Eight reasons I'm tempted to switch back to Android

By Mick Symons
last updated

I got into the smartphone game late: My first foray was with the iPhone 5 back in April of 2013. Going from a Sanyo Juno to the iPhone 5 was like when The Wizard of Oz switches to color — to say I was enthused would be an understatement.

But two years later, I had become disillusioned with Apple. I was sick of all of the proprietary necessities, and I was damn sick of being asked to sign into iCloud every 5 minutes. I fell into the stereotypical Android mindset: "I want freedom and can no longer live in Apple's box."

So I got the Samsung Galaxy S5. I was thrilled with it, and used it until I started working here. As I wrote more for iMore, I found myself more and more glancing back to the world of iOS. My mobile allegiance wavered, and when the iPhone 7 was released, I fell in love with the iPhone all over again. I've now used it longer than any phone in the last year, and until recently, I've been plenty happy with it.

But as iOS's little irksome qualities rear their little heads, I once again feel the tug of the Android ecosystem.

Why I want to switch

I haven't just jumped back onto an Android phone yet. I've been mulling things over to see if it's what I truly want. Here's why I'm thinking of switching back:

iCloud

Let's be honest: iCloud is annoying. (Throw Apple IDs in there too for good measure.) The fact that I have to sign into every little thing on iPhone drives me crazy; Touch ID has quieted that fire to a degree, but every time I get randomly asked to sign in (for whatever reason), my ire grows again.

I don't like using iCloud, and I hate even more that you only get 5GB for free. That's paltry compared to Google Drive's 15GB and photo storage capabilities. "Why don't you use both?" you might ask. I do. But why can't iCloud just be better so that I can buy in completely?

Google's suite of apps have worked flawlessly for me, and you only have to sign in once and you're in for everything. Not once, on any Android device that I've used, was I randomly asked to sign into my Google account unless I had actually signed out of it myself.

Notifications

Image 1 of 2
iPhone notifications

The more I think about it, the more I enjoy the Android user experience best. To me, it feels like they actually work more like Macs than iPhones do — and no matter my qualms with iOS, I love my Mac.

The biggest thing for me is the way notifications are presented. Android wins big time with its stacked notifications that are neatly laid out and easy to dismiss or act upon. I also appreciate that you don't have to swipe down an entire screen to see them. Lock screen access is just more pleasant on Android, too.

  • Notification Center: The ultimate guide

Freedom

There! I said it! Throw your daggers, light your torches, and sharpen your pitchforks.

Kidding. It's not about freedom in the sense that Apple is an evil overlord; I'm talking about the freedom to do the actions that make sense, like quickly tapping and holding to drag apps around the home screen. Moving apps around iOS's Home screen is a chore, especially if you have a 3D Touch-enabled iPhone, and there isn't any way to customize those actions.

The ability to see and manage the files stored on your device is also a massive boon to Android. I love that I can just throw songs on and then go into the internal memory as though I'm on a computer. It's especially handy for managing storage — something my iPhone constantly struggles with.

Options

This is, obviously, the nature of the Android ecosystem being detached from hardware manufacturing. But that said, I like that I have many phone options to choose from. Before the iPhone SE, users who wanted a small phone had to stick with old technology; in contrast, if I don't like the look or size of one Android device, I can just pick another of the many options available. It's almost like you can build your own phone; you pick the features you want, and find the device right for you.

There are downsides here, of course: Detaching hardware from software means that Android devices aren't always updated as quickly as they should be, and new hardware devices may not support new software features. But it's a tradeoff I'm willing to make.

It also means paying less for a great phone: If I don't want to spend the cash on the latest and greatest Galaxy S8, I can likely find an Android device with decent specs for much less.

Customizability

Image 1 of 2
iPhone 7 Home screen

Again, comparing iPhone and Android isn't exactly apples to apples, but I love the ability to truly customize your Android device. Between launchers, screen layout options, themes, and icon packs, you can personalize your smartphone experience, while iPhone, as a whole, is pretty cookie-cutter: You can change your background, but that's about it. Especially on larger phones, the ability to set up your screen the way you want it is paramount, especially when it comes to widgets — another boon for Android.

With an iPhone, I feel like I'm interacting with a phone. When I'm using an Android device that I've set up, I'm interacting with my phone.

Native apps

Android's native Google apps are better. Period. Google Calendar is far better than iOS's Calendar app, Google Maps is excellent, Google Photos is a better photo manager than the Photos app, Gmail is a fantastic mail manager, and Google Drive is easy to use, convenient, and intuitive.

Are these bold statements? Sure. And you may disagree with me. But Apple has some work to do in the native apps category, and while the company's working on it, it's not there yet. Google's apps, in contrast, have seen significant overhaul over the last few years, and have not only become functionally great, but nicely minimalistic in their Material Design looks.

Charging capabilities

Quick Charge and wireless charging. 'Nuff said.

Learn more

Google Assistant

Currently, Siri is the superior assistant for me, but I feel like once Google gets Assistant on its feet, it'll far surpass any Siri functionality. Given Google's track record with quick iteration and its massive database to help augment Assistant, third-party app integration and other advancements should come quickly.

Why I'm hesitating

While those nitpicks may make it seem like I hate my iPhone and iOS, I don't. I actually really like my iPhone. In fact, I'm having a really hard time deciding whether or not I should switch back (and it's not just because I seem to have misplaced my SIM tool).

The ecosystem

No matter how much I want to resist it, I've become part of Apple's larger ecosystem. I have an iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple TV, and an Apple Watch, and they all work together beautifully. Aside from phones, I have no other Android devices (largely because, well, Canada), so if I make the abrupt switch, I lose all that cross-device functionality.

