Google Android and Apple iOS are compared often. They both are operating systems used particularly in smartphones and sometimes in tablets and laptops. Both systems have their advantages. However, shifting from iOS to Android can be difficult. So, you should take care of it while buying either of the leading mobile OS.
There are a lot of things that you should consider before choosing between Android and iOS. Knowing the features, advantages, and disadvantages can help you choose the best device. To help you out, we have made an in-depth analysis of both mobile operating systems in one place.
What is Android?
Android is a Linux-based mobile operating system. It has been developed for touchscreen mobile devices by Open Handset Alliance and sponsored by Google.
History
In October 2003, Android Inc. was founded by Andy Rubin in California. Thus, began the journey of Android to become the world’s most commonly used smartphone platform. It was then in August of 2005 when Google took over, and now Android is a subsidiary of Google Incorporation.
Android was intended to be for cameras. However, a low market for cameras led to the shift to smartphones. In 2007, Google declared the development of Android OS, which led to the launching the first Android mobile in 2008.
Features
- Intuitive user interface
- Storage
- Media support
- Messaging
- Web browser
- Multi-touch
- Multi-tasking
- Resizable widgets
- Multi-language Support
- WiFi Direct
Advantages
- Universal Charger: Android devices use a standardized micro USB connection for their chargers. Therefore, you can easily find a charger that suits your device anywhere.
- Multiple Choices: Android offers a wide range of phones to its users. Consequently, you can choose a phone that suits your work best and your budget.
- Removable Battery and Storage: Android devices usually come with SD card slots, which are expandable. So, you don’t have to worry about storage and space issues. Android batteries are often removable too, which allows you to replace the battery instead of the phone in case of any issues.
- Countless App Choices: Android doesn’t restrict you to buying from the Play Store. You can buy apps from different places, such as Amazon. It provides you with limitless options and greater access to different apps.
Applications
Android applications refer to any software app built for the Android platform. Different developers can make their apps available through their websites. However, there is a designated online store for these applications.
The Google Play Store offers both free and paid Android applications. As we discussed above, there are countless Android apps for you. So, you won’t be disappointed.
What is iOS?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_8xUAofS-w
Previously known as iPhone OS, iOS is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. This mobile OS can be found on Apple devices. It falls just after Android and is known as the second most commonly used mobile operating system.
History
In June 2007, Apple launched iOS with the very first iPhone. From its first version to its latest, Apple has made many changes in the system. Every summer, Apple comes forward to reinvent iOS by making it better and adding more features.
It was Steve Jobs who introduced the first iPhone along with iOS. In September 2022, Apple released its iOS 16 version, which is how much the system has improved.
Features
- The voice assistant Siri
- Widget Gallery
- FaceTime
- Picture in picture
- Search suggestions
- Quick launcher
- iMessage
- Memoji
- Maps
- Translate
Advantages
- Gaming: The games offered by iOS are top-notch. Moreover, you can get the best gaming experience on an iOS device. iOS takes special care of its gaming experience and offers only games with no coding issues.
- Security: There is a strict approval process through which apps have to pass; only then are they available to iOS users. Besides, iOS allows you to guard your phone through face lock and fingerprint.
- Better Camera: iOS devices are popularly known for their camera quality. There is an option for you to capture pics in different modes. You can even click live pictures and edit them.
- Media and Storage: The display of iOS ensures clear viewing of media. The storage offered is enough to store everything you wish to. Besides, you can get more space through iCloud services as well.
Applications
Similar to Android, iOS has its dedicated application market called App Store. It allows users to install free and paid applications. The developers of iOS usually work with computer languages, such as Objective-C, C++, and Swift. Many apps allow you to build an iOS application without using these computer languages.
Similarities
Although both Android and iOS are quite different from each other, here are some of the similarities:
- The basic functions in the leading mobile operating systems are quite the same. Both iOS and Android offer calling, messaging, sharing location, voice commands, downloading of applications, video calls, etc.
- The user interface isn’t too distinct as well. These operating systems allow you to pinch, tap, swipe and zoom the phone screens.
- The status bar is there on both devices to check the Internet speed, see battery percentage, enable auto-rotation, adjust brightness and do many other things.
- You can enjoy fast 4G speed on both Android and iOS platforms. They both support 4G and connection to wifi.
- Both of these systems do not fall short of security. You are guaranteed the privacy and safety of data through permissions.
Android vs iOS: Comparison based on Various Factors
- Interface: iOS and Android both allow a touch interface. However, an iOS home screen contains app icons only. On the other hand, Android supports widgets. These widgets show auto-updating details, such as email and weather.
- User Experience: Both operating systems vary greatly in user experience. However, you may find the experience of some apps to be the same. To make it simpler we have listed the exclusive features of both mobile operating systems.
Android
- Modification of the Home screen allowed.
