Have you just purchased a new iPhone? Or are you gifting an iPhone 15 for the holidays? This simple guide will show you how to transfer your most important data from Android to iPhone without breaking a sweat.

Move to iOS is an app made by Apple that is available on the Google Play Store and makes moving to iOS from another smartphone incredibly simple.

Follow this guide and you'll be using iOS and your new iPhone in no time at all. Here's how to get all your data from Android to iPhone.

How to transfer data from Android to iPhone with the Move to iOS app

NOTE: While the Move to iOS app transfers a lot of your data, it doesn't transfer your apps, music, or any of your passwords as they are not compatible between operating systems.

1. Follow the prompts to set up your new iPhone or iPad until you reach the screen titled "Apps & Data"
2. Tap the "Move Data from Android" option
3. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Play Store and search for Move to iOS

4. Open the Move to iOS app listing
5. Tap Install
6. Choose Open after installation

7. Tap Continue on both devices.
8. On your Android device, enter the six-digit code displayed on the iPhone or iPad
9. After entering the code, the Android device will connect with your iPhone or iPad over a peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connection and determine what data will be transferred. Press Continue on the Android Device to continue
10. Keep the phones next to each other and then select Connect

11. The app will ask you what data you want to be transferred over so that you can quickly log in on your new Apple device. This includes things like contacts, calendar, Google Account, Camera Roll, and more. Select everything you want to move over, then tap Continue
12. It will take time to transfer your data so keep the phones near each other and leave them alone. The more data you have to transfer, the longer it will take. Press Done once the transfer completes
13. Now move over to the iPhone and press Continue Setting up iPhone
14. Continue to follow the iPhone prompts to finish setting up your phone

The length of the transfer process varies depending on how much data you're transferring — especially if you were storing a lot of photos and videos on your Android device. We transferred roughly 400MB of files, and it took about 8 minutes from starting the setup process on iPhone to entering your account passwords.

One more thing... transferring from Android to iPhone has never been so easy

For a long time transferring data from Android to iPhone felt overwhelming and deterred a lot of smartphone users from making the jump. Thanks to the Move to iOS app, you can start your life as an iPhone owner in the Apple ecosystem without starting completely from scratch.

The app is very easy to use and guides you through the whole process, so you don't need to worry about using your new iPhone. You do lose app data, and the app won't transfer over apps from one operating system to another, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Every year when I upgrade my iPhone to the best iPhone available, I always start fresh and manually download apps to make sure my device feels fresh and decluttered. Whether you're getting your first iPhone or have used Apple devices for years, starting fresh with apps can be far more of a benefit than it might seem to begin with

If this is your first iPhone, there has never been a better time to jump on board. iOS 17, which allegedly releases next month, brings some fantastic new features to iPhone, including Contact Posters, StandBy mode, and FaceTime video messages. Before you know it, you'll have adapted to your iPhone as if you've used one your whole life. 

With Apple's big iPhone 14 launch now just weeks away the company is seeking to make sure that Android users know how easily they can switch.

In a new video posted to the Apple YouTube account, the company explains that those switching from Android need not worry about losing data like their photos and contacts, while also pointing out some of the benefits that they can expect after moving over.

The video isn't a long one, clocking in at less than five minutes. But it does give potential switchers the information they need if they are considering picking up a new iPhone 14 this September. The same applies to those who can't wait, of course, with the iPhone 13 lineup still going strong.

Covering all the bases

Apple's video covers all of the most common questions that someone might have when switching, complete with chapters to make it as easy as possible to navigate to specific sections.

Sections and topics discussed include:

• Will it be easy to transfer my contacts, photos, and messages?
• Can I trade in my Android smartphone? 
• Will it hold up over time?
• Will it be reliable?
• Will it get the latest updates?
• How will my personal info be protected?
• Will I get support from Apple?

Trying to get Android users to jump ship and switch to an iPhone has long been Apple's game plan, giving it a way to continue growth at a time when it can be hard to come by. Apple already offers a special Android app that makes its easy for people to move their Android data to iOS when the time comes.

Apple is expected to announce the new iPhone lineup next month, with the high-end iPhone 14 Pro Max set to become the best iPhone for photographers thanks to an upgraded 48-megapixel camera and A16 processor.

Samsungs latest, the Galaxy S9, is a rather iterative update from its predecessor and if, as a Galaxy user, that doesn't have you jazzed and excited to get the next best thing, then your eyes may be wandering. And not just to other Android phones, but even further... over the fence...

If you're considering switching to iPhone from your Samsung Galaxy phone, then here are a few things to consider while you consider.

iPhone buyers guide

Once you've made up your mind to switch to iPhone, you might still be wondering which iPhone exactly you should switch to. iPhone X is the best of the best, while the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus hold their own quite well in this generation, now featuring wireless charging and wonderful cameras.

• Should you upgrade to iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus?
• What color iPhone X should you get: Silver or space gray?
• What iPhone X storage size should you get: 64GB vs. 256GB?
• Should you get AppleCare+ or insurance for your iPhone?

Once you know what you're getting, you can head on over to Apple or your local big box or carrier store to place your order.

• See iPhone X at Apple
• See iPhone 8 at Apple
• See iPhone 8 Plus at Apple

How to transfer your data from Android to iPhone

iPhone works great with all Google services right out of the box. You can sign into your Google account at the system level, and download almost all of Google's major apps right from the App Store. That means you can pretty much get up and running, and keep going right from where you left off, incredibly quickly and easily.

Apple also makes the Move to iOS app, to help you transfer over any other data you might have.

• How to move your photos, contacts, and more from Android to iPhone

iPhone user guide

If you haven't used iOS in a while, or ever at all, it's really easy to pick up. If you want to get going even faster, though, we have everything you need to know.

• How to set up and start using your iPhone
• iOS 11 ultimate guides

Any questions?

If you're still weighing your options, make sure you check out our iPhone forums or ask in the comments below. No matter what replacement phone you ultimately decide on, I hope you love it!

If you've been using a Windows phone for a while, you no doubt have a considerable amount of data stored on your device, including contacts, calendars, email, messages, favorite apps, music, photos and more. There's no automated Switch to iOS app for your Windows phone the way there is for Android, but there are cloud services like OneDrive, and iOS apps like Office, Outlook, Skype, and more than making it easier than ever before.

• First step: You need iTunes
• Moving over your contacts, calendars, and email
• Moving over your photos and videos
• What about my Microsoft apps?
• Moving over your music and video content
• Adding all the rest

First step: You need iTunes

With Apple's iCloud service, iTunes — the company's all-in-one media player, manager, and sync service — may not be needed anywhere near as much as before. There might still be occasions when you want to transfer big files, make local backups, or troubleshoot problems. Then iTunes, clunky as it is, is invaluable. Mac owners will find it pre-installed, but for Windows navigate yourself to the link below to get started.

Download iTunes for Windows

Moving over your contacts, calendars and email

Our phones have quickly become our main communications tools, beyond just calling relatives. Managing both work and personal lives in our pockets is very much a thing and moving your contacts, calendars and email to your new iPhone will be a top priority.

Fortunately, Apple makes it pretty easy. Assuming you've been using your Microsoft account to keep these three entities, you'll be able to import to your iPhone with ease. Before you proceed, it's a good idea to make sure you've backed up your Windows phone first.

1. Launch the Settings app on your new iPhone.
2. Tap Accounts & Passwords.

3. Tap Add account.
4. Select the account your current Mail, calendars, and contacts are on.
5. Follow the instructions to log in with your account credentials.

Once the account has been added, make sure you've enabled syncing for all of the data you want transferred to your iPhone.

1. If you're not already in your new account screen, tap Accounts in the upper left corner to go back to the Accounts screen.
2. Tap your new Account.

3. Tap the Mail switch to turn on and sync your email data. When it's on, the switch is green.
4. Tap the Contacts switch to turn on and sync your contacts data. When it's on, the switch is green.
5. Tap the Calendars switch to turn on and sync your calendar data. When it's on, the switch is green.
6. Tap the Notes switch to turn on and sync your iPhone's Notes content, which will appear in your email account under Notes.

Your Microsoft account will pull in your email, your contacts and your calendar to the relevant stock apps on the iPhone.

You also have the option of using the Microsoft Outlook app on your iPhone to manage your Outlook email and calendars. It's considered by many to be the best mail client on iOS, so it's worth checking out.

Download Outlook for iOS

Moving over your photos and videos

Our recommendation would be to avoid transferring your photo library from your old phone to your new one. Not least because on Windows Mobile you may have been using a microSD card to store them on, something not supported on the iPhone without needing extra peripherals and apps. (Apple uses the iCloud Photo Library service instead — for a price.)

You can opt to start fresh, or better still, backup all your photos to your computer and your favorite online service, and then go from there.

The best option is to use the cloud. If you've been using Windows 10 Mobile then there's a strong chance you had your phone set to auto-upload your photo library to OneDrive. If you didn't have it set this way, there's still time to do so and upload your entire photo library to Microsoft's cloud. You can also upload your iPhone photos to OneDrive, so you don't have to switch from what you're familiar and comfortable with.

With this, you just need to install the OneDrive app from the App Store and you'll have instant access to all your photos wherever you are.

Download OneDrive for iOS

Or, if you use Dropbox, the other big, cross-platform popular option, same applies. Make sure everything has uploaded then grab the Dropbox app for iPhone and you'll be set.

Download Dropbox for iOS

With no expandable physical storage on the iPhone, we strongly recommend the cloud route if you want to have easy access to all of the photos you've been collecting on your Windows phone. You'll be snapping a ton with the iPhone camera so don't fill up that storage with gigabytes of old stuff.

If you can't or simply don't want to use the cloud, you can still make the transfer using a good, old-fashioned cable. If you're using a Windows 10 PC getting your photos off your phone is straightforward. You can either go through the Phone Companion app, which then imports from your Windows phone into the Photos app, or you can just navigate to your phone in File Explorer, find the folder and drag and drop.

On a Mac, it's a little more difficult. To move photos from your computer to your iPhone requires iTunes. With your iPhone connected via the USB-to-Lightning cable you'll be able to select items to sync between the phone and the computer.

What about my Microsoft apps?

Microsoft is a big supporter of cross-platform apps and services. As such, all the most popular apps are available to use on iPhone. And they're pretty good too, for the most part. We've already linked up OneDrive and Outlook above, the list below will help you find some of the other big ones.

• Skype - Download now
• Word - Download now
• PowerPoint - Download now
• Excel - Download now
• OneNote - Download now
• Bing - Download now
• Xbox - Download now

You can find a complete list of all Microsoft apps for iPhone here:

Download Microsoft apps at the App Store

Moving over your music and video content

The iPhone and iTunes are heavily invested in music, and you'll be well looked after. If you have a physical collection on your computer that you synced to your old Windows phone, simply fire up iTunes and start syncing it to your phone.