I love the convenience of texting on my Mac instead of having to stop what I'm doing and pick up my phone. I love wearing an Apple Watch when I'm out and really busy. Sure, I can still use the iPad, Apple TV, and Mac together, but I use my phone the most, so why wouldn't I want it tied in?

AirDrop

This sort of goes part and parcel with the ecosystem, but I feel that it's an important enough feature to mention. AirDrop is the BEST. If I'm out on the road with the magician I work for, and he's just received a standing ovation, which I've filmed, I don't have to painstakingly email it or transfer it to my Mac to then send to him. I just AirDrop it over, and a gigantic file near-instantly winds its way to him.

Additionally, throughout the course of my day I end up having to take an enormous amount of screenshots: Quickly sending them to my Mac via AirDrop instead of having to mess around with Dropbox or Google Drive or a USB cable is more than convenient; it's a lifesaver.

iMessage

One of the main features that brought me back to iPhone in the first place was iMessage. It's great to be able to send or receive video in full quality, and far superior to an MMS message. (On Android, you'll sometimes receive video that looks like it was shot with a toaster.)

iMessage is just plain more fun, too, thanks to group messaging, stickers, and games. Google's Keyboard is trying to replicate these things, but it's not doing the best job just yet.

Updates

Perhaps the best iOS feature of all is that when an update goes out, everyone gets it instantaneously. For security and functionality, there's no beating it: Android updates can take forever to get to certain phones depending on model and even carrier. Since manufacturers can put its own specific Android flavor on its devices, these updates have to go through its system first. For example: I didn't get Marshmallow on my Galaxy S5 until like 6 months after it rolled out, and when I did, it was super-buggy.

I have friends who use iOS

As much as I hate to base my decision on what other people are using, I do have friends who own an iPhone, and, much like my decision to delete Facebook, I feel like switching would arouse annoyance.

I share a Pages document with a friend for a project we're working on; I regularly send group texts to my band (who all use the iPhone); I also need to stay on top of updates, so I can help my mother and sister when they inevitably need it, and write for iMore. It's not so much peer pressure as the fact that I just hate to inconvenience that many people at once.

Setting up a new phone takes a while

Setting up a brand new phone is often fun and a journey of discovery and amazement. When you've done it four or five times in the last year, however, it can get a bit tedious. You can't really just switch at the drop of a hat; you have to set everything the way you like it, download all your most-used apps, update some stuff, and it's kind of a chore.

Support

Apple is a massive company with millions of customers, but when I've had to call support, I've felt like I'm the only one that matters. With a recent iCloud issue (surprise, surprise), the agent said she would follow up the next day, but actually called me back within 15 minutes to say she had been doing a bit more research and wanted to try something else before she made me wait any longer. That's excellent customer service.

In contrast, going to Google for support is like going to the Prime Minister or President to ask why your trash wasn't picked up yesterday.

Will I switch?

I'm still seesawing, but honestly — probably. I have a perfectly good Nexus 6P sitting on my desk, and its huge screen and rear fingerprint sensor are calling to me. But I've been thinking about it for almost two weeks and still haven't pulled the trigger. Yes, my iPhone 7 has its shortcomings, but there are also many things it does right that keep me from readily crossing sides. I'm living in the ecosystem, and there are some major conveniences and niceties that I'd miss. And if nothing else: The beauty of working for a company that covers technology is that I don't have to give up one phone for the other. I can always use both!

What do you think?

Have you thought about switching? What keeps you on your iPhone or keeps you on your Android phone? You can get in on the conversation in our forums or comment below!

Using Android with a Mac

○ Eight reasons I'm tempted to switch back to Android
○ How to use an Android phone with a Mac
○ How to use the Apple Music app on Android
○ AirPods vs Android: How Apple's headphones work cross-platform
○ How to use an Android watch with iPhone
○ How to move your files from Android to iPad
○ Where's iMessage for Android?
○ Where's FaceTime for Android?

Mick Symons
Mick Symons

Mick is a staff writer who's as frugal as they come, so he always does extensive research (much to the exhaustion of his wife) before making a purchase. If it's not worth the price, Mick ain't buying.

