After 15 years with iPhone, I think I’m done.

[yasas]

I’ve carried an iPhone since my first smartphone. It has been the witness to my high school years, my university studies, and the formative stages of my professional life. For many years now, I operated under a the assumption that I would remain patient, convinced that the next iterative update would finally bridge the gap between the platform's limitations and my actual needs.

I have been fully invested. I have owned all, MacBooks, the watch, both HomePods, Apple TV, and the AirPods; which, to be fair, remain excellent. But lately, the friction has begun to outweigh the convenience. I have reached a point where the ecosystem, once a source of perceived perfection, has become a massive bottleneck in my daily life. Whether it is the lack of genuine support for cross-platform services, the persistent inadequacy of translation tools, or the irony of having a car filled with tech that relies on a voice assistant as limited and frankly dumb as Siri, I’m realizing that I’ve spent too many years making excuses for the platform.

I genuinely believed that if I just waited, the experience would mature. I even bought the 17 Pro Max (excellent hardware!) last year, hoping it would be matched by a breakthrough in software utility. But watching the latest WWDC felt like a final turning point of a different kind. It confirmed that I am still waiting for features that should have been standard half a decade ago, and that the roadmap remains indefinitely aspirational.

I am at the stage where I need my tools to work for me, not in spite of me. After reflecting on the trajectory of the past few years, I’ve decided to shift to Android, likely moving into the Google ecosystem. It feels strange to detach from a system I’ve lived in for all of my adolescent and adult life…

 

[eyoungren]

You do you. Not everyone is suited for Apple and not everyone is suited for Android.

My use case and feature set was complete in 2009 when I got the HTC Touch Pro. Nothing has changed since 2009, only the phones I use. I went to iPhone in 2012 because I wanted the black/slate iPhone 5 that looked like the monolith in the movie 2001.

Once I realized I could jailbreak iOS, I was jailbreaking until 2020 when Apple finally started allowing stuff stock that I'd been using for years. With Liquid Glass, we are now much closer to the jailbreak theme I used to use.

Finally, shaking my head. You do realize that Google's services (and other third party services) work on iPhone right? I've been using Google's services since 2009 (or even before that) and they are what allowed me to sync stuff up with my PowerBook G4 in 2012 when Apple cut off PowerPC with the iPhone 5. Additionally, Google's apps on iOS are better than their Android apps.

So the way I have structured things means I can swap back and forth between Android and iOS whenever I feel like it. There is nothing on my phone that I cannot afford to lose (backups, third-party services take care of that) and there are no services exclusive to Apple that I don't care to lose.

I'm not dependent on Apple or Google.

Good luck to you.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

I tried to make the jump but there's a lot of stuff you start missing. At least with Apple I can more or less expect integration regardless of what product I buy, solid warranty service, and quality across products.

Android is hit or miss. I tried pure Google but their phones and software have some pretty big issues that don't get resolved as quickly due to limited user base I presume. If you go to Samsung, it's fight between Android and Galaxy UI (multiple web browsers???). For computers you're stuck with Windows, if you want a tablet thats Samsung, headphone options are meh. Overall it's not polished or streamlined because you have multiple parties involved, heck apps of those companies can perform better on the Apple devices. Not to mention Apple hardware is lightyears above anything else.

Also, as weird as it sounds I despise ALL the customization. It so much stuff on Android and iOS is getting that way as well. Submenus of submenus of submenus.

 

[subjonas]

I’ve been an iPhone user since my first smartphone. It’s been my constant through high school, university, and the beginning of my professional life so far. For years now, I’ve been sticking around, convincing myself that the next big update is the one that will finally bridge the gap between where I am and where I need the device to be.

I’ve bought into everything. I’ve had Macs, watch, HomePods, AirPods (wehich are still great) and the Apple TV. But lately, more intensely, the friction has started to outweigh the convenience. I have reached a point of such high frustration and no return. Whether it’s the lack of support for services I need for work or personal life: the struggle with translation, or Siri consistently failing me when I’m in the car, at home or just generally in life, I realized that I’m just tired of making excuses for it, for way too long.

I kept thinking if I just held out another year, Apple would catch up. I picked up the 17 Pro Max last year hoping it would be the turning point (the hardware is fantastic), but the latest news from WWDC just confirmed for me that I’m still waiting for features and will probably be waiting for a long time; that should have been here years ago.

I’m finally at a point where I need my tools to JUST WORK for me. I’ve decided to move to Android and commit most probably to the Google ecosystem.

If anyone else has made this jump after being fully locked in for years, I’d love to hear how the transition actually went for you.

Other than better translation and voice assistant, care to specify what features you're waiting for? Are those the biggest ones?

You also mentioned you want things to just work, which implies you want existing features to be more dependable. I think that's what 27 (iOS/macOS/etc) is aiming to do.

Either way, I encourage people to vote with their wallet. But often grass is greener...

 

[HouseLannister]

As someone who uses both daily, I will say switching to Android is not a simple fix. Apple is much closer to JUST WORKS, while Android is made for people who like to tinker and enjoy tweaking things. It's a learning curve, sure, but it is also much more like using a computer, with all the power and all the headaches. If you enjoy the process of troubleshooting and find it rewarding, Android is far more flexible and powerful. I am one of those sickos who get a little dopamine hit from clearing caches. Most people are not. It's not JUST WORKS, but it could be JUST RIGHT given the time commitment.

 

[yasas]

You do you. Not everyone is suited for Apple and not everyone is suited for Android.

