This is why you switched from Samsung Galaxy 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:

Came from an explosive note 7 and I'm using a temporary 6s plus and I have a 7 plus backordered.What made me switch was consistentsy. Apple owns the hardware and the software. Since they can do that they can perfect it. I work at a place that gets spotty wifi and terrible cell coverage. On the note 7 I'd finish a 8.5 hour shift with 20% battery. On the iPhone I leave work and I have 60% or maybe even more.I also have an iPad so continuity is amazing. It's now making me consider a MacBook Pro.

cctpitts01:

Went from the 6s Plus to the Note7 and as you already know the issue with the battery forced me to make move and seeing that the Note7 was the only device I wanted that ran Android I went and ordered (2) 256GB iPhone 7+ because even before the issues with the battery started they were already behind with the updates and it rubbed me the wrong way that Verizon altered the Note7 and had removed features that are present on the the ATT, Sprint and T-Mobile variants. I'm done with Verizon altering devices on Android and glad they can't tinker with the iPhone.

beenzy:

I switched from a Note 7. I've always wanted to give iOS a shot, so I got an iPhone 7 and a first gen Apple watch for the price of my Note 7 refund. It's been a few weeks now, and I'm enjoying the iOS experience so far. I like the smaller former factor, and I think the watch/phone integration is much better.

Aaron Moore:

This whole Note 7 fiasco really turned me off of Samsung. I went to a Iphone 7 Plus when I finally returned my second Note 7. Iphone has always had a superior OS, it's the lack of customization and other features that Androids allow that has kept me from buying an Iphone in the past few year. I am liking the speed and the battery life on the new 7 plus, and the low light camera is superior to the Note 7.

City00:

If I was going to stick with Android, it was either going to be a Google imagined phone, or I was going to get the Note 7. Well since the Note 7 became a non-factor, and, IMO, the Pixel phones are hideous, and overpriced for stock Android, I got an iPhone 7+ instead.

Devhux:

I switched from the Note 7 to an iPhone 6S Plus once the first recall happened. It took a bit of negotiating with my carrier as I had received an extra credit for trading in a previous Samsung device to get the Note.I've had several issues with Android devices in the past and felt that I needed a change. A month in, and so far I'm very happy with my decision.

Xented:

I had an Note 7, Pixel C, and Huawei Watch. Sold on Ebay as soon as the explosive stuff with the note 7 happened.I now have an iPhone 6S Plus (waiting on my preorder 7 Plus) , iPad Pro (9.7), and Apple Watch. The explosion incident with android was just the tipping point for me. Android is great, but so is iOS. With iOS and iPhones i know i have a quality piece of hardware that i don't have to worry about. They all work together seamlessly and I don't have to worry about support.

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:

Security updates. My Galaxy S7 edge and my wife's Galaxy S7 (both on T-Mobile) didn't receive September security updates until the 1st or 2nd week of October.

ThaiBoy02:

I've been with Android since the OG Droid days. I finally decided to give the iPhone a try as I was sick and tired of hearing people say how great iOS was in general and wanted to see for myself what the deal was. I was rocking a Samsung Galaxy S6 (non edge) and was completely over the horrible battery life and late software updates so I decided to buy a iPhone 6s outright and give iOS a go. The switch was a little rough at first as I never used an iOS device before that. I have to say its nice to actually get software updates when its actually released and Google still has no answer for iMessage... Anyways I ended up recently purchasing the iPhone 7 Plus over the Pixel XL. My main reason for going with the 7 Plus is Apple supports their devices for a longer period of time.

Steve H Gotha:

I went from a Galaxy S7 Edge to 7 Plus primarily because of the water resistance, ever since I lost a phone having to jump into a pool to save my daughter I require water resistance for my phone. I can honestly say I truly appreciate both iOS and Android but as my wife and daughter have iOS devices it makes it easier for us to share stuff, and my daughter loves that she can FaceTime me now.