88 Comments
  • My opinion these are weak reasons. I love iCloud and all its serves. I must not ever run into the issues others have. All the other reasons would only be useful for 1% of users. Most normal users would not need any of the customizing or changing things around. Hate me or love me but just my 2 cents.
  • Wow! Maybe try to be objective?!
  • Actually, they are all very valid points. How do you know these features are only useful for 1% of users? Where's your data?
  • Because I live in the real world and know how most people use there phones. If you live in the tech world it might seem like another story. But thanks for being the person to say show your data. Always like that response. ;-)
  • So, no data. Unsubstantiated, anecdotal evidence. Gotcha
  • 1%? Nice made up stat, and on the spot. Impressive. I've been in both ecosystems. Left iPhone because AT&T had the monopoly and they screwed me over. Got hacktastic with custom ROMs and such from Android Froyo2.2 to 4.2. By then it evolved to the point where the native user experience was good enough to no longer justify the security risks for a rooted device in an escalating malware environment. When the iPhone 7 and iOS developed a ledger screen and multitasking, I came back, primarily because of security and updates (which is actually a major part of security). One thing Android does much better is INTEGRATION with 3rd party apps and services. If you want another app to be your primary maps/gps, email, calendar, etc, it doesn't care. You can get close by adjusting notifications, but you can't make a native app truly dormant and save space. It's getting better, but not as good as Android. But what Apple gets right is updates, AirDrop, iMessage, FaceTime, AirPlay, and more, and Android can't see, to touch it. Plus, I've always been a Mac guy, really an Apple guy since the Apple IIe we had when I was in Junior High, and the seamless transition from device to device is amazing. If they could get better widgets, give the ability to make native apps dormant, and hide app shortcuts we don't want to see with an app tray that could be pulled up for seldom used apps, it would be amazing.
  • Only 1% of users prefer more choice of devices? This must be why Apple still only makes one model of phone a year. Oh wait...
  • Saw that phone today and it looks tremendous. But I won't swap though. Not because I think iOS is great - I don’t. I think it’s smooth but pretty restrictive which limits it’s power.
    iCloud I think is crap and I purposely get apps where I can be free of Apples limits.
  • If you want to put your app icons wherever you want and you're okay with your phone getting the big OS update when your carrier feels like you should get it, go android.
  • You also have the option of not buying the phone through the carrier to get updates straight away, or installing a custom ROM.
  • I hear what your saying, and it's been a back and forth struggle. So I've come up with a solution that works for me... I use both. I switch back and forth from my OnePlus 3T to my iPhone 7 when I feel that that particular phone will work best for me. During my work week, the iPhone is the perfect companion, and can be easily used with one hand. Podcast app work great and it's very easy to get done stuff quickly. During the weekends i switch to the OnePlus 3T, that bigger screen works best, and it becomes my entertainment centre. Best of both worlds....But I feel a BlackBerry should be in there somewhere....perhaps dig out my Lumia 950XL???
  • Just read your article say I agree with you on most of your comments. I was an iPhone user since the original and then a 3GS. It was at that point I wanted more options, not less. I switched to Android and really enjoyed my experience there, but a few years ago my wife convinced me to go with an iPhone 6s Plus. I liked the phone. The operating system is smooth, the continuity between all our devices is great, the build quality is amazing and I absolutely love iMessage. As of earlier this week however, I have gone back to the Android camp. I now have a Galaxy s8+ and really do like it. I'm feeling good about being back. I will always love my MAC and the time I spent with my previous iPhones but in this point in time the pros of the iPhone just don't out way the pros I have within Android. Now before anyone tars and feathers me, this is only my opinion for myself. It was a hard decision to switch but one that I am happy with.
  • I have been struggling big time whether to switch. My partner got the S8 and it is super fun, so it is in my face daily! However, I know that Apple is going to come out with something stupendous for the 10th anniversary later this year, so I'm hanging with my iPhone 6s until then. I think.
  • It's worth waiting to see what Apple offers
  • Go for it! Switch, go back to android and in a few months do another article on the cons and pros from your perspective. I've used IOS from the beginning and I like it but I'm starting to take a hard look at Android, the OS looks nice, not that IOS is bad but I'm getting really tired of looking at a grid of icons "YUK".. the Nouget and android "O" looks amazing and modern.
  • I had every iPhone from the 2nd one up to the iPhone 6 Plus and I jumped to the Note 7 and yes we all are aware of what happened but Samsung handled the issue very well, I stayed with the S7 Edge and I am anxiously awaiting the new Note 8. I even shelved my Apple watch and got the Samsung watch and love that too. I don't miss the blue bubble of the Apple Message. I stopped and looked at the S8+ and almost gave up on waiting for the Note 8 but every time I see another rendering of what that could look like I know I did the right thing. Wireless charging is the bomb drop the phone on the pad and poof it take off, no worrying about messing up the connection and I rarely ever plug it in. Two things I don't miss at all about Apple the Apple Music App and iCloud which has been nothing but a headache.
  • I DO miss iMessage, but everything else you've said pretty much describes my experience.
  • You do have valid points here. Switching is really a pain in the **** sometimes but I do it anyway because of the search for the right fit for me.
  • Android security is an oxymoron. There. I'm bold too. :P I will say, Apple is opening things up over time, and the recent purchase of Workflow is an encouraging sign.
  • One thing that history has shown is that Apple makes iOS more flexible with every major update. Think of how many things you can do now which you couldn't do on the first version of iOS. Most likely things like file-system access and default apps will be in a future update, I don't know whether it'll be in a year or 3 years, but they will come
  • I'm wondering where the security is with Apple when celebrity iCloud accounts are constantly getting hacked and personal pictures are thrown around the internet.
  • iCloud uses a standard email and password combination, aside from this the security is very good, but email/password combinations can't really be improved, this is why Apple now provides 2FA. I wonder how many celebrities have 2FA enabled… 🤔
