Mobile OSs Android is more amazing than I thought

[edubfromktown]

I had iPhones from 3 to 8 Plus. Switched to Android ~5 years ago (initially Pixel 4a) and do not miss the Apple ecosystem at all (still use multiple silicon Mac's daily and they play nice with Android mobile phone and Chromebook.

Assuming one chooses a top dog, Android "fragmentation" is a moot point.

Google, Samsung and OnePlus have the goods. Only reason I shied away from OP was the less frequent security updates and being painfully slow to market with major releases on devices other than the "new and soon to be released models".

S25 Ultra is a beast like no other (including Pixel 10 Pro XL). I'm also not sold on fold same as @martint235 and wince and forking out >$500 for an "unlocked" upgrade. I pay $15 per month for 10 GB on an MVNO plan, with bring your own device (and still prefer using a physical SIM!).

Where Samsung crushes is on trade-in, manufacturer incentives/extras when pre-ordering a new model plus incentives from Rakuten (15% for me) and credit card. Made it an easy choice.

 

[martint235]

I had iPhones from 3 to 8 Plus and switched to Android ~5 years ago and do not miss the ecosystem (still use multiple silicon Mac's daily and they play nice with Android mobile phone and Chromebook.

S25 Ultra is is a beast like no other (including Pixel 10 Pro XL). I'm also not sold on fold same as @martint235 and wince and forking out >$500 for an "unlocked" upgrade. I pay $15 per month for 10 GB on an MVNO plan, with bring your own device (and still prefer using a physical SIM!).

Where Samsung crushes is on trade-in, manufacturer incentives/extras when pre-ordering a new model plus incentives from Rakuten (15% for me) and credit card. Made it an easy choice.

That’s where OnePlus struggle: trade in/sell on. I managed to sell mine to a friend but for half what I’d get for a 16 Pro.

 

[psyqd]

I didn’t actually know that. My organisation is slowly switching to Galaxy devices but it’s an incredibly secure environment so not sure they’ll allow this kind of thing. Will see though.

Oh yeah sorry, I should've clarified AWPs are mostly for BYOD scenarios. I would assume your organization has full control over corporate-owned devices.

 

[martint235]

Oh yeah sorry, I should've clarified AWPs are mostly for BYOD scenarios. I would assume your organization has full control over corporate-owned devices.

Yep although I’m trying to persuade them that not everyone needs the hyper level of security we have. If the AWP can be fully blocked off from the rest of the phone (no copying etc) it could work

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

I personally think Android is the superior OS, but Android is infinitely fragmented, and Android devices, as a system, pale in comparison to what Apple offers. In the ecosystem arena, it is embarrassing for Android. I was an Android hooman for many years. While Android provides far more freedom, you can do anything with an Android device. I'm not sure if I can go back. The integration of Apple devices is unparalleled.

it's sad and it's also too late for others to catch up or create a different system/ecosystem. it seem apple will forever reign king in that aspect , which is sad , frankly

 

[klasma]

My MacBook, iPhone, iPad, and AirPods are flawlessly harmonious.

It isn’t flawless. For example, visited links don’t synchronize between devices on Safari, which has been bugging me since forever. And whenever I want to use iCloud tabs, they haven’t synchronized yet, and I have to wait some indefinite amount of time. (Non-)Synchronization of Apple Mail status has been a running joke for many years. Also, Apple auto-updated the firmware of my HomePods to a new major version without asking, which resulted in not being able to control them with devices on older i(Pad)OS versions anymore, although Apple should have known that I’m actively using those.

On the other hand, many things I need to keep synchronized work well with cross-platform services, like Dropbox, or read position on Kindle, or non-Apple music and streaming services, and the like. Apple’s ecosystem doesn’t buy very much for those.

On the third hand, the JBL portable Bluetooth speakers I have that sound miles better than HomePods have poorer integration with Apple devices, which is because Apple keeps parts of their protocols proprietary that make AirPods and the like more seamless. They are deliberately withholding features from third-party developers just to appear more integrated themselves. I find that personally off-putting.

