone who is used to using Apple products. If you already own a Macbook or iPad, you will be amazed at how easily all of your devices can interact with one another.
With that in mind, iPhone’s interface is easier to use than Androids’, so these phones are also great for first-time smartphone users.
Who Should Buy Androids
Android devices may be a bit less user-friendly than iPhones, but that’s what might draw in certain users. The Android OS is much more customizable, allowing experienced, tech-savvy people to have more control over their phones’ functionality.
Androids are best for people who have experience using smartphones and are looking for the most freedom with the interface and computing software possible.
Conclusion
iPhones and Androids both have stellar properties that make it clear why they dominate the smartphone market. While iPhones are more user-friendly and interact well with other Apple devices, Androids are generally less expensive and more customizable. You really can’t go wrong with either one!
Sources:
Demographics of Mobile Device Ownership and Adoption in the United States | Pew Research
Computer Basics: Understanding Operating Systems | GCFGlobal
Apple Explains Why iOS Don't Need No Steenkin' Anti-Virus | Forbes