  • About the only reason I see to "log in" to iCloud is security. Apple uses your AppleID (which for most is their iCloud ID) to verify you are you whenever you do anything that could compromise security (updates come to mind). And although I would like to see the storage increased from 5GB to something more, google's 15GB is nowhere near enough ether and it is the same 99 cents a month to go to 50 on each service. The place I disagree hugely with you is Google Apps vs iOS Apps. Now you may prefer google calendar or google mail but you ignore google docs vs pages, google sheets vs numbers, and the laughable google slides vs keynote. Using theses services on a phone vs using the native apps on iOS is not even close and it further ignores things like iMovie and garage band. There are certainly some personal preferences in play here but performance alone has to tip the scale in most cases. There are some customizations that are nice in Android, but consistency normally leads to productivity although not always that sense of ownership that can feel missing on iOS. Still I think the positives outweigh the negatives. I'm sticking with iOS.
  • Just like how most Apple customers don't use the bad office apps, most android customers don't use the Google office apps. Microsoft office are the only real solutions. Posted via the iMore App for Android
  • I have used Open, Libre, and MS office. It wasn't until Pages that I found a typeset program I liked. For composition, iA Writer (which can export to Word, PDF, or even HTML). With PDF becoming the second de facto standard, you can get by pretty well without MS Office.
  • Microsoft Office might have the biggest feature set, but it's riddled with bugs and annoying issues (entering phone numbers into Excel, anyone?). I much prefer using Apple's Office suite, and it works perfectly for me.
  • Each to their own. I find iOffice absolutely awful. Looks pretty but an *** to use. When it comes to work I don't mind spending a little to get compatibility. I have to send large documents to clients and when I’m tendering for a contract I want everything to look professional and work first time. M$ Office is ubiquitous.
    I don’t mind too much having to prat around to find a solution for play, but for work things get serious.
  • iWork supports Microsoft Office formats, I don't know to what degree but the ones I've opened are fine, however maybe issues start to arise with bigger/more complex documents. Ubiquitous doesn't always mean it's good, for example take Email. Email has a large number of issues with it, of course it's an incredibly old technology that's now held together by tape and glue, but people continue to use it because it's ubiquitous and they know everyone uses it.
  • I don't actually understand all the ire with iCloud. It works just like your Google account on an Android phone... It's where things like your settings, notes, reminders, calendars, contacts.... are all stored. Why the hate? When do you feel like you have to sign in over and over again? I don't get it...
  • Every once in a while I'm randomly asked to sign into iCloud. This has always happened to me regardless of the iphone. Even now with my iPhone 7 it happens.
  • That's odd, it only happens for me sometimes when I'm doing iOS updates. Maybe talk with Apple and see what they say
  • It's meant to work the same yeah. It tends not too though .... Posted via the iMore App for Android
  • You guys really should get that looked into... I never see iCloud rear its head at all...
  • Same, not really had any issues
  • Apple ID security measures are incredibly annoying if you ever forget your password. My elderly mother forgot the password on her iPhone and it's near impossible to reset it. We had to reset the phone itself after too many failed attempts. I tried to set it up again and apparently there's an activation lock on the device, so now I need her Apple ID password. Apple doesn't do a standard password reset via email either. You need to confirm the phone number it was set up with (could be a problem after you reset the phone as you can't access messages or receive the call to confirm it, which is downright ridiculous!). I had to switch her SIM card into a backup Android phone to confirm I had access to the line. Then it asked me to confirm an old credit card number, which she doesn't even have anymore. So instead I chose the option for Apple to call me to complete account recovery, so again, I needed to switch the SIM card into an Android phone. They never even called, so the account is still in limbo and she's using my old Nexus 5x while I try to find her old credit card that she never even uses to confirm the account. I also tried setting her up with an old iPhone I have as well that I restored from a backup of her iPad. Everything was going well until the device told me that I need to log into iTunes with her Apple ID that is active on the iPad it was restored from. Again, I don't have that password and as soon as I press cancel when it asks me to enter the iTunes password, it pops again. Apparently you cannot use an iPhone without being signed into iTunes. The device is useless with a perpetual pop-up that I cannot permanently dismiss to actually use the iPhone. What a pain!
  • Any alternative to this method would make the system less secure, and considering how many big companies have been hacked lately that wouldn't be a good idea. In this day and age people really need to remember their passwords, you wouldn't just randomly lose your wallet or keys for your house, so why lose your password? Use a password manager if you struggle to remember passwords
  • I’ve thought about switching from iOS over the past couple of years for some of the same reasons cited in the article. While thinking about it, I looked at what was most important to me so that I could make sure that I was focusing on the major things and not getting caught up in the secondary stuff (all platforms will be a mix-and-match of strong points and sore spots). Ultimately, security, bug fixes, and trust in the platform overall and its maker win over other things that I like less about iOS/Apple. Apple’s approach to keeping a majority of its users on an up-to-date version of its system is the clear winner amongst the options. The close ties between software and hardware make the ecosystem much more complete. And I generally appreciate Apple’s minimalist approach to things (even if they take it too far sometimes, like actively hobbling good software by removing functionality that may or may not come back at some point). I also love the hardware Apple puts out; it just suits my esthetic sense. That said, there are times with things that aren’t perfectly mature rear their ugly head and it just feels like Apple doesn’t allocate enough resources to them despite the billions in the bank. That’s when my faith in their ecosystem integrity falters and I glance across the aisle at other platforms. But Android/Google doesn’t feel like a good fit for me for several reasons. For a while, I was actually thinking of jumping Apple’s ship – for Microsoft! (The “me” from the 1990s/2000s would be shocked at that statement.) I really was intrigued by the interface, and it seemed like Microsoft had kickstarted a new phase in its creativity. (As an aside, I recently got a new iPad but was fairly seriously contemplating jumping to the Surface Pro. I stayed with iOS.) But Microsoft botched its phone development, plus the lack of apps was enough to keep me within Apple’s universe. It looks like I’ll be staying there a while longer.