If you used a third-party service such as Spotify or Deezer to get your aural fix, there are of course apps available for all these in the App Store.

• Download Spotify for iOS
• Download Deezer for iOS

Adding all the rest

The iOS App Store is the place to find apps. You can get almost every Google app available. (Which were notably absent from the Windows Store...)

Equally apps like:

• Snapchat - Download now
• Facebook - Download now
• WhatsApp - Download now
• Twitter - Download now
• Instagram - Download now

There are also hundreds of thousands of games, including all the major mobile titles, so hit the App Store and download away!

This is just the beginning

Hopefully, these tips help you to get started with your new iPhone without having to start again from scratch. With the prevalence of the cloud and Microsoft's strong support for iOS, with a little work you'll be up and running in no time with all your personal communications, media and app needs!

Updated October 2017: Updated account setup for iOS 11.

* With apologies to Michael Jackson, Lego Batman, and all of you.

I use an iPhone for many reasons. The hardware is a work of art and Apple's industrial design team seems to always find new ways to push the limits of material science. Likewise the silicon, the performance of which merely reflects Apple's accelerating lead in chipset design.

The software experience is still clearer, more consistent, and more coherent than anything else on the market. Apps still tend to come out first, a few still only, and many remain simply better than on other platforms. Accessibility is a priority. And security and privacy, two things I care deeply about, are protected in ways not just beyond what other companies will do, but what they can.

iPhone isn't perfect. It's not the greatest at everything. And Apple still has a long way to go when it comes to services. But overall, iPhone best lines up with what I want from the more important, most personal device in my life. The one that knows more about me than any doctor, lawyer, cleric, or significant other.

Increasingly, I think, others are finding the same. That's why Apple and Tim Cook have said numerous times on numerous calls over the last couple of years that the number of Android switchers just keeps going up.

And that's why Apple's new iPhone campaign focuses on just that — switching.

See Apple's new Switch to iPhone site

May 29, 2017: Apple has posted three more videos for you to switch over!

Apple has added another three videos to the company's new series, detailed below, to help encourage and de-stress the switching process.

They focus on security:

Smoothness of experience:

And staying connected:

Switching made easy

If switching is hard or stressful, people will be reluctant to do it. They'll stay with what they know, even if they're not really happy with it. So, Apple is highlighting how easy they've made it to switch.

There's a Move to iOS app in the Google Play Store that walks you through getting all your content and information over to your new iPhone. That way, there's almost no stress when you make the switch.

Of course, Google wants iPhone users as much, if not more, than Android users, so every Google service you can think of has an app for iPhone. Simply download them, log into your Google account on iPhone, and it's almost like you never left.

You can even use many of the Google apps without logging in, letting you enjoy some of Apple's focus on privacy with your experience.

Serious silicon

I've written about Apple's custom chipset advantage and it's great to see Apple telling that story now as well. There's a palpable performance improvement from designing for both single-threaded processes — which is what typically constrains interactivity — and overall efficiency.

It's what lets iPhone be a supercar rather than a tractor-trailer, dragging excess memory and cores behind it just to handle the overhead.

I use iPhone because of the overall experience, not because Apple is leading in silicon. But the nerd in me loves that they are.

Apps, updates, and security

When Apple updates the iPhone, be it the yearly jumps to completely new versions or the numerous bug fixes, performance improvements, and feature enhancements, the update goes to all iPhone customers, in all countries, on all networks, all at once.

It means developers can count on almost everyone being on the latest version of iOS, allowing for better, smoother, apps with all the latest features. It means no one has to worry about their device not getting the latest security patch or being infected with the latest malware.

Prioritized privacy

Call me paranoid, but I dislike the idea of anyone who's not me knowing everyone I meet, every place I go, and everything I do. Data is more valuable than money — just look at all the money big seach and social companies spend to get it — and the amount being harvested from us just keeps increasing.

Being able to find a picture of my sister with a zebra in Albuquerque today is certainly convenient. That technology being used to retroactively find excuses to jail journalists and dissidents in the future will be devastating. And if you think that's paranoia, I'll think you haven't been paying attention lately.

It might be too late. There might be nothing we can do to prevent the rise of pervasive surveillance, but I'll give my money to Apple for now even if all it does is slow things down slightly.

Will it work?

Apple's focusing on other advantages as well, from Apple Store where you can learn about all the latest technologies and arts and get your devices fixed at the same time. I'd add in accessibility as well, which Apple has made a top-down, front-facing feature of every new product release and software update. Their commitment to it is, simply put, second to none.

But there are some things working against Apple as well. Samsung, LG, and others were first to market with features like edge-to-edge displays that are appealing to new buyers. Google is also offering features in Photos, Assistant, and other services that, despite privacy concerns, are hugely appealing.

Moreover, many people are moving towards social and messaging layers as primary interfaces, be it Facebook or WeChat, and while that reduces the friction in switching to iPhone, it also reduces the friction in switching away.

These videos and the new site, while cleverly encapsulating what Apple believes are its core advantages, need to both understood and accepted by potential switchers to be effective.

That is, if they're not just meant to keep the conversation alive and interest piqued for the next big upgrade — and switcher — cycle, widely expected to come with iPhone 8 this fall.

Did you take advantage of Black Friday or Cyber Monday to make the switch from Android to iPhone? If so, was it the deal alone that finally promoted you to take action, or was it something else? I'd love to know the reason why!

Every quarter, Apple claims more people than ever are switching from Android to iPhone. What we don't know, though, is from which Android phones and why. Last month Apple released iPhone 7. Meanwhile, Samsung had to recall the Galaxy Note 7, and Google nixed new Nexus in favor of iPhone-looking Pixels. So...

I'm wondering if any of that — or any other reason — prompted you to make the switch from Android to iPhone? Previously the new big and bigger iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus had many of you making the switch. Conversely, the launch of the smaller but still powerful iPhone SE has more than a few making the shrink-grade.

Enter iPhone 7...

Now there's iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus with industry-leading A10 Fusion processors, amazing new cameras, including a dual-camera system on iPhone 7 Plus, wide gamut color from capture to display, and long sought-after water resistance.

There's also iOS 10, which Apple once agains showed they could ship to hundreds of millions of compatible iPhones, in every region, on every carrier, all at the same time — including security updates. As well as Apple Watch and Apple TV compatibility, including new cross-device features like auto-unlock for Mac and Apple Pay for Safari. They all work together to make the a whole that's far more valuable than any part.

...Exit Android

If you made the switch from Android to iPhone recently, let me know which Android phone you switched from and what caused you to make the switch? Was it one or more of the reasons above or was it something else entirely?

Once upon a time I figured few people would switch from Nexus to iPhone. Rather than mainstream phones, Nexus were as pure Android as Google could make them, and that suggested their customers would be the most devoted. Turns out, though, not everyone who tries Nexus likes it, and some who like Nexus didn't like it's replacement, the Pixel. They liked iPhone 7 instead.

No doubt the Pixel looking like an iPhone helps make it feel familiar to casual consumers, but it may also cause many to figure that if they're getting something that looks like iPhone they might as well get the real thing. Others may realize that while Google will be updating Pixel quickly and directly, their record of supporting older phones isn't nearly as good as Apple's, who've proven they can deliver software and security updates to everyone in the world, all at the same time, for years and years to come. It's also never been easier to make the switch.

But what are the reasons that have mattered most to you?

Making the switch

City00:

nmarrion:

ChuckNorm:

A few of you left Nexus, tried Samsung, but ended up on iPhone, like xXxMVPete:

digitalicecream:

Pyro72:

Even those of you who haven't quite made the switch told us why they were thinking about it, including bagarwa

Why did you switch to iPhone?

Fascinating answers, to say the least. And I'd love to know more!

If you switched from your Nexus — or Pixel! — phone to an iPhone, why'd you make the switch. Was it one specific reason, like the camera or privacy? Or was it a combination of reasons, from hardware to software, quality to feature set? If you haven't switched yet but are considering it, is it because of the changes made to iOS 10 or iPhone 7?

Leave your answer in the comments and we'll use some of the most interesting and insightful in future columns!

During his opening remarks for Apple's Q4, 2016 conference call, CEO Tim Cook once again identified Android switchers as a source of growth for the iPhone business. And one that's continuing to grow.

I've got a pet theory that if people just walk into carrier stores and want an inexpensive phone, maybe one that does Facebook or Snapchat or whatever the internet and messaging is to them, they'll leave with Android. If they're a little more cautious, and want something that eases them into modern phones, they'll leave with iPhone.

Other people want an experience they can control and a device they can tinker with. For them, Android and its numerous manufacturing partners are a deliberate choice. But when people no longer want to work for their experience, and want that experience to work for them, iPhone again becomes a deliberate choice.

It goes back to what Cook has said in the past, that Apple doesn't need to be everyone's first phone, but if they're not, Apple wants to be their second or third. In other words, instead of being everyone's jump-in point, Apple wants to be everyone's landing.

Things like consistently reliable updates that are pushed to all customers, on every carrier, in every region, all at the same time, all the time, plays into that. So does the service provided by Apple Store and AppleCare, and the ecosystem of other Apple products that becomes more valuable the more you add — see Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Apple Music.

That Cook keeps saying the number of Android-to-iPhone switchers is growing is also telling. When and if that slows down, it'll be telling. That it hasn't so far is equally telling.

Read: Here's why iMore readers switched from Samsung Galaxy phones to iPhone?

When I first asked why peoples switched from Android phones for iPhones, I figured man who replied would come from having a Samsung. Samsung is popular and there are so many on the market, that the numbers just felt like they would be there. Also, given the recall on Galaxy Note 7, many people were scrambling to find replacement phones — and some of those would have to go iPhone 7.

There are other reasons too, of course. Apple has proven they can deliver iPhone software and security updates to everyone in the world, all at the same time, which is increasingly important to people. Apple also continues to focus on lifelike photography, which is what some people prefer. It's also never been easier to make the switch.

But what are the reasons that have mattered most to you?

Kendall Seabury:

cctpitts01:

beenzy:

Aaron Moore:

City00:

Devhux:

Xented:

Pluka471:

I switched from a Note 5 and 7 to an iPhone 7 plus for a couple of reasons.

1. OS and security updates
2. Better and more predictable battery life. No more mystery battery drains that leave me with an almost dead phone.
3. More polished OS and Apps with important features that work better. (granted Android is more flexible and customizable, but I believe it comes at the expense of polish).
4. Better support from Apple. A broken screen on a Note 5 costs $250 and takes weeks to turnaround, iPhone is $129 and takes hours (many Apple stores in my area).

I hope that Google's Pixel phone matures in a couple of iterations to equalize these issues - I'm an Android fan, but for now, iPhones are more stable - even if a little restrictive and boring.