Bob McClenahan:

I switched back to iOS (iPhone 7 Plus) after about six months with a Galaxy S7. The camera was horrible, and I really missed iOS Messages.

ronin_cse:

I switched from a Galaxy S7 Edge. Wasn't really for any of the above mentioned reasons, I just ended up getting too annoyed by lots of little things on Android that aren't really on iOS and I didn't really need any of the pros that Android offers vs iOS.Things like better battery life, better updates, better response, less lag, less bugs, better apps, etc...

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!

Rene Ritchie
Contributor

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.

77 Comments
  • I rage quit Samsung after owning SO MANY of their products. I dealt with the poor software updates and inconsistent experience between devices, because I loved the note. After returning the note a second time, I said enough is enough. Sold my watch and 2 Samsung tablets and got all of the apple equivalents. I lose a lot of cool features, but I get a reliable product experience. And the Apple Watch is fantastic. Sent from the iMore App
  • Rage Quit describes my experience pretty well. I didn't really have any defense when my wife noted that I got angry and yelled at my Note 4 all the time. There was also the frequent urge to throw it across the room.
  • I like that term, "Rage Quit". That's why I switched from a Moto X (2014 version) to to my 6S Plus last year. When Moto & Verizon announced they would not be providing any more updates to the Moto X (which was only released 1 year earlier, and I actually only had mine for 6 months!) I decided to switch. The whole reason I got the Moto X 2014, was because they didn't update my Moto X from 2013! And the only reason I bought the Moto X 2013 was because they didn't update and support my Samsung Galaxy Nexus! The lack of support/timely updates was a never ending chain of disappointment with Android. Now, I stick with iPhone mainly because of A) the camera (some Android phones have cameras that are just as good, but iOS is leagues ahead when it comes to HD/4K video capture), and B) iMessage. WhatsApp works really well, but hardly any of my friends used it (because they all use iMessage).
  • I was just really disappointed with Android. I started with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus phone and Asus Nexus tablet. I figured both being stock Android would be pretty smooth. It was initially but after 6 months both started slowing down. The tablet I noticed was really bad after they introduced multiple profiles. While that was cool to have, it is my personal tablet so if the cost is that is so slow to the point that I stopped using it then what is the point? I have an iPhone and iPad mini now and they work seamlessly together.. I just need all my friends to get iPhones so I can use iMessage on both my iPhone and iPad to reply to them since whatsapp s only on my iPhone. I have an older plan so I do not have unlimited text.
  • I switched from an iPhone 4 to a Galaxy S3 because Android was much more open and flexible in what you could do. I later got a Moto G. Then, I chose the note 4 because every review put it just a hair better than the Nexus 6. Initially it was good with KitKat, but the Lollypop broke my phone. It was slow, over heating, and the GPS was spotty at best. It took about nine months for the update that fixed this. Now I am rocking my wife's old iPhone 6 ( she got an iPhone 7) and it's faster, and works better than my Note 7. Now I'm looking forward to an iPhone 7+. In the end it's all about reliability, support, and updates. Apple controls everything while Android is a mess. Samsung has to force their crap into Android before passing it on to the carriers, who then cram their junk into it before releasing it. As a result major OS updates take a year and you lose some of the key features of Android.
  • i switched from galaxy s7 edge to the iPhone 7 plus.. ...because my wife wanted my galaxy so bad and i was able to get my emails from work on my iPhone. we also use a lot messages at work and cloud service... so works out for me. but i miss the nice screen and the smaller for factor. easy copy movies and music to my galaxy now i have to use this s@#$ like iTunes and that is so F@#$ up because using two macs makes it not easy transfer music