  • I agree with lots of this. i'm on a iphone 6. Not looking for a new phone either. But in the future i'm gonna very much consider android. I simply haven't been impressed with any new apple additions. I'm not fond of their app changes like the music app. Siri is meh for me. icloud 5 gbs now is too small for even just my backup. I'm only have a macbook, no appletv, ipad, iwatch and i'm not getting any either (Firetv/Roku instead) so cross device work is virtually nonexistent. I only use icloud for backup. i use one drive for storage, i have 50gbs free so apple doesn't compare. not to mention plenty of google accounts full of free storage. I have 20k songs uploaded free to google music. I'd have to pay for icloud music uploads. I occasionally get a text on my laptop which is the only cross device activty that's a plus but i just text, i don't differentiate between icloud and can't be bothered to keep track of the devices my friends have. And the only person whose phone brand i know is my mother because i bought her phone, my father because he still has a dumb phone, and my best friend who is religiously android/anti-iphone. Point is imessage is pretty irrelevant to my uses. I just need free texting. plus group texting should be banned from humanity. Also price there's a lot more hardware options. android seems to have it's issues. i don't like having to manage app closing. but generally i'm very open to it. And for my usage i wouldn't be the biggest change as i'm not embedded in the apple ecosystem in huge ways.
  • Unless I missed it, you missed the most important reason not to switch back - your privacy and security! Go back and read the Google terms of services and research what they are doing. In the TOS, which Google prays nobody reads or understands, you are acknowledging that they are using a "master identifying" number for you to link all of their services and info about you into a master file ("dossier" is a better word IMO). You are also giving a worldwide license perpetual license to them to use anything you upload, e.g., your photos. Google didn't start out evil, but soon they developed a dependency on advertising to survive. Over 90% of their revenue comes from advertising, so they are on a continual quest to know everything about you because that is the only way to keep the advertising model going. Folks should be alarmed that the master file/dossier Google is building on them includes copies of every email they have ever sent or received, every search they have ever conducted, every movie they've ever read, every book, article, web site they've read, everywhere they've ever driven, every photo they've taken, every social media post, every document uploaded, etc. Of course, Google doesn't sell that file directly, it's too valuable and once out they would lose their golden eggs. No Google sells access to that info to advertisers. But since that info is collated/collected about you, it is subject to lawful and unlawful access by others, including law enforcement, intel agencies, hackers, criminals, etc. Intel agencies sit back in amazement that folks voluntarily contribute to these files, something they could never amass. Thanks Goodness Apple's model is not built on selling your information. Here's hoping that they soon release the built in VPN and tracker blocker to Safari. If that happens, people at Google's HQ will be jumping out the windows.
  • Google is crystal clear on what they do with your data in their terms. Apple is very vague but everyone takes them at their word. I'm all in on Google on both platforms and my end result is that I have many added conveniences in my life that help simplify my day. All for the price of companies knowing how I shop. No big deal. Posted via the iMore App for Android
  • It's the opposite. Apple is very clear in fine print and actions. Google you never know.
  • Google doesn't share any of your data with other companies. They use your data to ensure you see ads for products you will be more likely to buy. Advertisers pay Google because of the promise that their ads will be targeted only at users that are more likely to buy their products, thereby maximizing their ad spend. Despite what Rene may imply in some of his editorials--Google does not send any of your actual data to these advertisers.
  • What’s hilarious is that Apple use Google data after lambasting them about privacy.
    What a double standard. They reap the benefit but distance themselves from the dirty work.
  • I saw those unmarked black helicopters last night too.
  • Lmao Posted via the iMore App for Android
  • Tbh I never thought of going to android
    I never even read about them or what they're doing. I'll stick with iPhone, Apple Watch 2 and iOS
  • You are the perfect Apple customer. They make it; you buy it. No questions asked. You don't even explore alternatives. I'm, of course probably oversimplifying things here, but the general gist seems to be true. The problem is: if Apple doesn't worry that you might switch, then they don't have any reason to innovate--they know you're going to buy their next phone no matter what. As a consumer (and as as Apple enthusiast) this is not a good situation.
  • I also wish iCloud was easier to use. Sometimes it is flawless, other times not. My main reason for staying with iOS is customer service. I will stay with a company over that alone. The other reason, is the fact that all my devices are Apple. Fits my needs. I guess that is what it is always about. Does changing over fit your long term needs? Nice article by the way.
  • Whiny first world problems. It's like getting mad at your hair for the color of the comb.
  • Smartphones are an integral part of life for most people. Yes they are a first-world problem, but they're still a problem and probably one of the larger ones in the first-world.
  • This is a great article, man. I feel like you sent it to me via email. I've had an iPhone 7 plus since it came out, but before that I was rocking the Moto Z Play paired with a 2nd gen Moto 360. I can't tell you HOW MUCH i disliked my apple watch(only thing I've ever returned to Apple). And not a week goes by that I don't miss NOT CHARGING for 3-4 days(I don't know how Moto did it, but D-A-M-N). Great article, be proud.
  • What didn't you like about the Apple Watch aside from the battery life? I love my Apple Watch, it's unfortunate that you didn't have the same experience. The battery life didn't bother me too much considering it lasted a day so I was able to charge it at night
  • Not too bad of article. What I appreciate is that you're talking from a position of owning a Mac, apple watch, apple tv, etc and know the ecosystem benefits. It's these more than anything that keeps me with an iphone. As I've mentioned many times before, I'm able to accommodate just about everyone with an iphone...meaning I can also use google apps, yahoo apps, MS apps, whatever that other person has. I can't depend on others to download apps to accommodate me if I were all google for example. I prefer some google apps as well and use them. Can't say I care about customizing. I don't stare at icons or lock screens. I go into what I need. You should be using an app, not staring at icons. That said, notifications could be better. Lots about iOS could be better and I'm sure Apple will continue to improve it. iCloud could be improved but it works fine for what I use it for. Btw..the different apple IDs you can use for different things is customizing. I prefer it that way.
  • "Can't say I care about customizing" A lot of people don't realize that many people just want to use their phone for the actual functions they need it for, and don't care about theming and fancy colours etc. For the person who doesn't care about customization, the iPhone is most likely the better option in terms of stability, security and simplicity