It wasn't just the Galaxy Note, though. The Galaxy S line also had people switching to iPhone.

djrakowski:

ThaiBoy02:

Steve H Gotha:

Bob McClenahan:

ronin_cse:

Why did you switch to iPhone?

I find all of these answers, and the many more I received, really interesting. Now that I've seen the wide array of responses, however, it makes me want to find out even more.

So, if you switched from your Samsung Galaxy phone for an iPhone, I'd love to know why. Was it one specific reason, like the camera or privacy? Or was it a combination of reasons, from hardware to software, quality to feature set? If you haven't switched yet but are considering it, is it because of the changes made to iOS 10 or iPhone 7?

Leave your answer in the comments and we'll use some of the most interesting and insightful in future columns!

I originally wrote this explainer back in March, following some comparisons between the then-new Samsung Galaxy S7 and the then-6 month old iPhone 6s camera. Samsung and Apple both make great cameras but have very different philosophies. Apple keeps their built-in camera app as simple and easy to use as possible, and chooses to render their final photos in as natural a way as possible. Samsung, by contrast, prefers more options in their camera apps, and to crush the blacks and boost the saturation on their final photos to make them more appealing. It's a subjective rather than objective difference, and why people can disagree over which approach they like better.

Now that iPhone 7 has launched, we've gone through a new round of camera comparisons, and gotten the same kind of disagreement over the results. Some of us just love the way Samsung renders the photos, much as we love the way TV sets look in display mode on the shelves of big box retailers. Others prefer a natural base so we can choose to adjust them just the way we like, or not at all.

Six months ago, I spoke with Josh Ho from Anandtech and Lisa Bettany from Camera+ about Apple's choices when it came to the iPhone camera. You can read what they originally said below. To help frame where were are now, with iPhone 7, here's what Josh said in his Anandtech review:

iPhone 7 also shoots in DCI-P3 wide-gamut color, which means it captures better reds, magentas, and oranges than most other cameras. Thanks to the DCI-P3 displays on iPhone 7, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, and the Retina 5K iMac, along with the color management built into iOS 10 and macOS Sierra, Apple also makes sure you can preserve that gamut from capture to display, and across multiple devices.

Now back to that explainer...

Balancing acts

A few years ago I was on a podcast with an optical engineer and smartphone reviewer and we were discussing cameras. What he said stuck with me — that given the wide range of options when it came to everything from pixel count to pixel size, from aperture to image signal processor, Apple was making smart choices and achieving the best balance possible.

That's proven to be true over time. We've seen cameras with too many pixels and too few, with the distortions of angles too wide and image signal processors too aggressive.

Apple, though, has steadfastly stuck with balance.

Rather than going for the highest megapixel number, even if it means shredding the pixel size, rather than over saturating and over sharpening, boosting shadows and exposure — rather than going for the hyper-real — Apple is obsessed with focusing on the really real.

As shown on 60 Minutes, Apple has a team of several hundred people working on the camera system. They look at hundreds of thousands of images of every scene type, in every scenario, to ensure everything from the sensor to the processor to the software is making the right decision every step of the way.

The goal is to capture an image as true-to-life as possible, with colors as natural as possible, and to make sure it looks accurate not just on the iPhone's display, but on your friend's or family member's phone, on a computer's display or a television's display, and on any prints you may choose to make.

If you want to apply effects, if you want to crush the blacks or boost the sat, Apple believes that should be your choice, not theirs. You should be able to add to it freely and not have to worry about taking it away.

Renowned iPhone photographer and co-founder of the acclaimed Camera+ app, Lisa Bettany, shared the following:

According to Joshua Ho, senior mobile editor at Anandtech, there's a lot going into that:

After effects

Apple is in the enviable position of both making their own chips, the A-series, and being able to deploy those chips in every phone, in every region. That leads to remarkable control of the complete pipeline, and remarkable consistency in results across the board.

Some companies put bigger lenses up front. Some put entire server farms at the end. Apple wants to take what it can capture up front and give you the best result possible before it gets uploaded anywhere, if it gets uploaded anywhere at all.

If you choose to, you can add filters and effects from a variety of amazing third party apps. You can even add external lenses like wide angle, zoom, fisheye, and more. That lets you get the best of all worlds — a natural, true-to-life image that you can modify if and as desired. Or not. It's entirely up to you.

When it makes sense and doesn't introduced disruptive complexity, Apple does bring new features like easy-to-take panoramas, time-lapses, iCloud Photo Library, manual controls, and most recently, Live Photos.

When technology matures, and Apple can maintain their balance and focus on naturalness, they increase megapixels or pixel size, or widen the aperture. If any of those things cause inconsistency or distortions, even if the numbers look great on a spec comparison, Apple waits.

Shots on shots

No one camera, like no one phone, will appeal to everyone, and it's important that we have many different companies trying many different approaches. That's what gives customers options and pushes everyone to do better.

There are things I'd love to see Apple add to the iPhone camera. Faster access would be terrific. A double click of the sleep/wake button, for example, could launch you right into shooting mode.

So would the ability to automagically save Live Photos, Bursts, or slide shows as videos or animated GIFs. Because, fun.

Lisa would love to see a way to further reduce or eliminate the blocky pixelation she still finds in images, especially in skin tones. Also:

Josh, clearly trolling, thinks Apple could elect to just go with a bigger camera hump. More likely, though:

One area where Apple is already doing exemplary work is accessibility. Where some might simply assume the blind wouldn't need a camera, Apple realized everyone has family and friends they may want to share photos with. So, Apple made the Camera and Photos apps accessible to the blind as well. I'm curious how much further Apple can take that?

Keeping focus

Regardless of where Apple goes next, it's the end result that has to matter most — that we're able to capture the memories and moments we want to capture, accurately and easily, and in a way that we can save and share them quickly whenever and with whomever you want.

Portrait mode for iPhone 7 Plus ships as part of iOS 10.1 this fall. Can't wait to see what the team does for iPhone 8

One of the biggest areas of iPhone growth continues to be people switching from Android. Whether they go for something inexpensive at first, aren't happy with it, and so go iPhone next, or if they simply want something different from the last Android flagship, switchers comprise an increasingly large and important part of the iPhone customer base.

Here's what Apple's CEO, Tim Cook had to say a couple of weeks ago:

That made me curious. We've asked about switching to iPhone before. Back then, one of the primary reasons was the new big and bigger display sizes of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Those have been around for over eighteen months, though. So, the pent-up demand may no longer be so pent up. There are, however, some other things that have changed:

• Apple released iPhone 6s with a 12-megapixel camera and 4K video.
• Apple shipped a 4-inch iPhone with the same camera but a much smaller profile.
• Apple unveiled the Apple Watch and new Apple TV, both of which can make iPhone more compelling.
• Apple once again upgraded all iPhones to the latest software, once again going back to 2011, once again all at once.
• Android vulnerabilities like Stagefright got a lot of media attention.
• Compelling new apps, updates, and/or features that came to iPhone first.

If you made the switch from Android to iPhone recently, let me know which Android phone you switched from and what caused you to make the switch. Was it one or more of the reasons above, or something else entirely?

Q: I changed from Android where Google apps were and now I'm using an iPhone 6 Plus. I liked Google+ but since the update it blows. So, my question is, please name apps that will replace Google for me on my iPhone 6 Plus. Sincerely, Kay

Some people want to switch to iPhone but only for the hardware, not the services. For them Google apps for iOS make it ridiculously easy to log in and keep right on going. Others, like Kay, want to switch to away from Google's services and apps as well. Luckily for them, Apple, Microsoft, and others offer alternatives.

If you want to switch completely away from Google Services, you'll need an account with a different provider. A free iCloud account comes with your new iPhone, so you can easily try that and see how you like it. Otherwise, a free Microsoft account gives you access to a wide range of services as well. None of them have the scope of Google, nor the online excellence, but if you don't want Google, they along with a few others like Dropbox, can absolutely get the job done.

On the other hand, Google hasn't been as great about updating and providing truly native fit and finish on iOS, so you can get a better, more integrated experience with Apple's built-in apps, and just as good as Google, if not better, with Microsoft and others.

Here's a quick reference for Google services and apps, and their alternatives.

*Sunrise is being discontinued and its features integrated into Outlook for iOS.

**Siri and Spotlight might source search results, in part, from Google.

Again, you can absolute switch to the iPhone and keep on using all the Google apps and services you're used to. The iPhone, it turns out, is a good Google phone as well. If you want something different, though, if you want an alternative, Apple, Microsoft, and others can provide it.

Apple even provides a Move to iOS app to get your started!

Alongside iOS 9, Apple released a Move to iOS app to help Android owners transfer their content to iPhone. Apple CEO Tim Cook said a record rate of iPhone customers—some 30%—were switchers, so they wanted to make it as easy as possible. But if switchers have bought Google Play apps, they'll have to buy them again on iOS. Could that cost prevent some from making the switch? And if it does, could something be done about it?

• How to switch from Android to iPhone

A few days ago I was part of a conversation about the inability of developers to offer cross-grades, or cross-platform upgrade pricing for customers switching from Android to iPhone.

For Google Play content it's not a problem. You simply download the iOS versions of Google Play Movies, Google Play Books, etc. and keep right on enjoying all the media you own. Free apps, some freemium apps, and apps with subscriptions are likewise easy to re-download and keep on using.

Apps that are paid up front, not so much. Whether that's a problem that needs solving or not depends on a few factors.

1. Do Android switchers have a significant amount of paid apps to transfer?

If the average person does have a lot of paid apps, then it's a major barrier.

If not, if most people have a predominance of free or freemium apps, then it's not a barrier.

2. Do Android switchers expect to be able to transfer paid apps?

If developers and customers look at phones like computers, than there's a tradition of some companies offering cross-grades for people who switch from PC to Mac, for example. That creates the expectation for cross-grades.

If developers and customers look at phones like consoles, than there's no such tradition. For example, if you switch from Xbox One to PS4, there's no expectation that you'll be able to take your purchases with you.

3. Could cross-grades work?

If cross-grades are a barrier for switchers, and something developers and customers expect, Apple could make things easier and better for everyone by figuring out a way to enable them.

For example, developers could opt-in to a cross-grade program as part of the iTunes Connect process. Then the Move to iOS app could offer something like a "promo code" as part of the process. Redeem the code, and the cross-grade happens. There could be other, better methods for implementing it too, of course.

Switching to iPhone

Like with the Move to iOS app, it's in Apple's best interest to make switching from Android to iPhone as easy as possible, and developers' best interests to keep customers following the switch. Whether or not potential switchers have a large investment in Android apps and expect to be able to move them over remains a question.

If you're an Android owner thinking of making the switch, has the idea of re-buying paid apps held you back?

During Apple's Q4 2015 conference call, Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed that the company is continuing to see an increased number of people ditching their Android phones and making the switch to iPhone.