  • If I didn't have a Mac, I'd switch back to Android in a heartbeat for this very reason. The integration between iOS and macOS is the one redeeming feature of the iPhone, IMO. It's its secret weapon, and the least talked about advantage of the platform. However, the poor Sync experience and data mobility onto/off of the phone has to be one of the worst things about owning an iPhone. And the software doesn't help, either (and you're going to be waiting a year to see if they remedy any of the issues you may have with it, while Google can just update Photos/Gmail/Calendar/etc. through the Play Store year-round). News at 11: Apple finally, after over a year, fixed the bug in Photos on macOS where dragging any high resolution video nerfed the quality down to 720p from 1080p or UHD. It took them like 12-18 months (from Photos release on Yosemite through Sierra launch, it had this bug), but they got it done. Go Apple!
  • Maybe you should try something like iTunes Match. Syncing music across all devices becomes easy and you can download the store quality version of each song.
  • I switched last year from a Note 3. I was gonna go for the Note 5 and I checked it out and thought Samsung had done a good job making it more friendly to single hand use. In the end, however, I opted for an iPhone due to Siri integration (also calling her out while screen was off), the extra Gig of RAM, security, and updates. So far I've been fairly satisfied. I think the mic to call out Siri is a lot better than the ones to call out both the Note 3 and Lumia 1520 assistants. It can hear me from about 15 feet away without issue. I mostly use the timer on it and also just recently started using it to control my light. I do think Samsung has a better music player though and also like their themes(something I hope Apple copies.)
  • The Note 3 definitely has better Microphones than any iPhone. The microphones were one of the best features of the phone, and they actually marketed them as such. I don't know about the Lumia 1520. Google Now had "Okay, Google" before Siri did, by quite a margin. So, that was never a reason to switch from a Note 3 to an iPhone. For a while, it may have been a reason to switch from an iPhone to a Note 3, though.
  • Ok Google didn't work with the screen off though. Hence defeating the purpose of hands free. I'd imagine it may have been great on call quality, but calling out hey galaxy was non responsive sometimes.
  • The "Ok Google" command has worked to wake phones with the screen off since 2013 (August 2013, specifically). It was a major Moto X feature way before any other phone had the capability.
  • We're talking Samsung phones. My friend has an S6 and it still doesn't do that there. You can wake it up, but only with S-Voice. I'd imagine next year this may not be a big issue since Samsung bought out VIV, the creators of Siri. So, they'll too have a decent assistant.
  • It worked on the Galaxy Note 3, which had a Snapdragon 800 CPU. It also worked on the S6.
  • So you're a troll and not a switcher
  • I don't know what to say to that. I was drinking the iPhone Kool Aid when I first got it last year. I was showing off iTunes Radio and genius playlists. Then they get rid of iTunes Radio and with iOS 10, genius playlists. So, that has left a sour taste in my mouth. Two things I used, gone within the year's time I've had my iPhone. Yeah, I get it, they want you to subscribe to Apple Music. But what's next? iTunes Sync?
  • I have to agree the Music Player is absolutely atrocious on iOS, now. You used to be able to tap on the album art to play it, and they completely ripped that out in iOS 10. Every time I have to find the repeat controls I get completely lost. Really, I just HATE using my iPhone to play music these days. I use my M8 almost exclusively for that. Back to carrying 2 phones everywhere. FML!
  • I switched from Samsung to iPhone because I missed the iMessage and I didn't like Samsung software "touchwiz" or quality of their phones. I love the way iPhones software run smoothly, updates on time and built quality of this phone. Screw YOU Samsung!
  • I switched for a very simple reason. I had never tried iOS. The Note 7 debacle was the perfect opportunity to try iOS risk free by getting an iPhone as a loaner from my carrier. After using it for a few days I found iOS a refreshing change of pace. When it was time to turn my second note back in I opted for a 6S Plus.
  • I switched from a 2013 Moto X to an iPhone 6s Plus, for a number of reasons. 1. Updates. Even on a Nexus, it's unpredictable as to when you'll receive the latest Android updates.
    2. Battery. Battery life is often very inconsistent on Android, and standby battery life is awful.
    3. Design. As much as I loved my Moto X--and I LOVED LOVED LOVED it--I decided that I needed a bigger screen for the things I like to do on my phone. The 6/s/Plus phones were the first iPhones that I found attractive since the 3g/s, and the Plus phones in particular were by far the most attractive big screen phones on the market. I seriously don't understand why there are people who think the 4/5 iPhones were more attractive, as I never found anything appealing about their designs.
