Ex-Android users: Why did you switch to iPhone?

[AustinIllini]

We have the opposite thread, but I'm part of the other crowd.

My first smartphone was the Motorola Droid. I really liked it with its true multitasking and...I can't remember the other features.

I had a Mac and an iPad and my Dad had recently gotten the Verizon iPhone 4 and it was just awesome. I had to get one. I got the white iPhone 4 and it was by far my favorite device.

I would say I never looked back, except I have had the Galaxy S3, Nexus 5, Nexus 6P, Pixel 2XL, and Pixel 3XL. I always find my way back to iPhone and the ecosystem continues to get stronger.

Basically, opposite question for the rest of us

 

[mjschabow]

Good topic dude. I was similar. Started oh with the LG Optimus. Flashed so many ROM’s and so many soft bricks. Also rocked the Galaxy S2 and S4. The Nexus 5 was probably my favorite phone, possibly ever. Ran Paranoid Android ROM. Amazing stuff.

Then for whatever reason, probably curiosity, I tried the iPhone 5S. Loved it, loved the software, and for the most part, I’ve been on iPhone ever since. I love the Apple Watch, AirPods, etc.

What’s interesting is that it’s not until recently that I’ve grown tired of iOS and have really tried to escape the ecosystem. In fact, I would say that stock Android on the Pixel is much user friendly software. If only I could run iMessage on a Pixel. Hell, even OneUI is even a good software minus the duplicate apps.

Basically what I’m saying is that I was blown away by iOS 5 years ago in comparison with Android. But the gap has narrowed. Even apps on Android run almost as good as they do on iOS. You can’t go wrong on either system these days. If it weren’t for my friends and family getting annoyed when my text bubbles turn green and our group chats don’t work like they used to, I don’t know that I’d even consider an iPhone anymore right now unless they completely overhaul iOS to make it simple again.

 

[AustinIllini]

See, I find myself trying to recapture the joy of using that first iPhone 4 after not having a smart phone and then having a primitive Android phone. The closest I have come was definitely the X, but it still wasn't as good as that first iPhone.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I have never been without both platforms, on the phone and desktop side. I got bored of iPhone and iOS in general. My current daily driver is the S10+, and I have zero complaints. But now I'm bored of Android too (maybe cause I used Android the most in the last several years).

Being that said, I plan to get a iPhone 11 Pro/Max (whatever they call it) as my daily driver. My last iPhone was an 8+, so this would be a legit upgrade. My last AW was a series 2, so I plan on getting the latest AW as well. Also plan on getting an iPad mini or regular iPad (don't need the pro). I still have the original Air and it's slow af now. I already have a 2018 MBP "15.

iOS 13 and iPadOS has me optimistic. I'm still going to keep my S10+ and Gear S3 Frontier.

I really don't favor either platform. I've used Android more as a daily driver based on it being non restrictive, but Apple is slowly checking all the boxes, even though they still have ways to go. So hopefully I can last at least a year with an iPhone this time around.
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See, I find myself trying to recapture the joy of using that first iPhone 4 after not having a smart phone and then having a primitive Android phone. The closest I have come was definitely the X, but it still wasn't as good as that first iPhone.

Don't think that will ever happen. My first was a 3GS coming from a Windows Mobile phone, I will most likely never experience such a huge difference for the better again.

 

[kargurin]

For the same reason I don’t buy/lease the same make of car each time. I have a Max now and will be getting the new Note+.

 

[Reno Raines]

My first smart phone was the G1. Then the Samsung Galaxy S1. I would also have the Samsung Galaxy S3. All had the same issues. They would all slow down quickly after about six months. Also, lack of software updates got me frustrated. When I switched to the iPhone I just really appreciated how easy it was to use. Throw in the fact that most iPhones get 3-4 years of iOS updates and I was sold. I know iOS and the iPhone are not always leading the pack when it comes to new features, but at the end of the day it just works.

 

[delta0]

I switched purely because the longest I got out my android phone was 2 years 1 month. Most of them were generally not working after a year or looking in bad shape. My other half’s iPhone had lasted all of my android phones so I decided to get the iPhone 6. I still have the same phone now so it has lasted well!

