It’s a really hard thing to do trying to determine which platform is better between Android and iOS because both have their pros and cons. If you’re an Apple freak, you will be of the opinion that there’s nothing comparable with your iPhone but the same thing goes for Android OS users. I’m using an iPhone but I plan on getting an Android smartphone in the near future, not because my iPhone doesn’t serve purpose, but because there are certain things I love in Android OS as well. I love my iPhone, there’s no doubt about that but that won’t blind me from telling the truth about these two mobile operating systems.
Even though I don’t personally use an Android device on a day to day basis, I know all about it because I’m quite used to it and can tell the difference. Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder, admits there are certain things he wish his iPhone does but couldn’t. “My primary phone is the iPhone,” Steve Wozniak says. “I love the beauty of it. But I wish it did all the things my Android does, I really do.”
Now, that’s a real tech guy talking. Let’s weigh the pros and cons one after the other before judging which of the platform you should really go for.
1. iOS is exclusive to Apple, Android is open source
With Android being an open source platform, it means there’s open market, open environment and development of the OS is open to anyone. This sounds good but there are certain things to consider. iOS is exclusive to Apple and Apple alone and this means you are limited by the rules Apple set, install only what they approve of and so on (unless you jailbreak your device).
The disadvantage of Android being an open source platform is that it’s open to malwares. There has been lots of issues lately about how insecure Android OS can be and more specifically, cybercriminals have entered the practice of developing malicious apps and sneaking them into the app marketplace to place unsuspecting victims into their web.
This is a the major edge iOS has over Android and like I mentioned before, so far your phone is not jailbroken and you download apps from iTunes store, your mobile device is secure.
2. With iPhone, there are less devices to choose from, with Android, the range of available devices is huge
This is another factor to consider. iPhone is iPhone and will always be iPhone and that’s never going to change. If you’re going for a device running iOS, it has to be from Apple. Android OS is available on several devices in various sizes and shapes. You can decide to go for an Android phone with a real keyboard, a portable phone that isn’t so bogus, a non-touch screen phone and so on. It could be from Samsung, HTC, LG or which ever manufacturer you choose. The choice of device is all yours.
With iPhone, you only have a few devices to choose from, depending on your money.
3. When it comes to design, Apple wins
When it comes to design and longevity, iPhone has that and till date, no smartphone manufacturer can beat that. Though there are are countless smartphones out there, the uniqueness and beauty of iPhone is unrivaled.
4. You can’t customize your iPhone (unless jailbroken)
This is a major disadvantage of iOS, you can’t customize it and that sucks pretty bad. There are tons of customizations available for Android users but if your iPhone is not jailbroken, you’re probably stuck with what Apple has to offer.
Like I mentioned earlier, it’s a different case if your device is jailbroken. There are lots of customizations available through Cydia repositories but the fact is that not all users are willing to take the chance of jailbreaking their iPhone and void their warranty. The bottom line is this: customization too is available for iPhone and mine has been functional than any Android phone I know of since I jailbroke it. Android users too need to root their phones to get certain things done.
5. When it comes to fluidity and responsiveness, iPhone wins
With iPhone, the user interface leverages the hardware in a way that Android doesn’t, that explains why iPhone is easier to navigate. It’s even been said that iPhone 4s with dual core processor is faster than the new Samsung Galaxy S III with quad core processor. I don’t know how far this is true and if it’s only a rumor but the fact remains that iOS UI is more user friendly.
6. There are dead cheap Android phones, iPhone is expensive to lots of people
No matter how much you have, you can always get an Android smartphone and this is one of the reasons Android is a lot better than iOS. I’ve seen lots of people settling for Android devices because they can’t afford an iPhone and in due time, this may increase Android popularity over iOS.
There are lots of more points to consider but I’m not so sure I can think of more for now and there are others I left out because I considered them irrelevant.
When it comes to choosing a smartphone, there are lots of things to consider and the one you go for should be dependent or the kind of user you are and what you want out of your phone. iPhone rocks in its own way, so does Android. I used to be a Symbian freak (a part of me still is) but for now, I’m an Apple fan and I need to upgrade this crappy iPhone 3G to 4S first before thinking of getting an Android device 😛
I must admit, though, that Google was smart in taking over Android development and making it open source. It gives power to the user in a lot of ways Apple never will. That’s why the jailbreaking community is growing daily…consumers need a lot more.
With Android and iPhone battling it out, the consumer wins. As they say, nothing brings out the best in products like competition.
Choosing the better platform between Android and iOS is nothing but fan discussion. Bother are the most used and powerful mobile OS platforms and the one you stick to is a matter of which one meets your daily needs better. What’s your opinion? I love to hear it.