 

[Parowdy]

Agreed. My SO has a Samsung with many, let’s say Apple inspired features, but also so many QOL things, like a universal backswipe that works for pages AND apps AND on both the left AND the right side. So much feature I know.
But it’s much much better than reaching for the Home Bar at the bottom wich can be very awkward at times.
I’m not parting with my iLife, but the neighbors grass has gotten much greener.

 

[Sammael]

This guy:
“My MacBook, iPhone, iPad, and AirPods are flawlessly harmonious.”
klasma:
“It isn’t flawless. For example, visited links don’t synchronize between devices on Safari, which has been bugging me since forever. And whenever I want to use iCloud tabs, they haven’t synchronized yet, and I have to wait some indefinite amount of time. (Non-)Synchronization of Apple Mail status has been a running joke for many years. Also, Apple auto-updated the firmware of my HomePads to a new major version without asking, which resulted in not being able to control them with devices on older i(Pad)OS versions anymore, although Apple should have known that I’m actively using those.

On the other hand, many things I need to keep synchronized work well with cross-platform services, like Dropbox, or read position on Kindle, or non-Apple music and streaming services, and the like. Apple’s ecosystem doesn’t buy very much for those.

On the third hand, the JBL portable Bluetooth speakers I have that sound miles better than HomePods have poorer integration with Apple devices, which is because Apple keeps parts of their protocols proprietary that make AirPods and the like more seamless. They are deliberately withholding features from third-party developers just to appear more integrated themselves. I find that personally off-putting.”


I never said that Apple was altruistic, benevolent, or charitable. Just that the way their devices communicate, is better than anything Android has to offer.

Also, you have a lot of hands! Are you like part octopus?

 

[theblackadder]

My iPhone 7's battery kept expanding and I got it replaced twice already (with fake batteries, as it turns out, because the battery health was 140% when I checked according to iMazing) and I need to use a Nano sim with this number that I use, so I bought a phone I've never even heard of, which is Samsung Galaxy 20e and it's on Android 11 (released 5 years ago) and well, they already had dynamic wallpapers etc. Anyway, I need this phone for calling only, but anyway, I played around and I discovered you can make secure folders and hide those from view and you can set it so the folder would be only opened with a different PIN code, pattern or with a password and once again, you can HIDE IT completely + you can share it between multiple users in your phone.

Android 9 on Motorola was the newest OS I've tried before and it didn't have such feature. I think it's amazing and mind-blowing and Apple would need such feature tbh. You can literally put any files, notes, photos, apps in those folders.

So much better than this "Hidden" thing on the iPhone. And I'm surprised by how fast the phone is and how snappy it is (I bought it a week ago with a new battery. It was $35 which was cheaper than replacing iPhone 7's battery yet again).

I am honestly just blown away. I made this thread, because I know most people haven't really tried Androids on here for a long time. Now Android 11 is the newest version I've ever used and it still has more features than iOS 18. I've always dreamt of having such hidden folder and I think it's absolutely needed. Especially if you have a jealous partner for example or are in an abusive relationship.

I don’t chime in often. But this is a great thread and I just couldn’t resist. It’s definitely a fun read of your passionate comments. In my opinion the platform wars are long over. iPhones and android devices each have their pros and cons after borrowing from each other for the past decade. Now it all boils down to personal preference. My unsolicited advice to those of us who yearn for android’s OS features that are missing on iPhone, but crave the ecosystem offered by Apple—get both devices and use each for the features that matters most down the use case. They will never offer feature parity. At least the platforms are still democratic—you can make a choice back and forth anytime you choose. This is why the tech sector is great. The fork in the road seems to rest on AI. Clearly Apple and the rest of humanity has variety different strategies. So I use ALL of the AI models for different projects. It no longer matters which phone is in your pocket with AI. The landscape is flattening. I absolutely welcome your thoughts and commentary.