 

[Wide opeN]

Had iPhone 1-4S. Got bored/frustrated with lack of progress around iPhone 5.

Had HTC 1X, GS3, GS4, GS5

I literally laughed when it seemed iPhone 5s only change was Touch ID. Started getting frustrated with Android, and decided to give Touch ID on the 5s a try. I WAS BLOWN AWAY, at what a game changer it was.

Have been back on iPhone ever since having skipped the 5, 6s, 8, X only iPhones I've never owned. I plan to add 11 to that list this year as well.

Wouldn't mind giving Pixel 4 & OP7P a try, but TBH, I'm too deep in the Apple ecosystem to give them a practical chance.

iOS & iPhone simply take care of all my needs.

 

[Tsepz]

Curiosity around the ecosystem.

So I have always had iPads since the 4th gen, however Apple products have always been in around at home as my Dad has always been an Apple fan, he has had many Macs over the years and the first iPhone to land here in South Africa was the 3G and when his network got it he jumped to get it,and from that day I was always able to play on his iPhones, my mother followed the next year with a 3GS.

Both my parents were BlackBerry users due to work before iPhone and due to the corporates they worked for they had to dual carry their iPhones with their work setup BlackBerrys. Once BYOD came in my Dad went full iPhone and my Mom then dropped the BB and got an Android as a second phone but I noticed that both of them would not let their iPhones go, upgrading them every 2 years.

I got to use their iPhones: 3G, 3GS, 4, 4S, 5S, 6, 6S, 7 and then my Mom made the jump to iPhone X and at this point I was more curious but also put off by the notch, regardless I thought a larger X would be nice and boom the next year the XS Max came out. I was never really into the iPhones before the X, although the 6 Plus and 7 Plus did have my curiosity growing.

While I was reviewing the Huawei Mate 20 Pro I was also given a Note9 and iPhone XS Max to play with and compare, and the XS Max left a lasting impression on me with its hefty feel and steel build. Then the iOS 13 rumours started and they also got me more curious. I then also got a MacBook Air earlier this year and its integration with my iPad blew me away at how well they connected so effortlessly.

When my upgrade came around I decided to just take the plunge and go iPhone as I had also become a little bored with Android and had never given iOS a proper go as a daily outside of my iPads which do not give the full iPhone experience anyway.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I used Android between 2008-2012 and my wife was an iPhone user. She was constantly suggesting I switch as I was having continuous issues with either devices or the Android operating system in those early years. I had a G1, various HTC devices and finally a Samsung Galaxy S3. When I finally did jump to iOS after briefly trying the iPhone 4, I purchased the iPhone 5 on release and never looked back. I found a more polished interface, better feeling hardware and an ecosystem that is more fitting with pretty much all my friends and family.

I now look at Android devices with interest from a technology point of view but never with a desire to own one again. I no longer buy the latest and greatest though since the price increases however and enjoy iOS without breaking the bank.

 

[verito81]

Great question!! I was looking for customization and a fast and easy to carry phone i tried maaaany Samsung s2 , sony z3 , samsung j5 prime lg q6 and xiaomi redmi6 also samsung S8.. but i realized any of them was good enough for me!! i realized i didn’t need too much customization it a fast stable easy to read and write cellphone with good sound and volume in calls and good keyboard easy to carry one hand any of those cellphones satisfied me so i decided for iphone i had and SE before but after a year of use the size was too small for me when browsing even reading facebook and the keyboard used a huge part of that tiny screen so now i’m on Iphone 7 and wow this phone has ALL i need so all the search paid of unluckily i spent a lot of money trying to find the one !!

 

[superleakTx]

Good topic dude. I was similar. Started oh with the LG Optimus. Flashed so many ROM’s and so many soft bricks. Also rocked the Galaxy S2 and S4. The Nexus 5 was probably my favorite phone, possibly ever. Ran Paranoid Android ROM. Amazing stuff.