  • I've always gone back and forth between Android phones and iPhones and I've practically had a lot of the more recent Android flagships. I love them but then I end up back on an iPhone. Just today I returned the Galaxy S8+ for another iPhone 7 Plus after four days of using the S8+. The S8+ is a great device and has many things I like but there was just a batch of little things that I didn't like that made me switch back. There's a ton to like about Android phones, but as others have mentioned, I have several Apple products (iMac, MBP, Apple TV, Apple Watch 2, etc.) that it's hard to give up the ecosystem. I agree with the writer of this article about the native Google apps being superior to their iPhone counterparts. iCloud is GARBAGE I don't care what anyone says. I spent 45 mins on the phone today with Apple trying to figure out why I couldn't log into iCloud keychain and the countless times my iPhone and Macs kept asking for my **** apple ID and password. Good luck to you if/when you decide to switch back to Android!
  • "Your comment was partially censored"?? For saying a beaver's house? hmm, ok...
  • They sensor strange things here. :/
  • Mike, I feel your pain! It seems like every year when the "Galaxy S" device launches I get the urge to switch. I have to be honest, I have tried the Note 5, S7 Edge and Note 7, and Pixel only to come back to Apple. The challenge for me when I am on Android is as follows: 1) Bloat
    I can't say how unappealing it is to purchase a phone and be hit with the Carrier logo the minute I turn the phone on and then be forced to use their own messaging service or whatever garbage they throw at you. The Pixel was a nice change and one that I hope more phones adopt, but unfortunately LG, Samsung and others seem to cater to the carriers and unfortunately consumers are the ones that suffer. 2) I won't lie, getting a new Android device is kind of exciting (coming from iOS). Unfortunately, I do find iOS to be stale with the static grid of icons and I appreciate the way Android allows for customization of the home screen and their handling of notifications. However, once I tend to get the phone customized to my liking, I start to find issues that start to bug me. On Samsung, I start to notice things get slow over time (not months. Weeks). The lack of 1:1 scrolling becomes irritating. And the quality of applications is so inferior; applications are optimized for iPhone's whereas they seem to be a one-size-fits all with Android. In addition, many popular apps tend to hit iOS first and just look more polished than the Android counterpart. 3) The ecosystem. I found that having an iPhone actually improves my experience with other Apple devices. If you have a Mac, being able to text, answer phone calls, and the seamless integration between the two is top notch. Android really doesn't offer a "desktop" class alternative (sorry, Chromebook isn't there yet). In addition, being able to FaceTime friends and family members is so much easier with iOS than having to tell all of my family and friends to use Skype or Hangouts to video chat. Plus, if you buy an application on your iPad it just shows up on your iPhone. This tight integration makes all the difference. I do believe that Android and Android OEM's have come a long way and the temptation to switch is definitely higher than it has ever been. But I do think that if you are in the Apple ecosystem, leaving for Android is extremely hard. If the only Apple device you have is the iPhone, I would even consider looking at the S8 or Pixel, but considering I have an Apple Watch, iPad Pro, 2016 MacBook Pro, and an Apple TV makes any transition very hard.
  • I missed it too for the customization, sold my iPhone 6 and got me Huawei P9... **** what a mistake! Apps are so much worse, especially Instagram, Facebook, Messenger (uploading videos to my day/stories is complete trash quality wise). Updates? Pretty much no updates, using it with buggy Nougat update for 2 months, no fix still... Right now even iPhone 5 looks like a better phone to me... P.S: I like Huawei P9 as a phone, great camera, battery not too bad, great build quality, but the biggest flaw is it's running Android... With iOS this phone would be a beast :-)
  • And that is an advantage with Android: variety. All for the low low cost of security. :P All jokes aside, at least Apple gives a small selection now: three sizes and two year versions. That's nothing compared to Android, which makes it easier for developers. That said, smart phones struggling to differentiate themselves, variety is arguably low.
  • "...I was **** sick of being asked to sign into iCloud every 5 minutes." Hyperbole, or actual experience?
  • There seem to have been a bug recently where iCloud kept requesting the user to sign in. Annoying.
  • It's either a hyperbole or a very bad bug, but I'm sitting closer to the former on this one
  • IMO, instead of switching, just buy a quality (something like the Moto G5 Plus) mid-range Android phone as a second device. Get a feel for the premium that you are paying for brand over utility. As for security and timely updates, while this is a real concern, it is also not a real concern. Almost no Android security issue lives in a vacuum, meaning it's rare that any one issue compromises security by itself. If you observe best practices (Don't hang out on open networks. Don't install apps outside of the Play store. Pay attention to app permissions.) Your practical chance of compromise is nil.
  • I agree with the author about iCloud inconveniences. While I've never been asked to sign in every 5 minutes (seriously, wtf?!), I've had various other issues over the years, from automatic backups not happening for weeks to important documents or events not synching. It seems to get more finicky the more Apple products you have tied to the same Apple ID (and it's not a space problem because I'm on the 50GB plan)., and this is with me disabling commonly complained about options like iCloud Keychain and iCloud Photo Library from the very start. No plans to switch though.
  • iCloud down load has got frustratingly slow and has been since last years iOS updated. I thought it was my provider but it happens in other countries I have been and getting slower.
  • I completely agree with everything you say and even I also seesaw sometimes but you forgot to mention ITUNES A.K.A. THE ROCKET LAUNCHER FROM APPLE It's such a painful way to sync your music from computer , I know I can use streaming services but in my country none of them offer higher bitrate and they sound like crap on expensive headphones.
  • I've always hated iTunes syncing. I wish I could just drag and drop the files onto my phone, it's simple and I know nothing is going to get lost, and I don't need iTunes to do it
  • exactly!