- File management.
- Expandable storage.
- Multiple accounts and guest users.
- Split-screen.
iOS
- iMessages.
- AirDrop.
- Inbuilt sharing of WiFi passwords.
- App offloading.
- The setup of new devices is easy.
- Software Upgrades: iOS users get better advantages with software updates as Apple allows all the devices the same updates.
On the other hand, Android users do not have this advantage even though Google releases the update for all users. The phone manufacturers get the upper hand to facilitate the upgrade or not. - Availability of Apps: As discussed before, Android gets its apps from the Play Store, while iOS gets them from the App Store. Although most of the popular apps are present on both the app stores, there are some apps that you will find exclusively for iOS i.e. not available on Android and vice-versa.
- Device Selection: You can get Android on multiple devices except Apple. On the other hand, iOS is restricted to only Apple devices. Therefore, Android facilitates a wide range of device selections for you to choose from, unlike iOS.
- Call Features: Android offers self-composed texts which can be sent while declining a call. There are some auto-made texts and customizable ones too. On the contrary, iOS allows you to reply to a phone call with a canned text message.
- Messaging and Video call: GTalk is there for Android users for instant messages. iOS offers iMessage, but it works between iOS users only.
The same goes for video calls, iOS users are offered Facetime but it is only available for iOS users. While Android has Google Hangouts which anyone can use. - Voice Commands: Siri is the virtual voice assistant used by iOS users. Through the help of Siri, you can make calls, send texts, search for something over the Internet, schedule calendar events, and much more. Android has a similar voice assistant known as Google Now. It is almost exactly similar to Siri.
- Mobile Payment: Google Wallet allows Android users to make online payments. The NFC chip present in Android devices makes contactless payments. However, the NFC chip is not supported by all Android devices.
IOS users use Apple Pay to make payments. The app is user-friendly and usually considered to have greater security. iOS also offers Passbook which is an app to collect reward cards and add credit/debit cards. - Security and Privacy: Android is considered less vulnerable to bugs as its applications are isolated from other system resources. However, these devices are prone to widespread malware.
iOS, on the other hand, has strict reviewing policies, so this malware is unlikely to spread on iOS devices. But, apps downloaded from third parties can risk your safety on an iOS.
When it comes to privacy, both systems are at risk. Your apps are to be blamed for privacy as many apps have permission to get a list of details. You can either not use such apps which you believe to be a threat or you can limit granting permissions.
- Building and Publishing Applications: Android applications use C++, C, and Java. Anyone can download the source code. So, it is an open platform, which means anyone can develop Android apps for free.
However, the developers do have to pay a registration fee of $25. Further, users can download it for free too and you can get apps from outside the Play Store. Unlike Android, iOS developers have to pay a $99 every year to access the iOS Desk and publish apps on the Apple Store. - Maps and Web Browsing: Map is an app for Android and iOS. However, the features presented by Apple Maps on iOS surpass its Android counterpart. Moreover, Apple also has its maps app which comes with every Apple device since iOS 6.
When it comes to a web browser, both systems have their own web browsers. While iOS has Safari, Android has Google Chrome. Both web browsers are the best in business.
But, people are still more familiar with Google Chrome as it can work on both iOS and Android, and is the most used desktop browser too.
Android vs iOS: Head-to-Head Comparison
| Android | iOS | |
| Developers | Google and Open Handset Alliance | Apple Inc. |
| Release Date | September 23, 2008 | July 29, 2007 |
| Latest Version | Android 13 | iOS and iPadOS 16.2 |
| Modification | Limitless | Limited |
| Source Model | Open-source | Closed with open-source components |
| File Transfer | Easier as compared to iOS. Through the USB port and Android File Transfer desktop apps and photos can be transferred with the help of a USB without apps. | Difficult. Media files can be shared using the iTunes desktop app. Photos can be transferred out via USB without apps. |
| Available Language | 100+ | 40 |
| Video Call | via Google Hangouts | via FaceTime |
| App Store and Affordability | Play Store offers 2,000,000+ apps. Other app stores like Amazon and Aptoide also facilitate installing Android apps. (“APKs”).
