From Galaxy S8 back to iPhone

[coney718]

I had my S8 a little over a month now and while I think the device is awesome I'm going to be selling it and going back to my iPhone 6s+.

Let me just say the design on the S8 is unmatched. Screen is the best on the market. It really does look futuristic. And that was one of my issues ironically. It's so nice I felt I had to baby it all the time. It didn't seem practical. Even with a case on I felt like with the curved edges if I drop it one time it'll be done for. Also the curves make it impossible to fit a good screen protector. It's like a beautifully made cake. It looks so nice you don't even want to cut into it. I've dropped my iPhone countless times and it still in great condition. But my 2 main issues were apps and software. While the Samsung experience software has gotten a lot better its still not there yet. Bloatware still exists. There's still 2 apps for almost everything. And having the device only 6 weeks I started to get the infamous UI stutters. I wouldn't call it lag but just some hiccups when navigating. I took that as a possible sign of things to come. Also, this has more to do with Android in general not Samsung specifically but some apps just look down right awful. Facebook for example is not only a battery killer but it's so laggy compared to the iOS version. Snapchat is almost unusable. Even my transit app that worked flawless on my iPhone is clunky on Android and I cant get notifications from it like a did before even though I have it set up to do so. My Chase banking app is missing features that iOS version had. Just little things like that started to add up. Almost every app I tried on Android looked and felt inferior to the iPhone version. I knew this going in but I thought I could live with it given how great the S8 hardware it..I can't. the hardware can be great and have all the bells and whistles it wants but apps and software is what makes or breaks the experience for me. I still have my old Galaxy S6 that I will use strictly for media (torrents, Kodi, Showbox) but I'm glad to be back with the reliability and smoothness of iOS. I will admit looking at my 6S screen after using the S8 is a real downgrade. Thats the only thing I really miss. I will wait till September to see what the iPhone 8 looks like or maybe pick up a 7+ if I can get a good deal on it.

Sorry for the long post. Just wanted to share my experience in case someone was on the fence about switching.

 

[nburwell]

You made some really good points. I too was considering purchasing the S8. Although I tried Android briefly years ago, I wanted to see how it evolved. I ended up purchasing a Google Pixel, which I used for about a week. Like you mentioned, the app quality was subpar compared to iOS. Although I did like the customization with the Pixel, I don't jailbreak my iPhone's like I used to do.

I have played around with a S8 at my local Target Store. While the screen is absolutely gorgeous, I can't justify switching just for the screen alone (plus I'm a sucker for iMessage and FaceTime). I'll happily continue using my 7 and SE until the next gen iPhone's are released in the fall.

 

[Txguy82]

Good list!! I been tempted to try the one+ 5 coming out but I have my iPhone setup just the way I want it and it runs smooth.

I just can't see myself dishing out $1k for the iPhone 8 lol

 

[Love Divine]

I agree with your points; it sounds like you had a similar experience to the one I had with the Note 7 and 6S Plus last year.

Despite all the gorgeous hardware and eye-popping screen, the actual experience of using a Samsung phone remains. The UI still stutters, it's still bloated and ugly. Customization was cool, but it's not something I do nearly as often any more. My most commonly used apps were all much better on iOS.

Snapchat, one of my most commonly used apps, was horrible on my note. Slower to startup, slower to navigate, missing animations, constant stuttering, missing features, etc. The fact that it was even allowed to fly by the dev team is mind-boggling. It's also worth noting that despite purported power, the iPhone 7 still has a ridiculous per core performance lead on the 2017 Android phone lineup, which will only get worse w/ the 7S/8.

The attention paid to a cohesive user experience in iOS shows when compared to Touchwiz. I would be much more optimistic about trying the Pixel successor, however.

 

[eyoungren]

…And that was one of my issues ironically. It's so nice I felt I had to baby it all the time.…Even with a case on I felt like with the curved edges if I drop it one time it'll be done for. Also the curves make it impossible to fit a good screen protector.…I've dropped my iPhone countless times and it still in great condition.…

I'm going to bet that you probably use a case and a screen protector with your 6s+ right?

I assume that, because you used them on this S8 you had.

So, I'm just curious. If you felt like you had to baby the S8 all the time it implies to me that you don't feel you have to baby the 6s+. Am I right?

If I am right, then why the case and the screen protector on the iPhone? Surely not to protect against drops right? Or is the only reason that your iPhone is in good condition after a drop because of the case and screen protector? And if that is the reason, than your argument that you felt like you have to baby the S8 doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Because you said the S8 was in a case - which would protect it from drops - just like a case does with your iPhone.