  • I'm with you on android. Android is definitely more powerful because it's more flexible. I do enjoy handoff on the iPhone and some simple stuff is easier with the iPhone or the macbook, since it all syncs and integration on the 2 systems are so good it can feel more seamless. I hope iOS will pick up more from android when they find a way to do it, for example notification in android O is absolutely beautiful, small icons with grouping and snoozable notification is awesome, android O is still not very smooth and to snooze a notification you sometimes swipe away the whole notification. Since iOS has 3D Touch to launch a small widget and shortcuts, it will be even easier to trigger without accidental dismissal of the notification. And since iOS updates faster than android we can actually see these feature before most android phones get android O. Also a lot of apps are slightly more powerful on android like pushbullet, ifttt, tasker. I hope iOS will allow for more access from apps, of course it will be more intrusive. I simply love workflow on iOS and it's my main go to for productivity for zipping photos, resizing photos, search nearby restaurant phone numbers, but with more access to system functions, workflow will be awesome, potentially it could be like tasker for trigger based scripting. Some people prefer customisability and skinning the device, I use nova launcher with Min icons, it's nice but it's not a deal breaker, I have both my iPhone and android device with only 1 home screen with 2 rows of folders. Some people also prefer having a file manager and sd card support, just give me a cheap 256gb device, having an sd card support is great but if not, not a deal breaker. People do seem to enjoy multi window on android, I would prefer picture in picture for certain apps like youtube, vlc, maybe calculator opens in a widget in any other apps or like how the messages app already opens in a widget when it comes in. Just some suggestion, I do hope iOS will move to become more android like, I haven't seen many frustration as many apple users have, iCloud is ok and a lot of apps that uses iCloud to handle documents are ok, handoff is broken now, and I don't get messages and phone call on my computer, so that sucks, more so because push bullet cannot push sms for iOS, iTunes is ok, never connected my phone unless I want to do an encrypted backup once a year, syncing music is wireless and musixmatch still works with iOS music app and Spotify like on android. On android it works with youtube too which iOS don't. I still prefer iOS for now, and I think I will have these 2 OS for awhile more to go.
  • Excellent piece. I especially agree with iCloud. But my advice is to not switch. My primary reason is security. I believe Apple will stay relatively secure, while Android will be plagued regularly with security issues.
  • I feel your pain. I too had the Galaxy S5 and really liked the experience but like you said, with a mac, apple watch, apple tv, and ipad, it just seems logical for me to stay with Apple. I will say this, I do wish apple would allow me to default apps to what I want like Android does and I also would like to have a better VR experience, but hopefully these issues will get addressed.
  • He'll be back to iOS, they all do. Forgot how many times I have switched to android, only to come back in a few weeks.
  • I can agree with some of the criticisms, but in terms of security, iPhone wins hands-down. Plus, once you're in, its expensive to switch. Of course, it's nothing compared to switching cameras systems. (I've used Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Leica, Contax, and Olympus, over the years, and every time you switch, it costs you money! (Especially Leica.) Same with phones, only less painful.
  • The "iPhone versus Android" thing is a fallacy! Why not just use both? It would be one thing if all smartphones were $699 or more (which, if Apple had their way, they would precisely be). But for goodness sakes, a very good device like the ZTE Max XL (6 inch 1080p screen, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of storage expandable to 128 GB with an SD card, 3990 mAh batter, USB-C, fingerprint scanner, 13 megapixel rear/5megapixel front cameras) <b>for $130</b>. And a Moto G Play, a pretty decent phone, can be had for $99! Apple devices have a ton of great features that aren't available on other platforms. Android likewise has a lot of fun things due to its open, multi-vendor nature that would never be allowed in Apple's walled garden. Instead of sticking with one platform because, you know, well, Tim Cook and the other Apple executives are your true personal friends and family members who sincerely love you and have your best interests at heart and are heavily personally invested in your happiness and success or something, just get a good inexpensive Android phone (or tablet or Chromebook that runs Android apps) so you can benefit from, say, being able to use multiple accounts on the same device. Or being able to install apps from third party app stores. And being able to customize your UX/UI. And so on. For the record, I advocate the same for Android device owners. Get an iPad Mini or iPhone SE so you can benefit from iTunes and from a far better selection of third party apps.
  • The "iPhone versus Android" thing is a fallacy! Why not just use both? It would be one thing if all smartphones were $699 or more (which, if Apple had their way, they would precisely be). But for goodness sakes, a very good device like the ZTE Max XL (6 inch 1080p screen, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of storage expandable to 128 GB with an SD card, 3990 mAh batter, USB-C, fingerprint scanner, 13 megapixel rear/5megapixel front cameras) <b>for $130</b>. And a Moto G Play, a pretty decent phone, can be had for $99! Apple devices have a ton of great features that aren't available on other platforms. Android likewise has a lot of fun things due to its open, multi-vendor nature that would never be allowed in Apple's walled garden. Instead of sticking with one platform because, you know, well, Tim Cook and the other Apple executives are your true personal friends and family members who sincerely love you and have your best interests at heart and are heavily personally invested in your happiness and success or something, just get a good inexpensive Android phone (or tablet or Chromebook that runs Android apps) so you can benefit from, say, being able to use multiple accounts on the same device. Or being able to install apps from third party app stores. And being able to customize your UX/UI. And so on. For the record, I advocate the same for Android device owners. Get an iPad Mini or iPhone SE so you can benefit from iTunes and from a far better selection of third party apps.
  • I think some of the above reasons are valid. I have no problem having to put in my password once every few days. If that's part of the iOS security system, then so be it. At least if someone does get into my phone I know there's a slight chance that if they try to buy something they'll get prompted for a password. Really the only thing I miss about Android is the customization, specifically launchers. I'd love to be able to install Nova Launcher Prime on my iPhone. But I know that's not going to happen and I've accepted it.
  • I've also had times of temptation to switch to Android. I've used Android phones over the years, and switched back and forth many times until the iPhone 5S when the switching insanity stopped and I've been using only iPhones since. Before that I've owned 4 Android phones between 2009 and 2013. But I've come to conclude that most of the reasons to switch to Android are rather trivial, and the big important reasons to stick with iPhone are what you mention, like iMessage and the ecosystem, and things like Airdrop and AirPods, etc.
    The stuff on Android that's a little better seems to be more fluff to me.