    4. Samsung. Samsung has become too popular and influential in the Android sphere. I think their phones--hardware and software--are absolutely hideous. And Samsung fanboys are ridiculous and unreasonable. I wanted to get far away from all of that.
    5. Specwars and specwhores. Too many people on Android only seem to care about benchmarks and hardware specs, and most of the phone manufacturers cater to them.
    6. Curiosity. After never having tried iOS and seeing how it had started to incorporate a lot of things that I like from Android, the technology fan in me wanted to try the iPhone experience.
    7. Lollipop. I was pretty disappointed with Google's rollout of Lollipop. It was a mess. I can't say there's much that I miss from Android now, though I am really very curious about the Pixel. I'll definitely have my eyes on next year's Pixel when it's time for upgrade.
  • Between a choice of pixel and iPhone 7 I'll have the pixel. Between the xl and the plus, definitely the plus. Just for the portrait mode. I think iPhone photos are not exceptionally great except for portrait mode and panoramic. And the raw might be better, haven't tried that, just don't want too much noise reduction and the Instagram look. Posted via the iMore App for Android
  • I went from the Note7 to iPhone 7 Plus because Apple has a proven track record when it comes to mass producing electronics. There's a reason why people wait out in lines for days to get their hands on Apple's latest and greatest device--they just work and they're high quality devices. Samsung messed up twice with the Note7. I can understand the first recall. But telling everyone they figured out the problem and assured everyone the second batch was safe to use, and then those "safe" phones started exploding, was totally unacceptable. Sent from the iMore App
  • I can agree with this. Second recall was a poor decision by Samsung. They should have worked out the problem before pulling the plug.
  • I switched from an iPhone 6s Plus to the Note 7 on launch day. Great phone, but short-lived due to the recall. I was unable to secure an iPhone 7 Plus in time, since they sold out so quickly. I might have tried out the Pixel XL, but they hadn't arrived on the scene yet. No other Android phone appealed to me, so I'm back to my 6s Plus until I either purchase a 7 Plus or wait to see what next year brings with the 10 year anniversary.
  • I gotta say, the Pixel is really really nice. It's so incredibly fast and fluid. It's ridiculous. It's not perfect, but it's a really great experience to use.
  • I agree. Too bad it's running on **** ugly hardware
  • A friend of mine just got one and said pretty much the same. He raves about the camera.
  • I'm interested in the pixel. Hope the bring it here Posted via the iMore App for Android
  • This is all very lovely and it's nice to see folks jumping aboard the good ship iPhone, but I wish Rene would address some of the issues that many of us are seeing with iPhone 7. Since moving from a 6S I'm facing reduced network signals and outages in areas where other models of phone on the same network, battery life is abysmal and screen response seems reduced. The Apple support forums are littered with this but not a mention on here, nor is there any mentions of issues such as touch disease etc. I'm sure Rene et al couldn't give a tuppence if I stopped visiting but I happen to like the collegiate tone that the contributors here adopt. I just wish they'd show the balance that they do over at AC where if there's an issue with Android or a handset they hold those responsible to account (their stance on the Note 7 being a prime example). Posted via the iMore App
  • Yea another troll
  • Nope, telling the truth. Although touch disease doesn't affect the 7
  • Those issues are nonexistent, I own an iPhone 7 Plus and I don't really know what you are talking about
  • There are issues with iPhone7 that has the Intel chipset rather than the Qualcomm chipset. Touch disease exists, but not on the 7
  • Most likely these issues have been fixed with the iOS 10.1 update that recently released
  • iPhone 7 had reception issues on Verizon Wireless, at least. The issue has been basically confirmed by Apple with the launch of an update to remedy it.
  • I haven't had an issue on my 7+ with anything you described.
  • Time and time again I see worldwide updates and every phone getting a new OS every time as some sort of benefit. In theory yes. But time and time again updates have either ruined performance /battery life or brought on crashing apps or even a bricked phone. I get why you want to sing it from the hilltop around here but it is not what you make it to be. Sent from the iMore App
  • Also, proofread your articles around here! Sent from the iMore App