There's literally no difference here other than your 'feeling' about it.

My own 6s+ has never been in a case and has never had a screen protector on it. Looks the same as when I bought it. But I don't baby it as well. And if I had an S8 (which I don't) I wouldn't baby it either.

I'm just conscious of where my phone is in relation to other objects and where I put it down and how. Which is not to say it's never been dropped. It has, just not in any serious manner.

As to your other points, those are some of the major reasons that have prevented me from moving to Android in the past.

 

[mib1800]

And having the device only 6 weeks I started to get the infamous UI stutters. I wouldn't call it lag but just some hiccups when navigating. I took that as a possible sign of things to come.

Why only notice stutters in 6 weeks? The stutters happened when you are scrolling while data is still being loaded and view being refreshed. It is normal behaviour. It also happens in PC/mac with the fastest processor when scrolling heavy pages while they are being loaded.

Iphone is not immuned either, but why don't you see it happens in Iphone? It is done with tricks.

First trick is limit the scrolling speed so as to wait for data to finish loading. That is why scrolling is purposely made so slow in iOS compared to scrolling in android/S8. For those of us who got used to Android scrolling speed going back to Iphone feels like very slow and unproductive. It takes 3-5 times the number of swipes to move same amount with scrolling on Iphone.

Second trick - do not update the view while scrolling - so you see white/checkered/blurred view to trick you into feeling it is smooth. Downside is while scrolling you are not seeing any information. For android, what you see while scrolling is current data (not some overlay). Personally I like android way better (even if it stutters sometimes when I scroll too fast) since I can glance the data and see where I want to stop.

 

[coney718]

I'm going to bet that you probably use a case and a screen protector with your 6s+ right?

I assume that, because you used them on this S8 you had.

So, I'm just curious. If you felt like you had to baby the S8 all the time it implies to me that you don't feel you have to baby the 6s+. Am I right?

If I am right, then why the case and the screen protector on the iPhone? Surely not to protect against drops right? Or is the only reason that your iPhone is in good condition after a drop because of the case and screen protector? And if that is the reason, than your argument that you felt like you have to baby the S8 doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Because you said the S8 was in a case - which would protect it from drops - just like a case does with your iPhone.

There's literally no difference here other than your 'feeling' about it.

My own 6s+ has never been in a case and has never had a screen protector on it. Looks the same as when I bought it. But I don't baby it as well. And if I had an S8 (which I don't) I wouldn't baby it either.

I'm just conscious of where my phone is in relation to other objects and where I put it down and how. Which is not to say it's never been dropped. It has, just not in any serious manner.

As to your other points, those are some of the major reasons that have prevented me from moving to Android in the past.

Yes I used a case on my 6S as well. I try to be careful with all my devices but i felt like I had to be extra careful with my S8 because of the curved glass. Especially since I couldnt put a screen protector on it like I do with all my other phones. The curved screen makes it much more fragile. You can look on any android forum to see how many people cracked their screens from just one drop or any drop text on Youtube. This thing is incredibly fragile. Not saying it cant happen with the iPhone, its just less likely.

 

[malikkamran]

IPhone 7 has poor battery life especially 4g

 

[MrX8503]

Why only notice stutters in 6 weeks? The stutters happened when you are scrolling while data is still being loaded and view being refreshed. It is normal behaviour. It also happens in PC/mac with the fastest processor when scrolling heavy pages while they are being loaded.

Iphone is not immuned either, but why don't you see it happens in Iphone? It is done with tricks.

First trick is limit the scrolling speed so as to wait for data to finish loading. That is why scrolling is purposely made so slow in iOS compared to scrolling in android/S8. For those of us who got used to Android scrolling speed going back to Iphone feels like very slow and unproductive. It takes 3-5 times the number of swipes to move same amount with scrolling on Iphone.

Second trick - do not update the view while scrolling - so you see white/checkered/blurred view to trick you into feeling it is smooth. Downside is while scrolling you are not seeing any information. For android, what you see while scrolling is current data (not some overlay). Personally I like android way better (even if it stutters sometimes when I scroll too fast) since I can glance the data and see where I want to stop.

I prefer iPhone's scrolling. Besides, the iPhone doesn't need tricks with it having a superior SOC.

 

[mib1800]

I prefer iPhone's scrolling. Besides, the iPhone doesn't need tricks with it having a superior SOC.