 

[sjsharksfan12]

The only thing I don't like about Android is when it comes to customization and creativity. I guess I've never been a creative person, but when I watch videos on Youtube about homescreen customization, there is that one part of the video that gets into something I don't understand and the rest of the video just falls on deaf ears. Bring up that KWPG app and everything else might as well be like speaking in a different language.

Other than that, I pretty much like everything else. I like the open source of it, and it feels less boring than IOS.

 

[klasma]

I never said that Apple was altruistic, benevolent, or charitable. Just that the way their devices communicate, is better than anything Android has to offer.

And I didn’t object to that, since I haven’t the experience to judge the Android side, given that I only use one Android device. My point was that Apple’s ecosystem leaves a lot to be desired for me, hence it’s far from what I would call flawless.

Also, you have a lot of hands! Are you like part octopus?

Octopodes don’t have hands.

 

[edubfromktown]

it's sad and it's also too late for others to catch up or create a different system/ecosystem. it seem apple will forever reign king in that aspect , which is sad , frankly

Having used OS X since Kodiak (the latest macOS two silicon Mac's daily these days) and iPhone 3 - 8 Plus, I wholeheartedly disagree.

There are plenty of cross-platform "connections" on Android and ChromeOS plus all manner of freely available tools that have plenty to offer in this day and age.

 

[jbachandouris]

As I have said to others: I'm sure there are good Androids out there but if you got it for free from your company it probably isn't.

I have a Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G on AT&T for work and I absolutely DESPISE it. I'm sure the newer are better but definitely not this one.

 

[xxFoxtail]

I’ve been on iOS since the first iPhone in 2007. The only time I’ve used Android was on the first Oculus Quest if that really counts.

I’ve been tempted to switch a few times over the years, but the Apple ecosystem just has been sucked in too deep.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Having used OS X since Kodiak (the latest macOS two silicon Mac's daily these days) and iPhone 3 - 8 Plus, I wholeheartedly disagree.

There are plenty of cross-platform "connections" on Android and ChromeOS plus all manner of freely available tools that have plenty to offer in this day and age.

i was talking about android/windows fragmentation

 

[Harthag]

@iHorseHead - you linked a video of the original Z flip in 2020. We are on Z Flip 7 now, along with Fold 7...not to mention Android 16...

A lot has changed over the years. The Z Flip 7 and Fold 7 are incredible devices. Read up on some modern devices for the sake of comparison. The Android of 2025 is far different from 2020.

 

[Boeingfan]

This Guy:
"I personally think Android is the superior OS, but Android is infinitely fragmented, and Android devices, as a system, pale in comparison to what Apple offers. In the ecosystem arena, it is embarrassing for Android. I was an Android hooman for many years. While Android provides far more freedom, you can do anything with an Android device. I'm not sure if I can go back. The integration of Apple devices is unparalleled."
iHorseHead:
"I've started thinking of switching back, if they'd provide support like Apple does or if the devices wouldn't slow down, but then again I've only used cheap android phones.
Samsung ecosystem seems to be good? You could turn your Samsung phone into a computer? Huawei lets you directly drag and drop files etc"



The Samsung ecosystem is by far the best Android has to offer, but it still falls short of the seamlessness of Apple. My S24 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra communicate fairly well, but not on the same level as my Apple devices. My MacBook, iPhone, iPad, and AirPods are flawlessly harmonious. It is rather incredible.

Firstly, I love iOS and the Apple ecosystem. Secondly, where I have had thoughts of considering an android (phone not robot, hello C3PO) due to frustrations previously with iOS, I seemed to land on getting a google pixel. The reason was that I, hopefully correctly, understand google develop android, and on a pixel there is no other manufacturers software laid over it, which has its benefits. Is this train of thought credible?

 

[lowendlinux]

I'm pretty happy with my Pixel 8 Pro running GrapheneOS, I use KDE connect to keep my phone and computer connected, it's not as seamless and my Mac/iPhone combo but everything has negatives.

