We love Android vs. iOS showdown at Laptop computer Magazine, so we determined to stir the pot and ask 5 telephone specialists — phone-passionate of us you’ve seen throughout YouTube, TechRadar, Tom’s Information, and extra — to reply a query that’s been prodding my thoughts.
What’s it that Android can try this iPhone can’t?
As somebody who has an absurd variety of apps open at any given time, my Samsung Galaxy S22 Extremely, an Android system, lets me eliminate all of all of them directly. My iPhone 14 Plus, then again, forces me to swipe them off individually like I’m a card vendor at a on line casino. What’s up with that? I additionally love the truth that Android units assist the sooner, zippier USB-C charging normal whereas the iPhone limits you to the bogged-down Lightning port. (However Apple is reportedly altering that quickly, because of stress from a brand new EU mandate. Woo-hoo!)
On prime of that, as a crypto investor, Apple’s been cracking down on legit crypto apps, making it troublesome for me to make iOS my every day driver. (For instance, at one level, the Coinbase app was banned from the Apple App Retailer for a whole yr!)
Nonetheless, I made a decision to ask a few of my favourite telephone specialists — lots of whom you’ve seen whereas traipsing by the tech facet of YouTube and the world extensive internet — their ideas on how Android units differ from iPhones.
What’s it that Android can try this iPhone can’t?
Try our interviews with telephone specialists MrMobile, Matt Swider, Adam Ismail, JerryRigEverything, and our very personal Sean Riley to find out what Android can ship to customers that iPhone can’t. Take into account that I instructed every of them that verbosity isn’t mandatory right here. They are often as wordy or temporary as they’d like — so long as they reply the query succinctly.
MrMobile, YouTuber
MrMobile, whom we’ve accomplished a function about relating to his $6,000 MacBook Professional (so you’ll be able to’t accuse him of being an Android shill), is a YouTuber with over 1 million subscribers recognized for having an affinity for foldables, significantly Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold collection.
That being stated, it’s straightforward to foretell MrMobile’s (often known as Michael Fisher) response to the query at massive. What’s it that Android units can try this iPhones can’t? Bend in half!
“Foldables have launched new options, broader utility, and albeit, extra enjoyable to a world of smartphones that way back degenerated right into a unending stream of stolid slabs. Because of my Galaxy Z Fold 4, I depart my laptop computer at residence about 25% extra usually than earlier than,” Fisher stated. MrMobile added that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 can unfold right into a 7.6-inch pill, making it simpler and extra comfy for him to get work accomplished whereas he’s on the go.
“And on nights and weekends once I need to take some straightforward selfies or group photographs with buddies (or simply maximize my pocket area with a retro kind issue) the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Oppo Discover N2 are beautiful little throwbacks. The iPhone is nice for somebody to whom a telephone is only a utility, however for these of us who keep in mind When Telephones Have been Enjoyable, you’ll be able to’t beat a foldable. And for that, you might want to go Android,” Fisher concluded.
TLDR: Foldables, solely featured amongst Android units, are enjoyable as heck whereas iPhones can’t bend for the lifetime of them.
Adam Ismail, Jalopnik workers author and former Tom’s Information telephone skilled
Adam Ismail, former Tom’s Information telephone connoisseur and present Jalopnik workers author, gave us a brief stroll by historical past, reminding us that there was a time through which Android far exceeded iPhone in its capabilities.
“For the longest time, on an iPhone, you couldn’t cost wirelessly, put widgets on your property display screen, set default apps, or have an always-on show when your telephone was locked. Within the very early days, you could not even copy and paste!” Nevertheless, through the years, Apple has closed the hole to Android for essentially the most half, nevertheless it’s value mentioning that a number of the aforementioned options have been simply not too long ago added whereas Android had them for a very long time (e.g., Widgets debuted with iOS 14 in 2020 whereas it’s been an Android staple for greater than a decade.)
Nonetheless, Ismail added that there are some things Apple doesn’t provide — and can doubtless by no means provide, together with expandable storage and extremely customizable residence screens. Ismail admits that “theming” one’s iPhone residence display screen is far simpler now than it was earlier than, however nonetheless, Android telephones give customers extra freedom to personalize each side of their system. “Actually although, the one helpful distinction that actually stands out to me as of late is that you simply nonetheless cannot cost an iPhone over USB-C,” Ismail stated. “There is a good probability we’ll have the ability to cross that one off the record come autumn, although.”
TLDR: In recent times, Apple’s been catching up with Android, so the record of differentiators between Android and iOS has grown smaller, however there are nonetheless cool features of Android that iPhones can not match, together with customizability, expandable storage, and USB-C charging.