I can understand some people prefer slow and steady. The tricks are still there in iOS. My i7 pc has a much more powerful SOC but it is not immune to lags/stutters either. Nothing is. It is not just the about SOC but also physical limitations like data/wifi speed and/or NAND read write speed.

 

[Gathomblipoob]

My jailbroken iPhone with the Fascy tweak scrolls Safari very quickly without blurring content.

 

[MrX8503]

I can understand some people prefer slow and steady. The tricks are still there in iOS. My i7 pc has a much more powerful SOC but it is not immune to lags/stutters either. Nothing is. It is not just the about SOC but also physical limitations like data/wifi speed and/or NAND read write speed.

The iPhone also has the fastest NAND in a mobile device.

 

[cbreze]

I move between an iPhone 7 and my HTC 10 a lot and i don't know why Samsung has laggy issues. Most all the bloatware can simply be removed but perhaps thats not the issue. The HTC is smooth as can be and this after a years usage. As for apps, some indeed do work better on iOS but by the same token others def work better on android. Neither system is better, both are different and both bring good things to the table. Enjoy either one or both for a win/win.

 

[Steve686]

Yep.

I've tried the S4 and the S7 Edge.

It just isn't the fluent and seamless experience Apple achieves in its mobile devices.

One issue you didn't mention is that when using the phone one handed(Edge Series), there is a tendency to activate and engage the screen accidentally with the sides of your palm/thumb. This is probably the only reason I am not a fanatic of the iPhone going with no side bezel.

 

[mib1800]

Yep.

I've tried the S4 and the S7 Edge.

It just isn't the fluent and seamless experience Apple achieves in its mobile devices.

One issue you didn't mention is that when using the phone one handed(Edge Series), there is a tendency to activate and engage the screen accidentally with the sides of your palm/thumb. This is probably the only reason I am not a fanatic of the iPhone going with no side bezel.

The S8 does not have edge touch issue no matter whether I am using it one or both handed

 

[Sir Ruben]

I too tried Android a couple of times and came back to iOS for the exact same reason. I compared popular apps side by side and the Android versions were always rough around the edges.

I see a lot of ignorant people claiming that iOS is for non techy people because its simple and you can do so much more with an Android phone. Well heres the thing, I work for a huge IT company (won't say who), and all our work phones are iPhone SE's. Secondly I work with some VERY technical people, developers, etc, and nobody ever uses an Android phone to make use of its extra functionality. Most people don't touch a fraction of the settings buried within Android.

 

[coney718]

Yep.

I've tried the S4 and the S7 Edge.

It just isn't the fluent and seamless experience Apple achieves in its mobile devices.

One issue you didn't mention is that when using the phone one handed(Edge Series), there is a tendency to activate and engage the screen accidentally with the sides of your palm/thumb. This is probably the only reason I am not a fanatic of the iPhone going with no side bezel.

I'm also not a fan of the no bezel all screen design. It looks great but not practical IMO. I like having something to hold onto when playing games or watching a video. And yes the accidental screen touches can get annoying. But its not as bad when you have a case on.

 

[kilcher]

Thanks for posting. I've only ever had iPhones but I've been more and more tempted by Android over the last few years. Almost bought an S8 but then decided to see what the iPhone 8 / Note 8 / Pixel 2 have to offer. I still say I'm 50/50. I'm getting a little tired of iOS, not thrilled with some of the changes they made in iOS11, hopefully the iPhone hardware will wow me a bit.

Not to get too off track but can someone tell me if it's possible to put stock Android on a Galaxy phone and if so how difficult it is to do? Seems like a lot of people would do it if they could, just curious. That would make my decision a little easier.

 

[Steve686]

The S8 does not have edge touch issue no matter whether I am using it one or both handed

You're holding it wrong.

 

[mib1800]

You're holding it wrong.

I am holding one right now and there's no issue.

 

[AlphaGuitarist]

I used the HTC U11 for a week and ended up returning it and going back to my iPhone 6s Plus. I was ready to upgrade my device and the U11 is a masterpiece in terms of hardware. Unfortunately, I just can't get along with Android anymore. I'm well-versed in the OS, having used multiple Android devices between 2008 and 2014, before switching to iOS. Test driving the U11 just demonstrated to me how much I prefer iOS. Also, as mentioned by others, the app quality is another deciding factor that sways my preference toward iOS. Let's see what September brings.