Cook later added:

No particular reasons were given as to the motivations. In some countries, especially China, the iPhone is a status symbol. In other cases while the first smartphone purchase might not be an iPhone, customers decide to switch for the second or third phone. In still other cases, security is the primary driver.

It could also be that companies like Samsung have reduced their differentiation, shedding memory cards and user-swappable batteries for more iPhone-inspired designs and feature sets.

For their part, Apple has made it easier to switch by launching a Move to iOS app on the Google Play store, allowing people to quickly and simply move personal data from an Android phone to iPhone.

Regardless, it's been great for Apple's bottom line. 48 million iPhones and $51.1 billion in revenue great.

• Switch to iPhone

A few weeks ago Apple released iOS 9 that, in addition to all the new features, contained numerous security improvements and updates. And they were available immediately to every iPhone 6s, iPhone 6, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5, and iPhone 4s owner, in every region, on every carrier. Since then, Apple has pushed out iOS 9.0.1 and iOS 9.0.2 as well. Again, to every iPhone model Apple has sold since 2011. All at once. Done.

• Read our iOS 9 review
• Read our iPhone 6s review and iPhone 6s Plus review

It wasn't a unique occurrence either. It's what Apple has been doing month after month, year after year, since the original iPhone launched in 2007. And it's what they're continuing to do—iOS 9.1 is already in beta and expected to be released in the next month or so. That's an enormous amount of added value enjoyed by iPhone owners and not only is it unmatched by Android or any other platform; it's unmatchable. It's also one of the very best reasons to switch to iPhone.

The update challenge

Android allows for an amazing array of different models, in different shapes and sizes, manufactured by different vendors, and mediated by different carriers. That's an incredible amount of diversity and choice, and the primary reason Android has spread so far, so fast. Diversity, however, is hard to manage. All those customized versions of Android, on all those hardware variants, on all those carriers need to be updated, sometimes on a model-by-model basis. And not every manufacturer or carrier is incentivized to do that, especially not for older versions and models.

Back in May of 2011 Google tried to improve things. As part of the Google I/O keynote they announced:

Unfortunately, nothing much seemed to change. Now, however, following the Stagefright vulnerability, Google is once again promising more timely updates:

I hope it works. I really do. Phones are our computers now but even more powerful and more accessible. They keep us connected, but they also keep our data. Everyone deserves a phone that's as safe, secure, and private as possible.

But it means Google has to develop patches, manufacturers have to apply them, and carriers have to agree to allow them for each and every model of each and every phone. And that's inherently a more complex problem to solve.

Yet the only indicator we have for future behavior is past behavior. Samsung's 2011 Galaxy S2 only officially supports Android 4.1.2 Jellybean, the 2012 Galaxy S3 only officially supports Android 4.3 or 4.4 Jellybean, depending on the variant. It's not until the 2013 Galaxy S4 that we start to see updates to the most recent version of Android, 5.1.1 Lollipop.

Even the traditional wisdom of "stick with Nexus" doesn't always help here. Google's 2011 Galaxy Nexus is stuck on Android Jellybean, never got KitKat or Lollipop, and almost certainly won't be getting Android M.

If you bought both a GNex and an iPhone 4s in 2011, Google cut you off back in 2013 while Apple will be updating you to iOS 9 this fall. So, in hindsight, "stick with Nexus" wouldn't have been very good advice.

The difference is enough that security writer Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai—who has historically been very, very hard on Apple and the iPhone—recently announced he's switching.

So, if it's important to you that the software running on your device be up to date, that you get all the new features and fixes as soon as they're available, and that you continue to get great new features for years to come, then it should be important to you to switch to iPhone.

Apple has made it easier than ever with the new Move to iOS app on the Google Play Store.

Note: Updated for iOS 9.

Update: Following Tim Cook's comments, Apple.com has published a new feature on the benefits of switching to iPhone. Exploring the numbers, IDC has predicted lower growth for Android and higher growth for iPhone, likewise ComScore for U.S. growth. CSLA showed a 55% switch to iPhone rate, with another 30% planning to switch. Customer satisfaction and loyalty rates for Apple, by contrast, have remained staggeringly high.

Apple has been tracking the number of new iPhone customers who switched from Android for a while now. As part of the Q3 2015 conference call, Apple's CEO Tim Cook revealed that this quarter saw the highest number of Android switchers ever.

Apple was so thrilled with the growth, Cook mentioned Android switchers four times over the course of the hour long call:

1. The strong iPhone results were broad-based in both developed and emerging markets, and we experienced the highest switcher rate from Android that we've ever measured.
2. We also are incredibly happy to see the highest Android switcher rate that we've observed. And so, from our point of view, the iPhone is doing outstanding.
3. But as I back up from it and look at it from more of a macro point of view, the thing that makes me very bullish is the 27 percent number I just quoted; the fact that we are seeing the highest Android switcher rate; the customer satisfaction that we have on the iPhone versus the competition—it's a huge margin; the loyalty rate that we have versus competition, an enormous gap there.
4. In certain geographies, the way that we win is to get [Android] switchers. In other geographies, the way that we win is to get people to buy their first smartphone. In other geographies, the way that we win is to get people to upgrade from their current iPhone.

When a person decides to get their first smartphone, some deliberately get an iPhone and some deliberately get an Android phone because that's what they want. Others simply get the cheapest phone possible. Previously it would have been a flip or candy bar phone, but now it's a low-cost and/or highly subsidized Android phone that, by the way, can get them on Facebook.

When time comes to renew, some people stick with the next cheapest phone. (When it comes to cheap, loyalty is to the price point, not to brand.) Others, however, decide they didn't enjoy cheap and so want something else. They may try a higher end Android phone, but many also try an iPhone.

That's why Apple doesn't compete on price but on experience, and why the company doesn't play the short game but the long one.

Bigger screens are likely still a factor as well. Previously Apple didn't offer any. So, if someone needed a bigger screen, they had to go with not-an-iPhone with a bigger screen. Now, with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus, they can have both.

Every time an upgrade cycle occurs, Apple has a chance to win over customers. Even if it's only a few, each one is a gain for Apple. And according to Apple's numbers, it's more than just a few.

We've been talking a lot about switching to iPhone here as well. Many of our readers who recently made the switch shared their reasons for it.

Recently many who wanted to make it shared why as well.

It's happening a lot in emerging markets, but it seems to be happening in established markets as well. If you recently switched, or are planning to switch when the widely expected iPhone 6s ships this fall, let me know!

To organize it, Google first has to collect it, and to organize all of it, it has to collect you. All of you. If that's a concern, and it's leading to your having second thoughts about your involvement with Google, then switching to iPhone can be of tremendous benefit to you. With the iPhone, you can use the best of Google services if you want to, but you can also easily live Google-free. And if you're not yet sure, the iPhone lets you keep all your options open.

Everything has a price. With Apple, you typically pay them money, and they sell you premium products and services in return. That type of cost and relationship is easy to understand.

With Google, you typically pay them attention and data, and they give you free or cheap products and services in return. That cost and relationship is harder to understand.

At least I only started really understanding it after the Google IO keynote:

I'm not the only one thinking or re-thinking about Google and its reach these days. Marco Arment:

Marco didn't believe the benefits of Google services outweighed the flaws for him, so he moved to other services. In some cases, free services like DuckDuckGo, in others paid services like FastMail and MailRoute.

John Gruber shared similar thoughts on Daring Fireball:

iMore and all of Mobile Nations works on Google Accounts, so I can't avoid Google regardless of any personal concerns or feelings. I long ago moved my personal stuff from Google to iCloud, however, and I haven't had any problems or regrets since.

More importantly, I consider it a huge advantage that I, as an iPhone owner, can choose whether I want to use Google services or not. And I can choose on a service-by-service basis. (I can even choose the best of Microsoft if that's what I prefer.)

Moreover, no matter what I choose, I get a phenomenally good experience. I can use as few or as many of Apple, Google, or Microsoft's services as I want, and I can change the mix any time I want.

Regardless of what you think of the relative value of money compared to data, that level of choice is invaluable. And it's only one of the many great reasons to switch to iPhone.

• iPhone 6 review
• iPhone 6 Plus review
• iPhone buyers guide
• Switch to iPhone guide

When I explained how to easily switch from Android to iPhone, that was one of the very few concerns Android owners and Keep users looking to make the switch to iPhone mentioned. Sure there are other services like Evernote that work great everywhere, but those invested in Keep wanted to stay kept. Luckily, there are several ways to do just exactly that!

TurboNote

With support for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus screen sizes, and iOS 8 features like Touch ID security, the free TurboNote — and paid TurboNote Pro — wraps Google Keep up in an App Store wrapper. The design is goofy, with outlandish font choices, and outdated wooden textures and sticky note logos, but the functionality is solid. That includes the ability to add up to 5 Google accounts — stored in your Keychain  — and quickly switch between them.

• TurboNote - Free - Download now
• TurboNote Pro - $2.99 - Download now

GoKeep

GoKeep likewise wraps Google Keep in an App Store wrapper, but with a much cleaner, more modern design. There's the free version and the + paid version, and while cheaper, it also only supports 2 Google accounts instead of 5. You can, however, protect them with Touch ID.

• GoKeep - Free - Download now
• GoKeep+ - $1.99 - Download now

google.com/keep

Because the iPhone enjoys some of the best support for web apps in the industry, you can also simply go to Google Keep online and use the service right from the Safari web browser. You can bookmark it to keep it handy, and if you want an icon to launch it straight from your Home screen, you can easily add that too just by tapping the Share button.

• Google Keep - Free - Visit now

Time to switch

Once you have Google Keep squared away, you can get all the other Google apps for iPhone, and if you want to, all the Microsoft apps for iPhone as well. That's what makes switching to iPhone not only painless, but pleasurable. iOS enjoys first-class support from everyone else — and it's one of the biggest reasons to make the switch. And yes, we can put that in a Google Keep note and share it!

• iPhone 6 review
• iPhone 6 Plus review
• iPhone buyers guide
• Switch to iPhone guide

We've already covered how iPhone and iOS provide not only a great Apple app experience, but a great Google and Microsoft app experience as well. Because of the iPhone's popularity and uniformity of platform, it's not only easy to develop for iOS, it's hard not to. That may be why a lot of people who prefer Google or Microsoft services also prefer switching to iPhone to use them on Apple's hardware. It's not just Apple enthusiasts who say so either. Longtime Microsoft pundit, Paul Thurrott:

Paul has a great rundown of all the Microsoft apps and services you can get on your iPhone, often before Android or even Windows Phone, and sometimes even in a more finished, polished, and feature-complete state.

Time to switch!

It should also be noted that if, for some reason, you and your company decides you no longer want to use Microsoft apps or services, you can easily switch to Apple's or Google's, something you can't do on Windows Phone, and something you can only do the latter of on Android.

That's one of the iPhone's biggest strengths — it enjoys first-class support from everyone else — and one of the biggest reasons to switch.