Apps containing viruses are rare but they do exist. |
The App Store has around 1,000,000+ apps. Apps containing viruses are scarce, as almost non-existent. |
| Battery Life and Management | Many but not all, Android phone manufacturers are equipping their devices with large batteries with extended life. | Apple batteries are generally not as big as the most significant Android batteries. Nevertheless, Apple can squeeze a decent battery life through hardware/software optimizations. |
| Media Backup | Apps are available for an automatic backup of photos and videos. Google Photos permits unlimited backup of photos and videos at a compressed quality. OneDrive, Amazon Photos, and Dropbox are the available alternatives. | Up to 5 GB of photos and videos can be automatically backed up with iCloud, with more paid iCloud storage available through a subscription. All other vendors like Google, Amazon, Dropbox, Flickr, and Microsoft have auto-backup apps for both iOS and Android. |
| Security | Monthly security updates. Android software patches are available frequently. Manufacturers tend to slow down these updates. So, most Android devices are running on outdated OS software at any given time. | Occasional security updates. Security threats are rare because iOS is locked and downloading apps out of the App Store is complex. |
| Cloud Services | Native integration with Google Drive storage. 15GB free, $2/mo for 100GB, 1TB for $10/mo. Apps are available for Amazon Photos, OneDrive, and Dropbox. | Native integration with iCloud. 5GB free, 50GB for $1/mo, 200GB for $3/mo, 1TB for $10/mo. Apps are available for Google Drive, Google Photos, Amazon Photos, OneDrive, and Dropbox. |
| Headphone Jack | Some current Android smartphones and many don’t. | None on iPhone 7 and later, 3.5mm no longer comes with a phone after iPhone XS |
| Jailbreaking | Access and complete control over your device are available and you can unlock the bootloader. | Complete control over your device is not available. |
| File Manager | Yes. (Stock Android File Manager is included on Android 7.1.1 and later.) | Files app, limited and less useful (iOS 12). |
| Call and Messaging | Google Messages. Third-party apps like Messenger, WhatsApp, Google Duo, Discord, and Skype work on Android. | iMessage, FaceTime (with other Apple devices only). Third-party apps like Google Hangouts, Messenger, WhatsApp, Google Duo, Discord, and Skype all work on iOS. |
| Web Mapping | Google Maps | Apple Maps (default), and Google Maps via separate app download. |
| Virtual Assistant | Google Assistant | Siri |
Who is the Best?
Android and iOS both come with their pros and cons. What is best for you is what suits you the most. The efficiency of both mobile operating systems depends upon what you expect from them. Therefore, before you choose between Android or iOS, you should look at their pros and cons to see what would work best for you.
If you are looking for a device that works smoothly without lagging, you should go for Android. We believe Android is way more user-friendly than iOS. Moreover, Android is better with storage.
While iOS does provide you with several updates, you would need storage for them and storage is often the major issue with iOS. Nonetheless, if you still want to go for iOS, you should invest in a tablet rather than a phone.
In addition to what was said above, Android has come to gather a lot of users for itself. It is indeed the most preferred mobile operating system. Because of its connectivity to Google, Android has time and again proved to be easier to use and more useful. Many people who have switched from iOS to Android have found Android to be better.
Conclusion
Android and iOS are the top two operating systems for mobile platforms. While Android is a subsidiary of Google, iOS is developed by Apple. There are many aspects of both these operating systems that are quite similar.
For instance, they both have the same basic functions, user interface, status bar, and security features. Although they are quite similar in many aspects, Android and iOS vary greatly.
They differ in many aspects, such as device selection, voice commands, messaging, video calling, building and publishing applications, maps, and web browsing.
Despite all the pros and cons of Android and iOS mentioned above, Android truly comes out as the best operating system for mobile platforms because of its easily understandable interface and customization. Moreover, Android has a wide audience which is there to guarantee its effectiveness.
Now you know everything there is to know about Android vs. iOS. Whether buying a new device or simply flaunting your tech knowledge in front of your friend, this analysis will always help. That was all. You are ready to choose your operating system now!
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why do people prefer iPhones?
Apple devices are considered more secure than Android devices. According to a report by Forbes, 97% of smartphone malware targets Android phones. Android phones get malware and viruses, particularly from app stores. Secondly, iPhones have the functionality of a mobile phone, portable media player, game console, and handheld computer in a single device. Therefore, it is popular with different types of consumers.
2. What will I miss switching from Android to iPhone?
On switching from Android to iPhone, you would miss the customization features offered by Android. On the iPhone, it isn’t easy to personalize your home screen. Customization of the home screen means adding widgets, changing app icons, or even just putting apps where you want them. Other features you would miss on iPhone are notification management, online shopping, and screen mirroring Netflix.
3. Why should I get an iPhone instead of an Android?
If you are looking for tighter security for your data or personal information, then you should go for iPhone as they have an exclusive Apple App Store for apps, a closed ecosystem, and prompt updates. Also, an iPhone is extremely unlikely to be infected with a virus.
4. What kind of person prefers an iPhone?
According to research, iPhone users are generally more extroverted and adventurous and make more money than Android users. A study of 1,000 iPhone and 1,000 Android owners found that whether you prefer an iPhone or Android may tell a lot about your personality — and even your spending habits.
5. Which phone is more user-friendly, Android or iPhone?
Android phones are more user-friendly than iPhones. Android phones are more PC-like than iOS. One can easily customize the interface and basic features on an Android phone.