  • I kinda get your frustration but faster updates always good. I have the iPhone 6 on beta 10.something. If there's a problem in the update I can roll back to a stable iOS 10 or I could complain in the feedback and they will try to rectify it in the few versions down the road and that happens in about a month. Did that a few times. I did have a lousy marshmallow update on the G4 which for a long time drain the battery faster than the previous update. Luckily an update solved that. Posted via the iMore App for Android
  • More polished applications, better support, and consistent updates are the main reason why I normally prefer the iPhone. Having said that, I was ready to switch to the Note7 were it not for this recall mess. iPhone did not deliver this year, not the iPhone nor iOS 10. All of the changes are mediocre and in some ways iOS 10 took a step back compared to iOS 9. This is even without the connectivity issues that have been plaguing virtually every single device that updated to iOS 10 (LTE dropping down to 3G, slow reconnecting after exiting no service areas, weaker signal in general, and signal dropout where previously there was none). Before anyone says "it's your phone or how it is set up", 3 iPhone 6s Plus devices that I have on 2 different networks exhibit the same behavior. Drop them back to iOS 9 and no issue exists. Even wiping and starting from scratch makes no difference. One 6s Plus was newly unboxed, working perfect with iOS 9 and as soon as it was updated to iOS 10 connectivity issues were back.
  • I switched to the iPhone SE from the Galaxy S6, and couldn't do it. The iPhone notification system is broken, annoying; a complete mess. Sure the battery is (much) better on the SE, but that doesn't matter when your phone is useless due to weak reception. I'd say overall both devices are on the same level, it's up to the user to decide what they value more: Screen is much better on the S6; cameras are same; battery is much better on the SE; cellular reception is better on the SE; speed is about the same although graphical performance is better on the SE) I wrote about my experience with the switch here: https://www.reddit.com/r/GalaxyS6/comments/57ewf6/rant_i_switched_to_iph...
  • I don't think the notification system is horrible on iOS, I just don't think it offers as much control which is worse for some people more than others. Admittedly I'm not really in group chats, the notifications I generally get are the ones I expect to get so I don't have any problems receiving them from all the apps I've given notification access to, and I'd never want to disable vibration+sound because if I got a notification I'd never know if I received it, in situations like when I go to bed I use DND. If you're used to Android's granularity with it, it's probably pretty annoying, but iOS's notification system seems to work for a lot of people, at least I've not heard too many complaints about it but you do make a good point in that it's not very flexible
  • What does this sentence mean? "When I first asked why peoples switched from Android phones for iPhones, I figured man who replied would come from having a Samsung." I've read it 3 times now, and I still don't understand it.
  • That's because it's a typo. I'm not 100% sure what it's supposed to say. But, quality control ftw... All your base are belong to us.
  • It's multiple typos. Style and structure is also in question. This is what's intended: "When I first asked why people switch from Android to iOS, I figured many who replied had come from Samsung devices." "Peoples" and "man" are typos. He meant "people" and "many." Stylistically, the language is too idiomatic. Figured is not a hard synonym for "assumed," so "assumed" should be used there. The word "first" should be initially. Even if he insisted on using "first," it really should be "at first" and not simply "first." "Initially" is better. You want an adverb there, not an ordinal or an adjective, which is how first is typically used. I would rewrite as: "When initially asking why people switch from Android to iOS, I assumed many replies would have been from those who had replaced Samsung devices." With contractions: "When initially asking why people switch from Android to iOS, I assumed many replies would've been from those who'd replaced Samsung devices." Clear difference in the use of verb tenses, work choice, and [as a result] structure. Sounds more professional, as well.
  • Good rewrite (except for your own typo! Lol) When the first sentence in an article is this bad, it discourages me from reading any further. So I didn't. It's a shame as it looks like an interesting topic. I'm surprised it hasn't been tidied up since publication.