• iPhone 6 review
• iPhone 6 Plus review
• iPhone buyers guide
• Switch to iPhone guide

The apps that Google has released for the iPhone include YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, Hangouts, Google+, Google Authenticator, Chrome, Google Search, Google Drive, Google Play Music, and more. Having them all on the App Store makes it easier for Android owners to switch to iPhone.

The pros and cons of deep integration

The most often cited advantage for using Google apps on Android is the integration. Google Play, for better or for worse, has become one half the sandwich that makes up almost all Android phones outside of China. That means Google apps go deep into the system and allows for everything from Google Now predictions to seamless intercommunications.

Yet every advantage comes with it an equal and opposite disadvantage. To achieve all that integration, you have to be signed into Google everywhere — from the Google Play store to Gmail to Google Maps to Google Calendar to YouTube to Chrome and on and one. Google gets to know what you're downloading, the contents of your email, where you are, who and when your appointments are with, what you're watching, and most everywhere you're browsing.

Again, many people won't care. For them the quality and "free" price of the services more than make up for the attention and data required as payment. For others, however, attention and data is far more valuable than money, and price we're not always willing to pay.

The value of disintegration

On the iPhone, if you want to use Gmail, Google still gets your communications. Same with Google Calendar and appointments. There are just some things for which you need an account. There are alternatives, like iCloud, Microsoft, and Yahoo!, but if you're all in on Google, there's no way to avoid being all in with Google. Same with Google+, because social network.

Other services, however, you can use perfectly well on iOS without being logged into Google. They don't make it easy, obviously, and they withhold some conveniences to try and incentive logging in, but you can do it. You can watch YouTube videos without being logged in. You can use Google Maps without being logged in. You can even use Chrome without being logged in.

It may not mean much, there may be a hundred other ways to track you and companies doing the tracking, but if you're sensitive about Google in general, yet still want or need to use its services, it may mean something to you.

And alternatives

If it ever gets to the point where you decide Google's interests and yours no longer align enough to use its services, even if they're free, then the iPhone also makes it easy to switch to alternatives. Vimeo, Apple Maps, and Safari are just a few of the options available. Almost everyone makes app for iOS, so you can choose whoever you want. If Docs becomes an issue for you, there's Microsoft Office and Apple iWork. If Hangouts starts to creep you out, there's iMessage, Skype, Whatsapp, LINE, even BBM.

Google offers terrific services for millions upon millions of people, but what's even more terrific is having a choice in whether you use them or not. Even the choice to flip back and forth between using them and not without having to also flip phones just to do it.

Time to switch!

Privacy is an increasingly important issue. Apple has made privacy, along with security, a front-facing feature from the top down. They want it to be a competitive advantage, and that's great for customers who value it as a feature. If you want alternatives to Google apps, or even if you want to use some of Google's apps without being logged into Google, the iPhone is a great way to do it. And it's just one of the benefits you get by making the switch.

• iPhone 6 review
• iPhone 6 Plus review
• iPhone buyers guide
• Switch to iPhone guide

In a recent survey, thirteen percent of respondents who didn't own an iPhone said they'd consider buying one just to get an Apple Watch. Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, also recently said that more Android owners were switching to iPhone than ever before. Combine them together, and that's potentially millions of first-time smartphone buyers and Android converts ready to put Apple products in their pockets and on their wrists this month. Are you one of them?

Convenience

Logging. Controlling. Authenticating. Alerting. Communicating. These are all important things. They're things we need and want. But they're also brief things. They're intermittent and unpredictable things. They're things that the Apple watch will be able to do more efficiently — maybe even better — than our phones. By taking these things out of our pockets or purses and putting them on our wrists, the result is faster, more efficient, more subtle, and more socially acceptable interactions. In other words, less stressful and more enjoyable lives.

• Read more about the Apple Watch and convenience

Health

There have been numerous fitness bands and trackers over the years, but Apple has taken health and fitness to a new level with the watch. It doesn't just track activity and heart rate to measure walking, running, and stair climbing; it logs rowing machines and exercise bikes; it reminds you to stand up and move around, and rewards you for it. It makes the Apple Watch especially compelling. It can not only help quantify your life; it can become your virtual personal trainer.

• Read how the Apple Watch will be your personal trainer

Remote control

The watch as remote control is something Apple hasn't shown off as much, but something that's incredibly interesting. With the Apple Watch, you can remotely access the viewfinder on your iPhone's iSight camera. It can also control your iPhone's music playback, both locally stored music and from iTunes Match. If your iPhone is streaming to AirPlay-enabled speakers, whether you're in your office or at the lake, you can control all of that as well, right from your wrist. Similar to the Remote app for iOS, the Remote app for the Apple Watch lets you connect to any Apple TV you own, at home or at work, along with any iTunes library on your Mac or Windows PC. As cool as media remotes could to be, the bigger promise is home automation. With Siri, Apple's personal digital assistant, and HomeKit, the company's accessory interface framework, you'll be able to do everything from opening and closing doors to setting lights to changing the temperature and more. And all with a word.

• Read how the Apple Watch will be your remote control

Digital wallet and keychain

Something else that will be compelling to many is Apple Watch as digital wallet and keychain. We've seen Apple Pay already, but when it comes to authentication, there's a lot more to see. The Alarm.com app, for example, will not only let you monitor a live feed of your home from your Apple Watch but also do things like open or close your garage door, even when you're far from home. The Starwood Hotel & Resorts app — think W and Aloft — will not only lets you check in and find your room, right from the Apple Watch, but it lets you open the door as well. And there's a lot more to come.

• Read how the Apple Watch will be your digital wallet and keychain

Before and after

If you look at phones before the iPhone, and then look again after, you can see the divide as clearly as any great extinction layer in the earth. Nothing was the same. Whether the Apple Watch can do that for wearable we'll have to wait and see. If it can, you can be in on the ground floor of the next big step forward in mobile computing. You can help discover it. All that, and you get an iPhone as well. Great hardware and great software, both working together in a way no other manufacturer has managed to duplicate, not when it comes to both operating system and apps.

Time to switch

We've been getting a lot of questions from people considering switching to the iPhone just to get the Apple Watch. (That's part of the reason we made the Apple Watch FAQ and Apple Watch buyers guide, after all.) If you're one of those people, let me know — are an Apple Watch and iPhone in your future? And if you're still on the fence, what are you looking for to help you decide?

• iPhone 6 review
• iPhone 6 Plus review
• iPhone buyers guide
• Switch to iPhone guide

The only constant with Samsung is change. Every year is feels like they try something different. That can make it both interesting and maddening for those already using one of the company's phones, or waiting to see what using one might be like. Take the all-new Samsung Galaxy S6 by way of example. It swaps out the plastic casing, replaceable battery, SD card slot, and water-proofing of last year's model for a metal chassis, and Touch ID- and Apple Pay-like features that seem right out of the iPhone's playbook. So, whether you feel like Samsung is no longer filling your needs, or if you're going to iPhone-like you might as well go iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus proper, here's what you need to know to switch — or switch back — to iPhone.

How to switch from Samsung to iPhone

If you're already using Google services, it's ridiculously easy to switch from any Samsung phone to the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus. That's because Google makes almost all their apps for iOS, including YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, Hangouts, Google+, Google Authenticator, Chrome, Google Search, Google Drive, Google Play Music, and more. It's no secret Google covets iPhone owners, so they make sure the company's best apps are there, and provide a great experience. In most cases, switching to iPhone is as simple as downloading the Google apps and logging in.

• Read all about how to move your data from Samsung to iPhone
• Read all about how to move your music from Samsung to iPhone

Why to switch from Samsung to iPhone

If you're still on the fence about making the switch from a Galaxy S to an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus, there are lots of reasons to consider it. Apple Stores and AppleCare, better apps, and better privacy and security are just a few of them. Our readers have given us many, many others.

emanwis:

Ninjarette:

mattjohnson78:

jerrelltaylor85:

mattyb1085:

borg_cube:

Time to switch!

The Samsung Galaxy S6 is here, and whether it's not what you wanted or just a reminder of what Apple does best, it's absolutely worthwhile checking out the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus to see if it better suits your needs. If it does, it might just be time to switch.

• iPhone 6 review
• iPhone 6 Plus review
• iPhone buyers guide
• Switch to iPhone guide

When I first asked why people dumped their Android phones for iPhones, I figured most people who replied would come from having a Samsung Galaxy S. Samsung just always seemed like the iPhone placeholder. In other words, the phone you get when the iPhone isn't yet on your carrier or doesn't yet come in the display size you want. Now the iPhone is on almost every carrier, however, and has bigger and better screens. Turns out the reasons were broader and more varied than I imagined. So, why did our readers switch to iPhone?

Over the last month or so we've gone over a lot of the most common reasons — Touch ID and Apple Pay, Apple Stores and AppleCare, better camera, better apps, and better privacy and security.

Some of you seem to have done it for sheer happiness, like reader MrMojoRaisin69:

Others found the bloatware typically installed on Samsung phones annoying, like GGIBS

Same with mattjohnson78:

TouchWiz, the interface Samsung shellacks on top of Android, was an issue for akin1025:

davinreader simply felt let down by the Samsung Galaxy S5 in general:

Meh89052 just felt the Galaxy S5 kept getting worse:

The camera, perhaps surprisingly for the megapixel fixated, also drove switchers like missygaw:

Why did you switch to iPhone?

I find all of these answers, and the many more I received, really interesting because Samsung has spent so much money on marketing to make its brand so recognizable in the phone business. Now that I've seen the wide array of responses, however, it makes me want to find out even more.

I'm especially interested because of the just-announced Samsung Galaxy S6, where the company not only jettisoned its own design language to once again ape Apple, but also jettisoned those features — user-changable battery, waterproofing, and expandable storage — that only months ago had been among its biggest competitive differentiators. I wonder if making an iPhone-like phone will keep customers who want an iPhone-like phone but not from Apple, or if it will push even more people towards just getting an authentic iPhone instead?

• Where's the Samsung-shaped dent in the design universe?

So, if you ditched your Samsung Galaxy S for an iPhone, I'd love to know why. Was it one specific reason, like the camera or privacy? Or was it a combination of reasons, from hardware to software, quality to feature set? If you haven't switched yet but are considering it, is it because of the changes made to the Galaxy S6? Leave your answer in the comments and we'll use some of the most interesting and insightful in future columns!

That's just why there's never been a better time to switch to iPhone. Whether you're tempted for yourself or looking to help the Android user in your life, the all-new, all-better iPhone 6 and iPhone-6-plus make the move more compelling than ever — especially for the high quality apps.

Quality vs. quantity

Both the App Store and the Google Play Store are now home to upwards of a million apps. The sheer number is almost impossible to comprehend, let alone experience. Many of the most popular apps exist on both platforms. Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, YouTube, Candy Crush, Clash of Clans, Microsoft Office, Netflix, Evernote, etc.

