In the modern day, a huge amount of people own and use smartphones. If you are reading this, there is a good chance that you have used a smartphone at least once in your life.
When it comes down to the type of smartphones people use there are many options, ultimately they fall under two categories: iPhone or Android.
The software is where these devices are truly different, with the hardware being mostly the same in terms of features and performance.
Apple’s iOS focuses more on being a stable and user friendly experience, whilst Android focuses on customization and user choice.
Android seems less polished in some areas in comparison to iOS because of its support for a wide range of devices and software.
Depending on your needs and wants from a smartphone, either software could be the best choice for you.
For example, iOS integrates almost seamlessly with a Mac, which is why an iPhone would be a more sensible choice if you would like integration with your existing computer.
Android is a one size fits all type of software, which means that even though it will work on a huge range of devices, there may be some quirks that occur. These quirks include issues such as hardware speed and screen scaling.
Facetime and iMessage are also not available on Android. Many people find this to be one of the biggest hang ups because many people use these services to connect with each other.
Personally, I use Android. I love tinkering around with technology and customizing every aspect of it.
I also use Windows on my personal computer, which means iOS’s tight integration with Mac OS means nothing to me.
It does irk me quite a bit that I am not able to use Facetime or iMessage with my friends. Since most of them have iPhones, group text messages tend to be a pain since I do not have one.
Some apps on android can be less polished on Android since their guidelines for accepting apps onto the app store are a little looser.
Some apps are sluggish, don’t look visually appealing, or in specific cases just outright don’t work.
Though sometimes apps have their problems, I feel that Android in the current time has pretty much reached the polish of iOS, feeling refined and premium throughout.
Some people also see iPhones as superior due to price.
There are many Android devices that are sold for an extremely low price, which gives it a less than premium reputation.
This is inaccurate, as some of the best android phones cost almost the same as the newest iPhones.
iPhones are also notoriously secure, and although Android devices are almost as secure, you are able to run apps not available on the app store, which is inherently insecure.
Running apps not available on the app store is a benefit for me since I like to experiment with writing my own apps.
You are able to write apps and try them on an iPhone, but you need to have a Mac.
Overall, I feel that at this point iPhone’s and Android devices have reached nearly the same level of polish and usability. The best option for an individual comes down to personal preference and specific needs.
Sean Kahle
Reporter