Then for whatever reason, probably curiosity, I tried the iPhone 5S. Loved it, loved the software, and for the most part, I’ve been on iPhone ever since. I love the Apple Watch, AirPods, etc.

What’s interesting is that it’s not until recently that I’ve grown tired of iOS and have really tried to escape the ecosystem. In fact, I would say that stock Android on the Pixel is much user friendly software. If only I could run iMessage on a Pixel. Hell, even OneUI is even a good software minus the duplicate apps.

Basically what I’m saying is that I was blown away by iOS 5 years ago in comparison with Android. But the gap has narrowed. Even apps on Android run almost as good as they do on iOS. You can’t go wrong on either system these days. If it weren’t for my friends and family getting annoyed when my text bubbles turn green and our group chats don’t work like they used to, I don’t know that I’d even consider an iPhone anymore right now unless they completely overhaul iOS to make it simple again.

If you were with Samsung, there will be a different story

 

[AustinIllini]

For the same reason I don’t buy/lease the same make of car each time. I have a Max now and will be getting the new Note+.

That's an interesting approach, but I'm not sure I feel that way. I would get so annoyed switching between iMessage and no iMessage. It's partially Apple's fault, but dang it's super inconvenient.

 

[verito81]

That's an interesting approach, but I'm not sure I feel that way. I would get so annoyed switching between iMessage and no iMessage. It's partially Apple's fault, but dang it's super inconvenient.

can i ask what does imessage offers? is not a regular sms app?

 

[Lyrical]

I usually get an Android once every 3-4 years, but always end up switching back to iPhone within the year.
IOS is very limited in terms of customisation but it is better in every other way I think.

Just had a Oneplus 7 pro for a month and the screen was amazing but Android just really isnt up to scratch.
Had many issues from bluetooth, to GPS not working and why the hell is android auto an app??? Who the hell thought that would be a good idea. Should be part of the phone, plug and play!

 

[now i see it]

The so called ecosystem/prison means nothing to me. I'm not dependent on it.
This probably sounds lame, but the only reason I haven't gotten an Android phone is because I'm too lazy to try something different. I definitely don't have "love" for iOS, but I have no opinion about Android because I've never used it. So I'll continue using my old iPhone until it breaks, then get another refurb or mint used older iPhone model on Swappa. I'm definitely not a fan of modern Apple (more like a critic) but I'll continue using their phones because I don't care enough one way or the other to switch.

 

[AustinIllini]

can i ask what does imessage offers? is not a regular sms app?

iMessage doesn't use SMS unless the receiver of the message has something other than an iPhone.

1. Interoperability between my Mac, iPad, and iPhone
2. Better quality media transfer because it doesn't use SMS
3. Improved group chat features with other iPhone
4. Most importantly, iMessages are encrypted

iMessage is the way messaging should be. Simple, secure, and (honestly) fun.
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The so called ecosystem/prison means nothing to me. I'm not dependent on it.
This probably sounds lame, but the only reason I haven't gotten an Android phone is because I'm too lazy to try something different. I definitely don't have "love" for iOS, but I have no opinion about Android because I've never used it. So I'll continue using my old iPhone until it breaks, then get another refurb or mint used older iPhone model on Swappa. I'm definitely not a fan of modern Apple (more like a critic) but I'll continue using their phones because I don't care enough one way or the other to switch.

This is a good observation into the opinions of more casual users. This is a big reason iPhone users replace their iPhones with iPhones. The transfer process is great between iOS devices.

 

[mjschabow]

If you were with Samsung, there will be a different story

What do you mean?

 

[mjschabow]

iMessage doesn't use SMS unless the receiver of the message has something other than an iPhone.

1. Interoperability between my Mac, iPad, and iPhone
2. Better quality media transfer because it doesn't use SMS
3. Improved group chat features with other iPhone
4. Most importantly, iMessages are encrypted

iMessage is the way messaging should be. Simple, secure, and (honestly) fun.
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This is a good observation into the opinions of more casual users. This is a big reason iPhone users replace their iPhones with iPhones. The transfer process is great between iOS devices.