Even then, iMore readers like x32589 notice a big difference when it comes to quality of those apps:

Examples of even major apps from major companies being iPhone-first include Facebook's Paper experience and Instagram's amazing Hyperlapse app.

Most of the apps I love and use every day, however, aren't just better on the iPhone, they're only on iPhone.

There's Overcast, with Smart Speed that's saved me 11 hours of my life while still presenting the podcasts I want to listen to in a way that makes them a joy to listen to. There's Tweetbot and Twitterrific that takes the insanity that is Twitter's current experience and makes it both elegant and coherent again. There's Vesper that lets me collect my thoughts and find them again quickly and cleanly without getting in my way. There's Fantastical that lets me enter and find appointments so fast It's hard to hate meetings any more. There's Screens for VNC, Editorial for writing and scripting, Workflow for automation, Drafts for text time shifting, Storehouse for visual story-telling, Capo Touch for song learning, Transmit for FTP, Letterpress for wordplay, PCalc for calculations, Deliveries for package tracking, OmniFocus for task management, Launch Center Pro for fast actions, and the list goes on and on.

iMore reader Goofball Jones:

That's not even counting the incredible apps Apple makes, from the built-in ones like iMessage and FaceTime to App Store exclusives like GarageBand and iMovie. Plenty of phones can shoot good video and record good audio. Few have tools as powerful as Apple's for turning them into finished songs, podcasts, shows, or movies.

Part of this is cultural. Many of the early iPhone developers came from Mac, where the community was habituated to putting user experience first. Developers who started afterwards saw those first iPhone demos and wanted to make apps like the original Photos and Safari — like magic.

The other part is Apple's iOS SDK and Cocoa Touch frameworks, which also provide significant advantage. Chris Liscio of SuperMegaUltraGroovy:

They make easy what might otherwise be time consuming, expensive, and perhaps impossible.

Extensibility and Continuity

While many Android owners used to complain about the limitations of iOS apps, Apple has recently added one feature that makes most of those differences disappear, and another that simply can't be matched.

Extensibility allows iOS apps to integrate with the system and other iOS apps while maintaining both security and privacy. This includes everything from sharing, action, and photo extensions, to widgets, to custom keyboards including Android favorites like SwiftKey and Swype

Continuity also means that, if you also have an iPad or Mac, your apps can seamlessly handoff from one device to another. That's not just traditional data sync — with handoff you can pick up right where you left off without having to find the app and your place in it first. It's a remarkable advantage.

The best of Apple... and Google

Aside from Beats Music, which they bought and now maintain, Apple doesn't make mobile apps for any other platform. You can argue whether that's good or bad and for whom, but it's the reality. That means apps like GarageBand and iMovie aren't available for Android. It also means apps that can play iTunes videos aren't available for Android. Since iTunes has one of the best international footprints in the business, that matters to a lot of people in a lot of countries.

Conversely, Google makes most of their services, and the apps that wrap them, available for the iPhone. It's long been rumored Google's services on iPhone make a lot more money for them than those same services on Android. Whether that was or is true doesn't really matter — Google values Apple's customers and wants Apple eyeballs badly.

iMore reader Mike Darratta:

That includes YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, Hangouts, Google+, Google Authenticator, Chrome, Google Search, Google Drive, Google Play Music, and more.

iMore reader Tracey Teague:

Some might argue Google services are better integrated on Android than they are on iPhone, and that's certainly true. But it's also not necessarily a good thing. You can use Google Maps, YouTube, Chrome, and other non-account based services on the iPhone without logging into — and sharing your private data with — Google. The company makes it annoying, but at least it's possible. With Android it's tough not to be logged into Google, even if you'd rather not link what videos you're watching or what places you're going with your account.

For me, that makes the iPhone, while not a better Google experience, certainly a better option for me.

The apps that aren't

Android, unfortunately, does lead iPhone in one major category of apps — bloatware. The iPhone did the previously unimaginable and wrested almost all control away from the carriers... until Google made Android and gave most of it back. Because Android is truly only "open" to manufacturers and carriers, those companies are free to pollute it with crap.

iMore reader GGIBS:

iMore reader Matt Johnson78:

I never want to feel like I care more about the phone I'm buying than the company that makes it, and thanks to Apple's current priorities, I never do.

Time to switch!

If the lack of a high-quality apps has been frustrating you or someone you know, here's the good news: The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus offer not only the best apps you can find on a phone, but almost all the Android apps you've already been using. It's just one of the benefits you get by switching to iPhone.

• iPhone 6 review
• iPhone 6 Plus review
• iPhone buyers guide
• Switch to iPhone guide

There's never been a better time to switch to iPhone. Whether you're tempted for yourself or looking to help the Android owner in your life, the all-new, all-better iPhone 6 and iPhone-6-plus make the move more compelling than ever — especially when you add the value of privacy and security.

The value of privacy

Everything has a cost. Some things cost money, and we can easily see that reflected in our bank or credit balances. Other things cost time, and we can see it tick away on the clock. When things come at the cost of our attention or our data, however, they can be harder to see, and the price can be harder to appreciate.

Who's emailing us and about what. Who's meeting us and when. What we're searching for and looking at on the web. Our location, our identity, the names and contact information of our friends and family. All of this is invaluable, yet many of us are happy to give it away to save a few dollars on a gadget or a service.

Privacy is so important we've enacted reams of laws to protect ourselves against its invasion, criminally and civilly. Yet technology has made it not only easy, but attractive to barter is away without a second thought.

Yet that's starting to change. Privacy and its true value is starting to become part of the discussion. With the iPhone, Apple has gone so far as to make privacy one of its most important features.

Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, in an open letter on privacy from Apple.com:

Last week the President of the United States, Barack Obama, held a summit on Cybersecurity. Tim Cook accepted the invitation to be there, unlike the CEOs from competitors Google and Facebook . Some saw their lack of attendance as a protest. Others saw it as recognition that the very idea of privacy threatens their data-collecting business models. For Apple and Tim Cook, it was literally a "matter of life and death".

If you get an iPhone and use iCloud mail, Apple doesn't scan it so they can insert ads. If you turn on Siri, Apple doesn't demand you share your web activity with them in order to use even its most basic features. If you use Apple's Health app, you get to individually control read and write permissions, per app or accessory. That way, for example, if you choose not to share your blood glucose levels with your insurance company, rather than know you're not sharing it, they don't even know it exists.

What's more, if you decide you do want to use Google services or apps, you can use many of them like YouTube and Maps without being logged in, which while not a perfect shield, does help preserve some level of privacy.

Here's what iMore reader jayzero76 shared:

To make an absurd analogy, it's the difference between buying your dinner and walking away, and getting given a lobster dinner for free and then wondering what's expected from you after. If that sounds unnecessarily creepy, that's because it is.

In a world where Google bought and developed Android to prevent their getting cut off from data during the mobile transition, Apple positioning privacy as a feature may be brilliant marketing, but it's also incredible attractive to anyone who wants to buy a product and not be a product.

Updating security

The iPhone didn't just revolutionize the mobile phone, it revolutionized mobile security. Apple built it not only to be security-first — sandboxed and protected against the kinds of malware and viruses that plagued Windows desktops of the day — but they built it to be updatable against threats of the future as well.

From the start, Apple knew it had to take control of software updates to make sure every iPhone, on every carrier, in every country got them on time and all at the same time. That continued as the iPhone expanded, and as iCloud allowed for over-the-air updates.

Contrast that to Android where updates are at the mercy of manufacturers and carriers who have somewhere between zero to no interest in pushing out updates and patches to older devices.

Google recently received attention for failing to patch a security vulnerability in Android's WebView. Android Central:

This is all absolutely true. If I was an Android customer, however, it also absolutely shouldn't be my problem. It should be taken care of by some of the most powerful companies in the world, because it would be the right thing for them to do.

With the iPhone, the the latest iOS 8.1.3 software update didn't just push out to the latest iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus handsets, it pushed out to the iPhone 4s, originally released three and a half years ago in the fall of 2011.

If you'd bought an iPhone 4s on launch day, you'd now have enjoyed updates from iOS 5 to iOS 8. That includes new features like turn-by-turn navigation and extensions, bug fixes and performance enhancements, and security updates. The same time, every time.

Moreover, Apple's App Store and sandboxing model means you're protected against downloading viruses and malware, end-to-end encryption protects your communications, and the company's activation lock service makes your iPhone a far less attractive target for thieves.

Just like it's hard to put a dollar value on privacy, it's hard to put a dollar value on the peace of mind that comes from security, and from Apple delivering those updates month after month, year after year.

Time to switch!

Apple has made privacy and security table-stakes. The company has bet their reputation on respecting and safe-guarding customer data. As a customer, that's not only comforting to me, it's compelling.

It tells me that the full weight and will of one of the most powerful and focused companies in the world is bent on giving me great products rather than turning me into their greatest product.

And those are just two of the benefits of switching to iPhone.

• iPhone 6 review
• iPhone 6 Plus review
• iPhone buyers guide
• Switch to iPhone guide

There's never been a better time to switch to iPhone. Whether you're tempted for yourself or looking to help the Android user in your life, the all-new, all-better iPhone 6 and iPhone-6-plus make the move more compelling than ever — especially when you add the value of Apple Stores and AppleCare.

A Genius in every store

Not everyone lives near an Apple Store. If you don't, Apple has really good phone and online support. If you do, however, they have Genius Bars and a lot more. When Apple built-out the Apple Stores they did something unprecedented — they put a Genius Bar at the back of every one. Instead of more shelf or display space, instead of more revenue generating products or money-collecting registers, they spent valuable real estate on a place where customers could come in and, for free, get help with their Apple devices.

A couple of years ago I went to an New Year's eve party. Just as it got close to midnight, something went wrong and one of the fireworks came hurtling at me. Sparks bounced off my jacket and landed on the screen of my iPhone. Yes, I'd been Instagraming some of the pictures I'd taken. I brushed the screen off but it felt funny. It felt rough. I though it was just dirty but no matter what I did, the roughness remained. It was almost as the though the fireworks had melted or mangled the coating on the screen.

A few days later I took it into the Genius Bar at the local Apple Retail Store. The genius looked it over and then said he would swap it out for a new iPhone. I got a stern lecture about how I should take better care of my devices, but the entire exchange was very quick and I was, of course, delighted. I entered my iCloud ID, my backup downloaded, and within less than an hour I was out of the Apple Store with my new iPhone, screen intact.

I then walked over to my carrier store to get something taken care of with my bill. I waited in line behind a gentleman who was having an issue with his non-iPhone. The carrier rep told him he'd have to mail it away, get an estimate, agree to the estimate, wait for the repair, and then have it mailed back. The rep estimated two weeks, and said there weren't even any phones to lend him while it was gone.

The contrast was striking.