  • Typed on a phone, and now I'm too lazy to reread it to see where the typo is, Lol. I and others have bought up the quality of the writing on this site multiple times (it seems like it has been a hot topic as of late). People will just down vote you for mentioning it. They don't seem to care, otherwise they'd have tightened it up by now. Why is anyone called an "editor," if they cannot check submissions for obvious grammar and spelling errors. There are many publications that would never hire someone with bad spelling and grammar. It's the equivalent of giving your editors more work to do. It's not hard to run things through Grammarly, or even use the built-in Word/WordPerfect Grammar/Spelling checkers (which would catch a lot of the errors pointed out). I'm started to wonder if they do all of their writing in Google Docs or iWork. Both are terrible choices unless you're using an add-on/plug-in for grammar and spell check.
  • Agreed. The typo's in your last paragraph - "work choice". ;)
  • I'd imagine he meant "most" instead of "man" So, it's a typo
  • Or how about just "many" instead of "man"?
  • Peoples are peoples no matter who they are.
  • Samsung's misery = your new delight with iPhone. Welcome aboard.
  • Potentially more misery...... I was in a T-Mobile store on Friday night, and a Galaxy Tab A went up in flames in front of me and two reps.
  • Woah the note 7 really cost Samsung a bomb. I am still interested in the s7 and pixel though Posted via the iMore App for Android
  • Hey Rene.... Samsung is not the concern now. Pixel is. Run and hide. Posted from my Nexus 6P
  • Lol... the thousands fake iPhone google is going to sell ? They are very concerned...
  • Pixel won't be a concern to Apple for at least a year or so. Google has no supply chain experience and can't even ship the few million pre-ordered this year. Note 7 was the luckiest thing ever for Pixel but I'm sure they'll squander that gift.
  • I'm pretty sure shipping numbers for the Pixel phones to start are in hundred-thousands, not millions. I'd be surprised if the number exceeded 1 million.
  • Is an answer only valid if you switched from a Samsung phone? /confused Both my friend and I switched to iPhone from HTC phones. It feels so weird to say I switched to iPhone. I hated them at one point. But this guy. To say he has an iPhone now. It's like when they said Pluto wasn't a planet anymore. Okay. This guy. Born and raised in New York. Long Island to be exact. I remember asking why he didn't like the Red Sox. Big mistake. Booming voice, he said Boston, preceded by an expletive. I'm sure you can guess which one. He only hated two other things as much. Japanese street race cars, particularly the Honda Civic, because he's a muscle car guy. And Apple and the iPhone in particular, because he's worked for three of the five major cell phone carriers in the US, and he says the iPhone customers are by far the worst. Yet, he's just the sales guy with the charisma. He didn't really know all that much about what smartphones did under the surface. He just really liked HTC (and Samsung, briefly, but he went running back to HTC after a brief bout with the Galaxy S6). So when I switched to an iPhone, I think that opened a door for him. I may be the smartest phone guy he knows. And for me to go from saying "iPhones are good if you want a simple phone, but they're years behind Android" to "iPhone just made the most sense this year... I was tired of Android phones letting me down, and my iPhone 6s is like a breath of fresh air" changed something. When I switched to the iPhone, I became the object of his ridicule. Like I said, big mouthed New Yorker. He wouldn't stop calling me a... ahem... bundle of sticks (Google it)... for going to see the third Twilight movie with my wife. It was her turn to pick, and honestly it wasn't that bad. I laugh at the glittery glampire with the best of them, but I've seen much worse. Nothing I would say would get him to let up. So likewise, when I got the iPhone, I had to put up with some good natured ribbing from a frat boy kind of guy. And that's fine. He drives a Ford (albeit, a Mustang) so I do the whole "Fix or repair daily" routine. We're that kind of friends. Then he got the HTC 10. And he was so happy to have an HTC phone again after a year and a half of Samsung. He had the HTC One M7 and M8, and went to Samsung because he felt the M9 was not a big enough upgrade from the M8 (and he was right, except I would have gone to LG or Moto before Samsung, but he had personal prejudices against both). So he was happy... until one day, his precious HTC 10 up and force quit the launcher on him. He shrugged it off, but asked me about it. Then it was happening a few times a day. "Still better than your [expletive]-ing iPhone," he'd say. And then it would just up and reboot on him. Which was still fine... until it wouldn't get any farther