The only one that means anything to me is #2. But in reality, you can use Facebook messenger or other means to send video. When I’m on Android, my girlfriend and I send videos via FB messenger and it doesn’t negatively affect anything.

The bigger annoyance is that most of my friends have iPhones and get pissed when my bubbles are green like that actually matters.

 

[AustinIllini]

The only one that means anything to me is #2. But in reality, you can use Facebook messenger or other means to send video. When I’m on Android, my girlfriend and I send videos via FB messenger and it doesn’t negatively affect anything.

The bigger annoyance is that most of my friends have iPhones and get pissed when my bubbles are green like that actually matters.

Except I don't want Facebook or anyone reading all my messages. iMessage is pretty much unmatched in that department.

 

[mjschabow]

Except I don't want Facebook or anyone reading all my messages. iMessage is pretty much unmatched in that department.

Oh I don’t care about that kind of stuff. If some random Facebook employee wants to see my video at a rock concert, I hope they enjoy it.

 

[kp98077]

We had one android in the family fainallllly sold it yesterday never looking back!
1-apparently having samsung you cant upgrade annually like you can Iphone (verizon)
2-don’t crack the glass!! Cost is like $300!!
3-thing got slow!!

Now we have another XR, life is good!

 

[Jack Neill]

I use both but my sim is in my XS most of the time. For me its the ecosystem iCloud syncing across Safari, passwords, SMS/iMessage on every device and the integration of the Photo app on the Mac and being able to see my Live Photos and edit them.

Other side: Love gaming on my Xbox and Windows machines. Love my Galaxy and One UI is fantastic. Samsung Pay on the S3 Frontier is sorely missed when I use my Apple stuff.

 

[dk001]

I have bounced back and forth between the two based on my interests and features.

Currently my workphone is iOS and my personal is Android.
Not sure of my next step. The Android I want I can’t currently get (under warrantly) in the US.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I started off with the iPhone 3G and then got the iPhone 4. I was completely happy with the iPhone and had no plans to switch. Then in March 2012 my iPhone 4 was stolen. My upgrade was due in May and my intention was just to get a cheap phone to use until I could use my upgrade and get the iPhone 4S.

So I bought a cheap android phone (Samsung Galaxy y) and I was just impressed by all that could be done for such a cheap phone and in some cases it could do more than my iPhone 4 could. So I started doing research into Android and felt that they were offering more features and better specs than the iPhone. So when it came time to upgrade I decided on the original galaxy note. Back then Samsung had things I wanted that Apple couldn’t provide (big, high resolution displays, removable batteries, SD card expansion).

After the original galaxy note I had a lot of Samsung phones (S4, S5, note 3). I think over time I just got bored. I also was disappointed by the lack of integration between android devices. I even had a Samsung phone and tablet at one point and even the notes app wouldn’t sync between the two devices!

I’d tried to switch back to the iPhone with the 5S which I had for 28 days at the start of 2014 but it was too small. By then I’d had several large Samsung phones. I wanted to be on the iPhone but the iPhone was still too small, the screen too low resolution and, I was used to expandable memory and removable batteries.

I’d always kept an iOS/Apple device even when I was using android. I still had an iPod touch, iPad and Apple TV so I hadn’t totally left. When the iPhone 6 plus was released that was the turning point for me. Finally I could come back. The screen was large enough, it was 1080p and I could get 128GB of storage. I also watched the Apple Watch demo at the 2014 iPhone keynote and I knew I had to have an Apple Watch.

So I switched back in November 2014 when I could finally get my hands on the 6 plus. I’ve used an iPhone as my daily driver ever since. I’ve bought android phones to play with alongside my iPhone but none of them last. I use them for a week or two and then the novelty wears off. I put them in a drawer and carry on using my iPhone.

I just like the Apple ecosystem and the way everything works together. I’ve been tempted by android phones on a phone to phone basis but once I consider the wider picture it makes no sense to switch. I have iPads, a Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TVs, HomePods and AirPods and it makes no sense to switch.