I've told this story before and every time I do I'm flooded with responses from people who've had similar experiences — something goes wrong with their iPhones, they take it to the Genius Bar, and it gets fixed. Often, though not always, at no charge.

Every iPhone sold by Apple comes with a one year AppleCare hardware warranty and 90 days of complimentary support. For $100 you can extend that to AppleCare+ which provides for two full years of hardware warranty and support, and includes steep discounts on repairs even for accidental damage.

The peace of mind that comes from knowing that if one of the most important tools for your daily life, your phone, has a problem, you can go somewhere, talk to a real person, and get it fixed is invaluable. And Apple Store Genius Bars do it every day.

It's part of the value you get when you buy an iPhone. You can get cheaper Android phones, but you can also get phones from Samsung and others that cost every bit as much as an iPhone. None of them include the value of an Apple Store or Genius Bar.

That exactly what one of our readers, duncanator, made sure to point out:

Hands-on help

Apple Stores also offer shopping assistance, if you're not sure which model, color, or capacity you want to buy and you want to see all the options and have them explained to you in person. Once you buy, Apple Stores offer free help setting up your new iPhone, including moving data over from your old device.

What's more, Apple Stores offer free workshops on how to use all the basic features of your iPhone, how to use your iPhone with your Mac, iCloud, iTunes, iBooks, and the App Store, iPhone photography, and apps like GarageBand, iMovie, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.

For an extra $100 you can even get one-on-one training sessions for an entire year. My mom tried out One on One out after getting her iPhone last year:

One of our readers, acondax followed up with the tremendous value of One on One, even for the tech-savy:

Being able to not only find the perfect iPhone for you, but learn how to use it, all freely or inexpensively, and all from trained professionals whose only goal is to help you get more out of your experience, like AppleCare, is invaluable.

And again, it's something competitors like Samsung, Motorola, HTC, LG, and others simply can't match, on cheaper or similarly priced phones.

Time to switch!

Apple can be conservative when it comes to things that reduce battery life. When it comes to providing the most advanced technologies, however, especially when they improve performance, power efficiency, and security, Apple races ahead. That's great news for consumers, because it means we can get an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus not only with an incredibly fast Apple A8 processor, but with Touch ID and Apple Pay as well. And those are just two of the benefits of switching to iPhone.

• iPhone 6 review
• iPhone 6 Plus review
• iPhone buyers guide
• Switch to iPhone guide

More people than ever are switching to iPhone, or are seriously considering making the move, and one of the things you'll want to bring with you is any music or audio you've been listening to on your old Android phone. Apple has been providing the best audio frameworks in the industry for years, and as such you'll find tons of great apps that utilize it within the App Store — including Google's! — to make switching your music and audio to a new device incredibly easy. Here's what works best!

1. If your music is with Google

If you've got your music from Google Play, whether you're using the standard service or All Access, all you have to do is download the Google Play Music app for iPhone and you're in business. Music. Business.

• Google Play Music - Download now

2. If your music is with Amazon

If you've got your music from Amazon, whether you're using the regular version or Amazon Prime Music, all you have to do is download the Amazon Music with Prime Music app for iPhone and your tunes will be right where you expect them to be.

• Amazon Music - Download now

4. If your music is with Beats, Rdio, Spotify, Pandora, Songza, etc.

If you've been streaming rather than buying or storing, you're in luck — all the same services are all available to you right on your iPhone. Just enter your account information and pick up right where you left off.

• Beats - Download now
• Spotify - Download now
• Rdio - Download now
• Songza - Download now
• Pandora - Download now
• Slacker - Download now

5. If your music is on your desktop

If the canonical source of your music is still your desktop and you're used to syncing it back and forth, just load it up into iTunes on Mac or Windows and keep right on syncing. Or, for $25 a year, you can upload it to iTunes Match, potentially upgrade the quality, and stream it to any of your Apple devices, any time.

• iTunes
• iTunes Match

6. Porting your podcasts

Podcasts are typically just as easy to move over as music. If you were using Pocket Casts, Stitcher, or TuneIn, just get the iPhone version of the same app, log into your account, and you'll be good to go.

• Pocket Casts - Download now
• Stitcher - Download now
• TuneIn - Download now

7. Adding your audio books

While iTunes sells audiobooks, most people who love to listen end up with Audible subscriptions. Thanks to the Audible app for iPhone, you can sign in, download anything you like from your catalog, and keep on listening.

• Audible - Download now

8. More great music and audio apps

Once you've gotten adjusted to your iPhone, you may want to check out some of the other amazing music and audio apps available for iOS. Apple has a deep commitment to those frameworks, and developers have been incredibly creative in bringing them to life.

• GarageBand
• djay 2
• Capo Touch
• Stringer
• Magic Piano
• Overcast

Your musical move?

Whether you've already switched to iPhone or you're still considering making the move from Android, let us know how you're listening to your music, podcasts, and audio books, and how you plan to keep listening to them in the future. And if you need more help on making the switch, check out:

• How to move more of your data from Android to iPhone

There's never been a better time to switch to iPhone. Whether you're tempted for yourself or looking to help the Android user in your life, the all-new, all-better iPhone 6 and iPhone-6-plus make the move more compelling than ever — especially with their incredible everyday cameras.

The megapixel myth

The iPhone 6's rear-facing iSight camera is 8 megapixels. Some might argue that more would be better; we saw the megapixel race in point-and-shoot cameras, however, and we know how senseless it is. Megapixels represent quantity, not quality. To get more megapixels, manufacturers carve the image sensor up into smaller pixels that take in less light. That typically results in larger photos of poorer quality. That's why Apple made the choice not to go for more pixels, but for bigger pixels — 1.5 microns at f/2.2. Because they're larger, they take in more light and result in better-quality photos.

If you really want to shoot images sized for posters or billboards, or want to take advantage of significant downsampling, it's okay to look for megapixels. If you want truly great photos, however, you'll need to look beyond them.

The everyday advantage

The biggest advantage of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus cameras is that you can just pull them out, take a snap, and in almost every situation — sunrises, landscapes, landmarks, kids, pets, parties, dinners, selfies, you name it — you get just about the best photo possible. There's no complex software or settings to fuss with; just point, tap, and you've got a great picture.

That's why Apple doesn't need to hang a huge lens off the back or rely on server-side processing. From the custom Image Signal Processor (ISP) to the in-house Camera app, the company designs everything themselves and tightly integrates it all together.

Auto-everything

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus sport a five-element lens with a sapphire crystal lens cover, a hybrid IR-filter, and an 8-megapixel backside illuminated sensor (BSI) to let in as much light as possible. It also offers auto-focus, auto-exposure, and auto-white balance to make sure your photos are sharp, bright, and the colors look the way they're supposed to.

Apple has also added what the company calls "focus pixels" to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Typically found in higher-end cameras, focus pixels allow for "phase-detection autofocus:" Dedicated pairs of pixels in the image sensor read the light and instruct the camera's optics on how to properly adjust, so as to lock onto the scene in front of it. The result is faster focusing — almost instant, really.

The iPhone can also lock onto multiple faces and smaller faces than ever, even in burst mode; your device looks for open eyes and smiles, and then automatically sorts and presents the best of both for your images.

There's also automatic high dynamic range (HDR) with next-generation tonal mapping to make sure you get as much detail as possible in both the light and shadows of your image. For the iPhone 6 Plus, there's additional optical image stabilization (OIS), allowing the aperture to stay open longer which results in less noise during low-light situations.

Taken together, it means from the moment you tap or hold down the shutter button, an incredible amount of technology is working to make sure the picture or pictures you get are as best as they can possibly be.

All the right modes (and manuals)

In addition to standard photos and bursts, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus can take time-lapse photos, panoramas with dynamic exposure, square photos, and even add live effects or filters.

If you're an experienced photographer who prefers controlling every aspect of the photography process yourself, you can download one of many manual camera apps from the App Store. That way you can adjust focus, exposure, and color balances just the way you want them.

Why the camera matters

The idea that the "best camera is the one you have with you" puts an incredible responsibility on smartphone makers. We're trusting them to capture the most important moments of our lives, often at a moment's notice. They need to be up to the task. And so far, Apple has been far in the lead.

Vlad Savov of the Verge, recently wrote about his Android phone getting outshot by casual iPhone photographers:

It's not just journalists having that revelation, either. Here's one of our readers, Brad Littler:

The advantage of Apple's entire ecosystem comes into play as well, as pointed out by another of our readers, GGIBS:

Beyond that, over the holidays I tried taking pictures with my Galaxy S5 camera and the shot it showed me right before the snap was sadly not the shot I got. My images were often blurred, dark, or grainy — and this on a supposed better camera than the 6! I do also miss iCloud's backup, which allows any pictures I take to automatically back up to my Mac and iPad.

Time to switch!

If the lack of a high-quality, easy-to-use camera has been frustrating you or someone you know, here's the good news: The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus offer not only the best everyday cameras you can find on a phone, but the best camera apps to take advantage of them as well. It's just one of the benefits you get by switching to iPhone.

• iPhone 6 review
• iPhone 6 Plus review
• iPhone buyers guide
• Switch to iPhone guide

A strange thing kept happening to me at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week: Whenever I was standing in line for food, for coffee, or to speak to someone at a booth, and using my iPhone 6 Plus to help pass the time, people came up to me to ask how I liked it. That's usually my move. I'm the tech writer. I'm the one who's supposed to be asking how they like their phones. Yet this time it kept happening to me. The story was almost always the same — the person asking had switched to the iPhone 6 Plus from a big screen Android phone, they were loving it, and they wanted to know if I was loving it too. And that made me curious...

These people were almost all vendors or locals, not the tech crowd who'd descended on Vegas for the week obsessed only with the latest and greatest. They were the mainstream. They varied in age and gender. What most of them didn't vary in, however, was their distaste for what they had before. It was unfriendly or inconsistent or otherwise inaccessible to them in some way or another. By comparison, one gentleman told me while we were winding our way through the massive Starbucks line, the iPhone 6 Plus was a breath of fresh air.

For a while now I've thought the move to bigger iPhones would resemble the move to multiple carriers in the U.S. Back at the end of 2010, everyone who wanted an iPhone and could live with AT&T had an iPhone on AT&T, and everyone else who wanted an iPhone but couldn't live with AT&T settled for not-an-iPhone on Verizon. Then, in early 2011, the iPhone hit Verizon and suddenly people could have the phone they wanted on the carrier they wanted. That made them happy.

Likewise, prior to the fall of 2014, everyone who wanted an iPhone and could live with a 4-inch display had an iPhone, while everyone else who wanted an iPhone but needed a bigger display had a not-iPhone that was bigger. Then, in fall of 2014, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus hit the market and suddenly people could have the phone they wanted at the size they wanted. That also made them happy.