My use case and feature set was complete in 2009 when I got the HTC Touch Pro. Nothing has changed since 2009, only the phones I use. I went to iPhone in 2012 because I wanted the black/slate iPhone 5 that looked like the monolith in the movie 2001.

Once I realized I could jailbreak iOS, I was jailbreaking until 2020 when Apple finally started allowing stuff stock that I'd been using for years. With Liquid Glass, we are now much closer to the jailbreak theme I used to use.

Finally, shaking my head. You do realize that Google's services (and other third party services) work on iPhone right? I've been using Google's services since 2009 (or even before that) and they are what allowed me to sync stuff up with my PowerBook G4 in 2012 when Apple cut off PowerPC with the iPhone 5. Additionally, Google's apps on iOS are better than their Android apps.

So the way I have structured things means I can swap back and forth between Android and iOS whenever I feel like it. There is nothing on my phone that I cannot afford to lose (backups, third-party services take care of that) and there are no services exclusive to Apple that I don't care to lose.

I'm not dependent on Apple or Google.

Good luck to you.

Thank you for your response. I am at this point in my life highly dependent on translation for professional and personal purposes. I have implemented google services as much as possible but it remains incredibly clunky and limited. I did compare the translations features with android devices and the differences are beyond good and evil. Also, for days I’m trying to tell Siri to play songs on YouTube music after setting everything up, she just can’t do it. To be fair, it’s not like she could with Apple Music either… I’m not looking to have two pairs of phones, nor jailbreak them tbh…

 

[yasas]

Other than better translation and voice assistant, care to specify what features you're waiting for? Are those the biggest ones?

You also mentioned you want things to just work, which implies you want existing features to be more dependable. I think that's what 27 (iOS/macOS/etc) is aiming to do.

Either way, I encourage people to vote with their wallet. But often grass is greener...

Thank you for your reply. At this point in my life the biggest factors are translation and voice assistants. Due to my work I depend on those things heavily and when I need to use my phone most urgently, it is those things that I need to work instantly. While during my studies it was cumbersome, it was less urgent.

 

[eyoungren]

Thank you for your response. I am at this point in my life highly dependent on translation for professional and personal purposes. I have implemented google services as much as possible but it remains incredibly clunky and limited. I did compare the translations features with android devices and the differences are beyond good and evil. Also, for days I’m trying to tell Siri to play songs on YouTube music after setting everything up, she just can’t do it. To be fair, it’s not like she could with Apple Music either… I’m not looking to have two pairs of phones, nor jailbreak them tbh…

As I said, everyone is different.

I require a phone that can make phone calls, send text messages and emails and do some light web browsing/media streaming if I happen to be out of the house. Camera is not a requirement, most of my photos have a lifespan of seconds and quality isn't that important. I don't use SIRI, or translation (I have no need). And I largely jailbroke because I wanted my UI to look the way I wanted it to look and Apple wouldn't allow that stock. I had Dark Mode and other things long before Apple allowed it.

I have multiple Macs, my youngest Mac is a 2011 MBA. I'm typing this on a 2009 Mac Pro. On my desk are eight phones (one being a Pixel) and three iPads. Both my MP and my MBA are in the same area, along with a 2006 Mac Mini. I use all this stuff for various things. I don't like jacks of all trades - I prefer one device for a specific purpose.

I stick with Apple because I prefer iOS over Android. Go with what works for you.

 

[yasas]

As someone who uses both daily, I will say switching to Android is not a simple fix. Apple is much closer to JUST WORKS, while Android is made for people who like to tinker and enjoy tweaking things. It's a learning curve, sure, but it is also much more like using a computer, with all the power and all the headaches. If you enjoy the process of troubleshooting and find it rewarding, Android is far more flexible and powerful. I am one of those sickos who get a little dopamine hit from clearing caches. Most people are not. It's not JUST WORKS, but it could be JUST RIGHT given the time commitment.

Thanks, by JUST WORKS I did mean to imply FOR MY NEEDS 🙈 I’m using a windows machine at work How for some time, while it was strange at the beginning and I do miss some of the sleekness of a Mac, generally the program, file and windows management is far superior.

 

[subjonas]

Thank you for your reply. At this point in my life the biggest factors are translation and voice assistants. Due to my work I depend on those things heavily and when I need to use my phone most urgently, it is those things that I need to work instantly. While during my studies it was cumbersome, it was less urgent.

If those are the biggest factors then you may indeed be better served switching to Android.

 

[neo64]

As a couple of responses have noted, the key is making the right choice FOR YOU. I work with windows at work and have a differing opinion regarding file and window management between the two, finding MacOS superior - but that is FOR ME. There really is no "dark side" here. Some like Android and some prefer iOS. I would say that once you start using ANY system for real-world needs, the shortcomings glaringly present themselves. Android is no different. IMHO, you will essentially be trading one set of frustrations for a different set of frustrations. If you can cope with one set better than the other, you should choose that system.

 

[Antaris]

As a couple of responses have noted, the key is making the right choice FOR YOU. I work with windows at work and have a differing opinion regarding file and window management between the two, finding MacOS superior - but that is FOR ME. There really is no "dark side" here. Some like Android and some prefer iOS. I would say that once you start using ANY system for real-world needs, the shortcomings glaringly present themselves. Android is no different. IMHO, you will essentially be trading one set of frustrations for a different set of frustrations. If you can cope with one set better than the other, you should choose that system.

As someone who was with iPhone until the mid-2010s and with Android/Samsung until last October, you nailed it. Both platforms have their share of shortcomings and for both those will not be fixed overnight or easily. Looking at product strengths and living with the trade-offs is the better approach and everyone's got different needs