Matt Swider, Shortcut.com founder and former TechRadar US Editor-in-Chief
You could know Matt Swider because the “PS5 restock man” who labored tirelessly to assist passionate avid gamers safe a PlayStation 5 at a time when there was a lot demand, however a dearth of provide. The previous TechRadar US Editor-in-Chief is now on the helm of The Shortcut, a consumer-tech publication that retains subscribers “within the know” on cool gadgetry.
Swider, who’s examined greater than 1,000 telephones, is aware of a factor or two about Android and iOS units, so I made a decision to select his mind and ask him what Android provides that iOS units can’t.
“Android telephones lead by innovation and value – by a large margin,” Swider stated. “They’re the primary out of the gate with fashionable foldables, modular telephones, curved shows, huge shows, always-on shows, NFC, swipe texting, and shortly, rollable shows. You title the iPhone ‘innovation’ and Android units have been doing it for years. Sorry, Apple, that is actual ‘braveness.’”
Swider admits that flagship Android costs have skyrocketed not too long ago, however notes that you simply get extra bang in your buck in comparison with the iPhone — like double the space for storing for a similar value. “There are a bunch of mid-range Android choices you simply cannot discover from Apple. Sure, Google wants to shut the hole on the subject of iMessage and its Android-to-PC ecosystem (one thing Apple has perfected between iPhone and macOS), however Android is the one one taking possibilities on new {hardware} at an affordable value, and that deserves simply as many factors on the board,” he stated.
TLDR: Android telephones are much more revolutionary in comparison with iPhone’s MO of gen-over-gen iterative updates. Any ‘new’ function Apple has rolled out lately has doubtless already been accomplished by Android. Plus, you get extra worth in your cash with Android units.
JerryRigEverything, YouTuber
You’ve most likely seen JerryRigEverything, a YouTuber with a whopping 8 million subscribers, pry into the {hardware} guts of numerous telephones, together with the OnePlus 11, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely, the Google Pixel 7, and iPhone 14.
JerryRigEverything, often known as Zack Nelson, admitted that he hasn’t had an iPhone as a every day driver because the iPhone 4. Again then, he praised Android for being extra accessible to shoppers by way of value, however added that he can not make that declare since flagship units just like the Samsung Galaxy S collection are simply as expensive as their iOS counterparts.
Ultimately, Nelson ended up concurring with Swider and Ismail, concluding that Android’s edge over iOS units is that they’re all the time one step forward of iPhones. “OLED screens, wi-fi charging, telephoto cameras all first debuted on Android telephones,” Nelson stated.
TLDR: The above is fairly temporary and succinct. Don’t be lazy — learn it in its entirety.
Sean Riley, Laptop computer Magazine Assistant Managing Editor
Laptop computer Magazine Assistant Managing Editor Sean Riley, and our resident telephone skilled who’s reviewed numerous telephones (e.g., OnePlus 10 Professional, the iPhone 13 Professional, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely, Asus ROG Telephone 5, and extra), says that one factor Android provides that iPhone doesn’t is management.
“Whereas Apple has provided customers a style of freedom lately with the flexibility to change the house display screen on iPhone or set a brand new default browser or e mail consumer, it nonetheless pales compared to what you are able to do on Android. On the customizability entrance, you might have launchers on Android that fully reskin the look, really feel, and even performance of your telephone in seconds.
On a private degree, I take pleasure in astrophotography and Apple is not going to allow you to take longer than a 30-second publicity. On a Google Pixel 7 or a Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely, I can seize 5-10 minute exposures that obliterate the outcomes I can get from an iPhone 14 Professional. And it has nothing to do with the {hardware}; it’s Apple exerting its management over the digital camera software program. On each counts, this isn’t one thing that each consumer will care about, however for those who wish to have full management over your units, there isn’t a query that Android is the one alternative for you.
Lastly, Riley completely agrees with Swider: Worth isn’t Apple’s forte. That is one thing that’s been on Riley’s thoughts after the next shopping for guides landed on Laptop computer Magazine: 5 telephones which might be a greater worth than the iPhone 14 Professional Max and 5 telephones which might be a greater worth than the iPhone 14.
“Apple has by no means provided cut price pricing on its telephones, however the further years of software program assist all the time balanced that out and altered the worth equation. With Samsung, Google, and OnePlus now all providing 5 years of safety updates and 3-4 main Android updates, the equation has modified once more. That Android telephone that price doubtlessly tons of lower than a comparable iPhone is supplying you with possibly 1-2 fewer years of software program assist, and except you retain your telephone for at the least 5-6 years, that’s merely not related.”
TLDR: You may immediately revamp the feel and appear of your Android telephone in seconds. Plus, Android telephones sometimes have much less of an iron grip over its digital camera software program, supplying you with extra freedom to experiment with enjoyable images types (e.g., astrophotography). Lastly, with Android units delivering extra years of software program updates, they provide extra longevity and higher worth than ever earlier than.