than the HTC logo, before rebooting again. And again. And AGAIN. Verizon replaced it... and the new one did the same thing. In fact, they replaced it five times. He's gone through six HTC 10 phones. Verizon cannot find him one that works. And they won't let him just switch over to something else. He has to sell his HTC 10 as-is, take a huge loss, and buy a new phone. So then he calls me up asking if, were I him, if I would get a Galaxy Note 7 or an iPhone 7 Plus. He wants a big phone. He knows the iPhone is more reliable. He works as a delivery driver in a big city, so he needs a reliable phone. He can't not have a phone. He can't not have Google Maps. He certainly can't have one that boot loops. This was a hard call for me. I knew he'd be unhappy with the iPhone. So I broke down the pros and cons of each one. The Note is only a little less powerful. It has more RAM. It has more storage (and expandable storage). It has a nicer screen. (Sorry iPhone fans, nobody beats Samsung on screen quality. I strongly dislike, almost hate Samsung, but I give the devil his due.) It has a standard charging port. But the iPhone will be more reliable. It'll get updated for at least five years. It'll be there when you need it to. Couple weeks ago he goes on Facebook and posts something like about how he's doing something he never thought he'd do. He ordered an iPhone 7 Plus. End of an era. Now, most Android users might resent the iPhone at first. I definitely did. I was all about the root, custom ROMs, custom kernels, KLWP (live wallpaper maker), Nova Prime (custom app launcher), etc. I felt like I traded my gaming PC for an Xbox. Like, it still did the things I do. Facebook, Spotify, Instagram, Subway Surfers... I like 3D Touch, I like the visual voicemail thing (Android is just now getting it, but exclusive to the Pixel and you gotta pay for it... FAIL), the iPhone is certainly cool... but something is missing. It's just something I miss less and less every day. Now this guy.... stock everything. Doesn't care about root, ROMs, kernels, customization, any of that. He might drag his favorite apps out of the drawer and put them on the home screen. That's it. So I imagine his transition to iOS will be less bumpy than mine was. I doubt he'll be an Apple fan, just less of a hater. I find it sad that some think Samsung represents Android. To me, Android has always been an ideal. The iPhone is a cool thing. No doubt about that. But the idea of truly owning the hardware and having low level access to the software and file system. It was a kind of freedom, but I feel, as a power user, that I never actually had it. I was always chasing it. I never flashed something and said, hey, this is it. I found it. My journey is over. There was always something missing. With the iPhone, you don't really own it. You just use it. I guess I'm okay with that. I know where I stand with this phone. With Apple in control of it, it just works. I hate to reuse the old catch phrase, but it's true. An Android power user will say it can always work better, but personally, I'm tired of chasing that. I've had my iPhone 6s for six months. I have never had an Android phone go six months without wiping it and starting anew at least four times in those six months. Maybe iPhone isn't for everyone, but it's fine for me. It won't be fine for everyone who switches. You can use Android for free if you download and run Nox (basically it's an Android emulator). To try iOS, you're just gonna have to get an Apple device. Maybe you'll convert. Maybe you'll go back. Only way to know is to try.
  • No, really. I used to flash ROMs constantly until I got a Moto X and realized that all I had been doing was chasing an experience that I'd never have. With the Moto X--and now the iPhone--I appreciate having a phone that simply works the way it's supposed to without a bunch of tinkering.
  • Needs a TL;DR.
  • I totally agree. No one beats Samsung in screen quality. Looppay is kinda cool too but Android is buggy but Samsung's bloatware making it worse just kills this option for me.
  • "With the iPhone, you don't really own it. You just use it." Thanks, that finally enables me to express how i feel about the iOS family of products. A friend saw a few home screens on my Android phone, and said it made her ashamed to reveal how simple was her (Android) home screen. You are allowed to layer functionality onto the Android user interface to virtually create a new device. On the other hand, iOS regresses thru 40 years of IT development and removes the return/back function key - one of the fundamental properties of every function call. Or it bastardises the term 'widgets', and gives what is effectively a funtion call (triggered on left swipe) which invokes a limited number of other apps, and aggregates