  • Great Piece Personally , I have a Z5 Premium and a 5S . Both are great, the 5s has a better quality of apps and the ( imo ) best iphone design since the iphone 4 , whereas the Z5 has a jaw dropping screen , a good Sony UI which is close to stock , waterproofing and I like the design too For me , the look of Stock Android is far better than iOS ( although they are both good ) . Notifications are a mess in iOS , whereas with Android they are much better . Plus changing launchers , app icons , bootup etc , Android is far more customizable iPhones do seem to suffer more issues , my 5S has random ghosting , and it has only retained 50-60 % of the original battery . No such issues with the Z5 . Also on 10.3.1 , with an alarming regularity , it is freezing in Spotlight and not letting me access the home screen I love multi platforming , I have a tricked out MBP 17 from 2011 , a Surface , Apple TV , Chromecast and two excellent mobile devices Fanboy Wars are so 2010 , lets just appreciate the strengths of both
  • Just wanted to add , far better than the usual Rene Ritchie hit pieces that usually come from this site
  • This is the best article I've read explaining the pros and cons of each platform. Both are great! I've gone back and forth several times and have an Iphone again mainly because my kids communicate more with me when I travel because of iMessage on their devices. Waiting for updates on my S6 did drive me crazy after having an iPhone 5 that updated as soon as new updates were released, but I do miss the notifications I had with my Android phone. I also have a Macbook Pro and iPad and enjoy that I can answer a text message no matter what device I'm using and for that reason, I'll probably stick with my iPhone for awhile. I do use many Google apps over Apple apps, such as Google Maps, Google Photo, Gmail, Google Now, Drive and Chrome. Using these apps does make it easier when I get bored and switch to the other platform.
  • I was on Android for almost a decade, but iPhones do most things that Android phones do, but better. Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+ is flashy and cool right now, but you'll get sick of it quickly if you use it. I did. I promptly went back to my iPhone 7 Plus.
  • That's what I'm struggling with. Apple is flat out easier. I know all of my stuff will transfer right onto the new phone and everything will work. I want a larger phone. I just hate to go in on a plus for $900 that is a better version of my current phone with a larger screen and little more.
  • My first smartphone was iPhone 4 back in 2011. I loved iOS but gave Android a try because of bigger screens by the end of 2013, getting the fabolous Galaxy Note 3. I liked it but as soon Apple released the iPhone 6 a year later with a normal sized 4.7" screen I jumped back. I'm still on the iP6 because I'm waiting for a new designed iPhone with all those fancy features Samsung flagship have had for years. I understand that somebody could be tempted to jump ships right now this moment, because the S8 admitedly offers really advanced things so I (as an iOS user) get easily mad at Apple. But I do think that waiting another 5-6 months will be worth it! Plus, just remember the annoyance of using some heavily skinned Android phone with illogical settings and folders etc. The one thing tho I'd love to have on my iPhone is to use multimedia freely without the burden called iTunes
  • Agree regarding Apple's native apps. Sometimes it seems as though Apple created these to seed the device Mac/phone with "just enough" functionality. But the mail clients, contacts, etc haven't really been upgraded in the past few years. It's as if Apple more or less eliminates the bugs on a bare bones app and then just gives up and then doesn't revisit these to improve them. (I also think Apple probably loses iTunes revenue to Amazon, etc. strictly because their video app sucks so bad compared to Amazon's app.; just advancing video or trying to scrub it using the slider is ridiculously poor.). Similar might be said for Apple's music player app.) Some of us prefer to use the native apps for security (staying w/in Apple's ecosystem) so it would be nice if these were built out with some basic surprise and delight features. (It would also be nice if there was more visual, feature and appearance harmony between apple's native Mac and iOS apps.)
  • I'm right there with you, and have been for most of the last year. I can upgrade my 6 anytime. But the 7 was a bit of a disappointment. I have a Pixel C I use at work, and nougat is far from the buggy Android I had in the past. But therein lies the problem. The Pixel C runs near stock, the Galaxy does not. Even though its gotten better, Galaxy runs touchwiz and gets updates out 6 months to a year after they are released. I left because LG chose not to support my Revolution, so it got no updates at all. That sucked. I was headed back to BlackBerry when my wife's 4 conked out unexpectedly. Unable to afford 2 flagships, I settled for a pair of 4s's. The experience was so good, that next time out, I went for a 6 with 64 gigs (VERY smart move!). But Apple has yet been unable to dislodge me from my 6. I want a bigger phone, but I won't pay $1000 for any phone. I can get an S8 for under $900, a G6 for $675! However, I don't know if the user experience will match my Pixel C. The Pixel, like the iPhone, is very expensive for what you are getting. So I find myself waiting. I figure since nothing is screaming "Buy me!" right now, I will see what Apple puts out, or until my phone breaks, before I jump. My son switched to an S7 and hasn't had any problems with the change, and I like that phone better than the new "edge" phones (LG has the better design) with wraparound screens. If Apple wants to keep me, the 7s plus better impress, or iOS 11 better impress, of the 8 better be WAY cheaper than people are saying. Apple has user experience down, but it needs to step up its game big time on hardware. If the only way they show "courage" is by removing a feature I use this time, I'll find another phone.
  • I am a huge apple fan and user with something from every product category, but I just swapped my iPhone 7 Plus for the Samsung Galaxy S8 and I'm very happy. The OS has been refined in a nice way that is parred down and beautiful. Not to mention the display and battery life are amazing. But the downside is that it breaks me away from the Apple ecosystem that everything else I have works seamlessly with. I don't know if I could stay away from iPhone for too long because of that, but the S8 gives me something iPhones have lacked for a long time - excitement. Every day I'm excited to use it and marvel at it's design and display. I think when Apple can bring back that excitement that I felt for the iPhone 4, iPhone 5, and iPhone 6 Plus - all design changes that I favoured, I will be back. But for now, I am enjoying the Android life (when it comes to a phone). The rest will always be Apple. Just wish I could use my Apple Watch with Android. Right now it serves only for telling time and for fitness tracking.
  • I've always been android fan until I got the iPhone 6s, I was amazed at how fast it was and to be honest I don't see myself using an android as my daily phone again. I still have an android (galaxy 7 edge) but I don't really use it, I give it to my nephew so he can watch YouTube when he forgets his iPad. Android is awesome, I love how open it is but I like apple's ecosystem a lot more. I actually feel really excited about using IOS, even after a year.