I wanted to interview the people I spoke with in Vegas and get all the details, but because of who they worked for, or who they partnered with, or simply because they didn't want to appear on a website, they demurred. But it got me thinking. Anecdote may not be the singular of data, but what if what happened in Vegas was happening everywhere?

So, I figured I'd take advantage of the iMore community and ask that question right here.

Did you recently switch from an Android phone — a Samsung Galaxy or Nexus, an HTC, Moto, or LG — to an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus? Do you know anyone who did? If so, I'd love to know some of the details. What Android phone did you switch from? What motivated you to make the switch? How do you like your new iPhone? Let me know in the comments, or forward it on to your family members, friends, or colleagues who made the switch so they can let me know!

There's never been a better time to switch to iPhone. Whether you're tempted for yourself or looking to help the Android user in your life, the all-new, all-bigger iPhone 6 and iPhone-6-plus make the move more compelling than ever — starting with the new 4.7- and 5.5-inch screen sizes.

Big and bigger

Previously, if you wanted an iPhone, you had to make do with a screen that was 4 inches or less. If a bigger screen was more important to you, you had no Apple-created option — it was Android or bust. Today, you can have both — your bigger screen and Apple's iOS operating system.

The iPhone 6 offers a 4.7-inch Retina HD display with 1334x750 pixels at 326 ppi. That's a real sweet spot for people who want a bigger screen for games, surfing the web, exchanging messages, and more, but still want something they can easily hold in their hand, keep in their pocket, or slide into their purse.

The iPhone 6 Plus offers a 5.5-inch Retina HD display with 1920x1080 pixels at 401 ppi. In portrait mode, it's a bigger iPhone; in landscape, it's almost like a tiny iPad. It's perfect for those who want more of everything.

Big and better

As we mentioned above, Apple wasn't the first to build a larger screen on a phone. The company wasn't going to build a big phone just to fit in an early, inefficient LTE radio, nor did they want to create a larger screen when the devices required compromises like PenTile sub-pixel arrangements or over-saturated colors. That's why, when Apple made bigger displays, the company also made better displays.

It starts with the LED-backlit LCD panel itself. Apple is now photographically aligning the liquid crystals using ultraviolet light. That significantly reduces the chance for bleed, which helps keep blacks dark and text crisp. It makes everything look better, from videos to books.

Apple has also gone from single-domain to dual-domain in-plane switching (IPS to DD-IPS) for the panel. IPS is terrific when you're by yourself, looking straight-on at your display. DD-IPS helps compensate for uneven lighting and color distortion, so it provides for even wider viewing angles and pretty much the best contrast ratio in the industry. That's not only better than previous iPhones, it's better than the AMOLED screens used on other bigger phones. That makes it terrific when you're with family, friends, and colleagues, and you want to share what's on that newer, bigger display.

There's even a new polarizer. It's designed to prevent the typical interference you get when wearing sunglasses and trying to look at your screen. So, instead of colors darkening, shifting, or disappearing entirely as your rotate your iPhone, they look as close to the way they're supposed to look as possible. That way you can get on with enjoying both your iPhone and your fun in the sun.

Anandtech thought the display was almost too good to be true:

The display isn't just more advanced, it's thinner. It's so thin, pixels on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus not only look like they're embedded into the glass, but that they're just below the touch surface itself — they're sharper, clearer, more colorful, and viewable at wider angles than ever before.

That's great for you, and great for those you want to share with.

Bigger and more accessible

Apple has always paid special attention to Accessibility, making the iPhone as inclusive to as wide a range of people as possible. That's why, when they made the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, they also made "Display Zoom", which lets you choose not to see more content, but bigger content.

With Display Zoom, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus can make everything bigger — including text and buttons — so you can read more easily and tap around more reliably. On the iPhone 6, you get the same amount of screen estate as the iPhone 5s, just magnified. The iPhone 6 Plus, in contrast, magnifies to support the same amount of content area as the iPhone 6.

For anyone with visual or motor impairments, it can make the iPhone much, much more accessible than its default settings.

Time to switch!

If the lack of a big screen has been holding you or someone you know from getting an iPhone, the good news is the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus offer you not only big and bigger screens, but big and better options across the board. It's just one of the benefits you get by switching to iPhone.

• iPhone 6 review
• iPhone 6 Plus review
• iPhone buyers guide
• How to move your data from old Android to new iPhone

Andy Ihnatko, with whom I have the pleasure of working on MacBreak Weekly, has written a series of three articles for TechHive detailing why he decided to switch from an iPhone 4S to a Samsung Galaxy S3.

I have immense respect for Andy. I learn something from him each and every week, and his passion and integrity are enormous inspirations to me. As someone who's followed his work for a long time, this series didn't really come as a surprise. Andy's appreciation for Android and Android phones has been growing steadily and publicly for a while now. When he writes about his decision to switch, he's not trolling. He's not vamping. He's not doing anything more or less than what he very specifically states at the outset -- explaining why, for him, the Samsung Galaxy S3 better suits his current phone needs than the iPhone does.

And he's certainly not alone. Phil Nickinson and the people at Android Central love their Nexus, HTC, LG, Sony, and Samsung phones, Daniel Rubino and the people at Windows Phone Central love their Nokia, HTC, and Samsung phones, and Kevin Michaluk and the people at CrackBerry love their BlackBerrys. We're lucky to live in a time where every major manufacturer is fielding great devices. No matter who you are or what needs you have, there's a good chance you can find a phone that fits you and them.

What's most remarkable about Andy's series, however, is not just how well defined his arguments are, pro and con. It's how, in reading them, I can see both why Android better fits his needs, but also why iOS is still far and away the better option for me.

Customization

Where Andy values the flexibility of Android, I see it as a time sink. Maybe I've just grown lazy. I used to spend hours and days tweaking PalmOS and Windows Mobile, trying to get them as close to perfect as possible, just because I could. But perfection is a constantly moving, always unobtainable target. And within it lies procrastination. Now, like the spoon boy in the Matrix, I've come to understand there is no end to it, so have chosen to end it myself. Now, like the, Watchmen I've learned the value of the consistent 9-panel grid. And yes, these days even my Nexus 7 and Nexus 4 are as stock as the day they were born.

For people who love to tweak and change things up, Android is probably best choice on the market right now. But I'm not looking for a better keyboard. I just want to type. I'm no longer interested in working at my phone, I just want to work. Right out of the box, the default choices made by Apple for the iPhone let me, Captain Default, do that.

Features

The iPhone, rumor has it, was never designed with third-party apps in mind. The App Store, third-party multitasking, folders, fast app switching, non-modal notifications, etc. were all bolted on later. To this day, there's no sharing intents or inter-app communications, no way to re-set defaults, no actionable notifications, no persistent internet connections, no changeable icon states, etc. Third-party apps are still clearly, sometimes painfully, second-class citizens, especially when compared to the power Apple's built-in apps have enjoyed from day one. For Andy, that's annoying enough to be a deal-breaker.

For me, Android's origins as a BlackBerry or Windows Mobile competitor, which to this day leave it's current, full, touch-screen incarnation to struggle with frame rates, overdo screen redraws, botch scrolling, panning, 1-to-1 touch tracking, and other interface issues like nails on a chalk-board. For me, they're the deal-breaker

Apple and Google are both working to overcome the limitations of their past architectural decisions. In the meantime, each of us have different things we're willing to put up. I don't use a fraction of the features on my iPhone anyway, much less the features on my Nexus 4. But the ones I do use, over and over again, day in and day out, I expect to be polished to the point of invisibility. I'd rather put up with doing less better than doing more less enjoyably.

Apps

The same thing holds true for apps. While Andy rightly points out that all the major apps and major categories of apps are now available on Android, and that the quantities have evened out, for me the quality still hasn't. To make a poor analogy, the big beer brands are in both stores now, but one store's micro-brewers are still brewing circles around everyone else in the industry.

Part of iOS' advantage is due to Apple's historic strengths. iOS enjoys not only an incredibly mature, phenomenally built set of Objective C frameworks, but an entrenched base of developers and designers who really, truly care about the craft of making great apps, and making them for iOS.

Of all the specific (not types of) apps on my iPhone, I can count on one semi-clenched hand how many are available on other platforms. Right now, only 1Password, Dropbox, Instagram, and Netflix (1Password is so much better on iOS, I'm tempted to only half-count it).

On the other hand, Fantastical, Twitterrific, Tweetbot, Screens, Letterpress, Elements, Drafts, are all iOS only, and that list goes on and on. That's not even counting Apple's App Store-only apps, many of which, like GarageBand, have reset expectations as to what it means to be a mobile app. And let's not forget you can get Google apps on iOS, while the reverse isn't true.

As good as Google is at services, that's how good Apple is at native software.

Of course, Google is upping their game, and DoubleTwist, Shifty Jelly, Dots and Lines, and others are making absolutely gorgeous Android apps these days, so even that difference may even out eventually. Yet where Andy says no iOS app was enough to prevent him from switching, as of right now, over a dozen merge, Voltron-like, to make even the thought of leaving them behind an absolute show-stopper for me.

Diversity

Andy also points out the value of bigger screens on most Android phones. Personally, I don't think bigger screens are the issue -- I think the choice of screen sizes, or lack there of, is the issue. Some people really do prefer smaller phones that fit in their skinny hipster jeans, while others really do prefer phones so big they're almost tablets. Android phones come in almost every size imaginable, in quarter-inch increments. You can get small or large. With the iPhone, you can't. Andy wanted a bigger screen and Apple simply wouldn't sell him one. Samsung would.

I'd be interested in trying an iPhone with a bigger screen, but the 4-inch screen is fine for me. I have an iPad mini. For me, when it comes to screen size and class of software, a small tablet is far, far better than a big phone. I recognize some people prefer not having to lug around two devices, but I still think it's worth it. Just like a tablet can't yet replace my Mac, a phone can't yet replace my tablet. Not a Galaxy, not even a Note.

As to the rest of the hardware, no one else is fielding anything close to the manufacturing levels Apple is putting out right now. The HTC One might even things up, but for right now, even when I hold a Nexus 4, Lumia 920, or BlackBerry Z10, well manufactured devices all, the difference in palpable, never mind the plastics currently used by Samsung. I hold my phone throughout the day. How it feels matters a great deal to me.

Staying

It's a new year, and there'll be new software, services, and phones from Samsung, Apple, and everyone else. We live in interesting times. I'm still delighted by the iPhone and iOS on a daily basis. When and if that stops being the case, maybe I'll consider switching too. (I used to be all-in on Windows, Xbox, and Windows Mobile, after all.) Maybe the opposite will happen and Andy will switch back. Or to Windows Phone. Or to BlackBerry.

There are no more bad choices, only hard ones.

Give Andy's series a read, and you'll see how much thought he put into making his.

• Why I switched from iPhone to Android
• Customize and collaborate: Why I switched from iPhone to Android, Part 2
• Pros and cons: Why I switched from iPhone to Android, Part 3