the information into one screen for you. That is not what Android means by a 'widget'. What you certainly get with Apple is joined up writing - things certainly fit together. Can you believe this: the Samsung Gear S2 watch comes without a remote camera shutter funtion, even for when the phone is a Samsung? So you can waste an hour of your life hunting down a suitable and reliable app for that. Conversely, the iOS keyboard is pathetic, with the few replacement keyboard apps limited and unreliable. Yet on Android, you can easily override the built-in keyboard, it is painless, with full freedom, and a delight. Its like a romantic movie titled "If Only". If only Apple could allow its users a little more power to tune the user interface and modify the system. If only Samsung could sort out the instance of the Android world it has parcelled off, and deliver a more consistent, better integrated, and ready-made ecosystem. One can only dream.
  • Thanks god Apple won't allow that abomination
  • Great article Rene. It'd be interesting to see the opposite switch - iPhone to Samsung (if any). Looking forward to it R!
  • I was one.......... until the recall. Then I went back.
  • Same here.
  • I raged quit because of the following: 1. Never a carrier phone again. The stuff Verizon does to these phones is not what the manufacturer intended. So my Note 7 was already on the way out before the recall reared its head. Apple doesn't take that crap from the carrier. I may try a Pixel one day but I am happy so far with my iPhone 7 Plus. 2. Consistency and Quality. I know what to expect from my iPhone regarding all sorts of aspects such as battery life and app response time. You never know from day to day with a Samsung phone. Some days are excellent and other are like WTH. 3. Updates. I get updates for my iPhone when Apple wants me too. Similar to #1. Carriers have to much say on the Android side. I'm sure there is more but those are the big ones for me lately.
  • This is my single biggest reason for going back to iPhone. iMessage is a close second. Sent from the iMore App
  • I ordered my first iPhone the 7 plus but is in backorder, in the mean time I will continue using the Note 7, I have no spare phone to use while the iphone arrives, the primary reason is that in Android nothing replaces a Note 7, I really like this f***** Note 7 but I need to return the **** phone and I think any change for me will result in a downgrade, so I decided to try a different user experience with another OS
  • Now try why people switch from iphone to samsung
  • For the sheer excitement and a chance to have their 'nads go up in smoke?
  • Not a single good reason to do that
  • My 7 Plus came in, Holy cow this thing is flawless. I am so glad I switched. Not missing much from android and it is way more polished, stable, and fluid. Don't see any need to go back.
  • Previous Windows Phone fan here. The lack of apps, however, had me try the Galaxy S7. It's a nice phone overall, but security and overall performance drew me towards the iPhone 6. Now, about a year later, I'm hooked: iPhone 7, iPad Pro 9.7", MacBook Pro, and most of my closer family uses some form of iOS.
  • I love Android and most of all I love Material Design. I switched to iPhone 7 from a Nexus 5x. Both are excellent phones but as a Mac user and a UI designer, I felt the need to experience iOS to be able to design for the platform that serves as a reference to the whole industry. I love my iPhone 7, it's amazing. I do miss some features from the 5x like Google Now On Tap and some multi-tasking shortcuts. I tried to keep both phones but I didn't find a reasonable way to use 2 phones so I ended up selling my Nexus 5x to my brother who also likes stock Android. I think Android's future looks promising if Google and the rest of the companies can make phone with better updates and a better user experience just like the Nexus 5x, the 6P and the Pixel. in other words, if you love a great user experience and product, get a recent iPhone. If you want Google's version of that, get a Nexus or Pixel phone.
  • I actually had an LGV10 I switched for medical reasons. Might sound silly but the iPhone is the only phone compatible with a diabetes device I have. Before I had to carry my phone and a separate sensor, now I only have to carry my phone. Now that I have an iPhone I don't know why I didn't try it sooner. I have the 7. I love the battery life. I had to charge my old phone at least twice a day. I wouldn't go on Facebook or the internet because of the battery drain. The camera is awesome too. I can zoom in and not have to worry about getting a grainy looking photo. I also love the speakers on the 7. I turned up the volume all the way and WOW! Trying to get my husband to trade in his galaxy 5 for and SE.