 

[Sammael]

This guy:
“Also, you have a lot of hands! Are you like part octopus?”




klasam:
“Octopodes don’t have hands.“



On the funny scale, I’d rate that ten tickles.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Android definitely has its pros but…
Why on earth are we comparing anything to the original ZFlip from five years ago, and the iPhone 7 from nine years ago?
The folding phones have come leaps and bounds in the last five years, not to mention that that iPhone 7 isn’t even running a version of iOS that’s even slightly modern, it’s on iOS 15.
That would be like if I came into a thread in 2017 and started comparing the iPhone 3G to a Galaxy S2.

 

[myWatch]

Back in the days there were certain few things holding me tight to Apple: music apps (I was making music as hobby) and photography apps.

Ever since I got tinnitus and no more can use any headphones, I no longer use any music apps. Tho I can use studio monitors, but now the issue is I have no studio I will probably build it one day but currently it is out of question, and blasting these old gold KRK boys in a flat can bring police attention to me, which I do not want😃 As well as I am not a madman to annoy my neighbours with same stupid 8 bar kickdrum loop until I come up with something else and build a track like Lego.

Now I use Apple only because that’s what I have. Photography is still my passion but I don’t really see something game changing in iOS photo apps. They are mostly cash cows that are designed to lure you into subscription.

But there is another problem now - Android options for me are scarce. Lightroom doesn’t feel like a trusty thing, I wonder if it still lags like back in the days or whether they optimized it a bit. And Snapseed is now dumpster fire, if you seen the latest update you have probably thought “what in the world is that?”. Long story short, Google ruined UI to the point redditors are writing public letter to Google to clean up this mess.

Oh, btw. Google and their ugly flat UI is the reason I will probably not be looking in Pixel direction. I don’t like their UI design. To me Samsung One UI is much more superior, as well as their app UI design, numerous options for tweaking, even the fact that you can actually make your phone as private as iPhone and not rely on Google’s trackers. Btw Samsung Browser is nice too, felt faster than Chrome.




Haha you probably got lucky with the one you had

The one Apple gave me was a brick with defective battery. Phone turned off if the light summer wind blew on it, as well as battery life was 4-5 hours. That phone made me dislike Apple and buy S10+ for a short time.

S10+ was a good phone but very unpractical. Edged screen is totally not for me, I am sooo glad Samsung got rid of it in new models. That makes it tempting for me to try Samsung again somewhere in the future

I prefer lightroom on iOS over Android. There's minor improvements on iOS here and there that add up to a better experience. Also, not sure if it's because I'm using inner foldable screens, but the touch targets on the sliders are awful in android lightroom

 

[ndouglas]

Thanks OP for the public service announcement about hidden folders…. I guess… it’s cool and all but i can’t really fathom what i would use that for, personally.

Sending you best wishes to someday find a less jealous or abusive relationship, to where you are excited about other Features beyond this one. 🫣

 

[DeepSix]

Android today isn't Android of 10 years ago. It's night and day better today. Android tablets are worth it now, they weren't 10 years ago. But I wouldn't get just any brand Android. I believe that Samsung is the only player thats in it that is worth buying. Lenovo, Google don't give you 7 years of OS updates like Samsung does. Its worth buying a Samsung just for this reason alone.

So Samsung tablets now have just as good longevity and shelf life as any current iPad. Having used both Android and iOS for many years, I believe Android is the superior OS especially on a Samsung.

The only benefit I see that iPad has, is they still net better resale value than any Android tablet. Resale value on Android tablets are not good and 2nd hand units don't move near as quickly as an iPad would.

 

[grammatica]

Android, really the Google Pixel, has grabbed my attention. I like the idea of the freedom Android allows.

 

[AppleFanatic10]

I don't see why, because Samsung has amazing features that have to be copied.

I've never tried OnePlus. What features did it have?

I've tried OnePlus numerous times and could never get with it. It wasn't fluid, was always buggy. I think I tried 3 OnePlus phones.