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Other I have an ipad and an android phone. What would I gain from getting an iPhone?

gdourado

gdourado

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 22, 2010
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Hello,

So honest question here.
I have been an android phone user for many years.
I upgrade my phone every year around Christmas time.
Currently I have a xiaomi mi8 that I like very much.

At home I am also a heavy tablet user.
I use it mostly for Web browsing and reading since a tablet is more confortable and practical than both a laptop and a phone.

Since Google seems to have lost interest in the tablet space and manufacturers stopped launching new and exciting models, my tablet of choice has been the ipad.

I hear many times about the apple ecosystem and how good apple devices talk to each other, so I wondering what I would gain by getting an iPhone.

My tablet usage is mostly Web browsing with safari since it has better optimisation than chrome, YouTube, Tapatalk for online forums, ebay app, reddit app.

My phone I use mostly the camera to take photos and then Google services like maps to get around, keep to take notes, Gmail for email.
As for apps, pretty much the same as the ipad with Tapatalk, reddit and ebay being my most used apps.

I don't have social networks like Facebook or Instagram. It is just not my thing.

Hope to hear from you and your experiences.

Best regards
 
The greatest advantage of using an iPhone, given that you have an iPad, is “continuity” and other iOS features.

For example, you receive an Whatsapp message with a password or a another info. You can copy on your iPhone and “paste” it on your iPad.

If your phone rings (phone call or FaceTime), you can pick up the call or start FaceTime on your iPad.

Even if you receive standard SMS messages, they will show up in your iPad (if you choose so)

Your documents (via Files app) will be available in both your phone and your tablet. Integration is a tad better than Dropbox (which I no longer use heavily)
 
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You can have the iPad & iPhone have identical apps and even icon layout so that its seemless going from one to the other. But iOS can be frustratingly restrictive compared to Android as you're probably finding out.

If you want to know what it's like using an iPhone, just look at your iPad. It's exactly the same just smaller.
 
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gdourado said:
Hello,

So honest question here.
I have been an android phone user for many years.
I upgrade my phone every year around Christmas time.
Currently I have a xiaomi mi8 that I like very much.

At home I am also a heavy tablet user.
I use it mostly for Web browsing and reading since a tablet is more confortable and practical than both a laptop and a phone.

Since Google seems to have lost interest in the tablet space and manufacturers stopped launching new and exciting models, my tablet of choice has been the ipad.

I hear many times about the apple ecosystem and how good apple devices talk to each other, so I wondering what I would gain by getting an iPhone.

My tablet usage is mostly Web browsing with safari since it has better optimisation than chrome, YouTube, Tapatalk for online forums, ebay app, reddit app.

My phone I use mostly the camera to take photos and then Google services like maps to get around, keep to take notes, Gmail for email.
As for apps, pretty much the same as the ipad with Tapatalk, reddit and ebay being my most used apps.

I don't have social networks like Facebook or Instagram. It is just not my thing.

Hope to hear from you and your experiences.

Best regards
Click to expand...
Continuity, Handoff and synchronizations are the biggest benefits.

Web browsing:
  • You can have the same tabs on iPad (iCloud Tabs)
  • Handoff will allow you to start reading a webpage on one device and pick up later on the other
  • Sync'd bookmarks across all iOS devices

Advantages of using and iPad with an iPhone:
  • Photos are sync'd natively across all iOS devices
  • Apple Maps natively syncs everything across all iOS devices
  • Calendar items are sync'd natively across all iOS devices
  • Notes are sync'd natively across all iOS devices
  • Reminders are sync'd natively across all iOS devices
  • Documents in Numbers and Pages are sync'd natively across all iOS devices
  • Email is sync'd natively across all iOS devices

You can also add your Gmail account on your iOS devices to process email and your items are sync'd natively across all iOS devices.
 
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^
how all those things are "synced" is because their documents/data is stored on Apple servers instead of locally on your device. That's an option you can choose to use or not.

Problem with iCloud syncing is when the network goes down, you can't access any of your documents/data.

Good thing about it is if one device fails or gets ripped off, your data is safely saved on remote Apple servers instead of being lost forever.
 
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I have to say first off that I'm a total Apple Fan Girl but...I lost interest in iPhones as my daily driver after my iPhone 6+.
I still work on themes for iPhones so have kept my old 6+ and I like to follow the news and these forums (so plz don't flame me). I've been using Samsung phones ever since. That being said, the "continuity" is *mostly* there. I have an iPad and various Macbooks and an iMac. I don't miss Facetime on a phone because of the iPad and computers (and really don't use FT that often). At first I really missed iMessage since I love being able to text on my Macbook but recently found a reliable Android solution. I'm using Android Messages. It's browser-based so you can use it on any tablet, non-Android phones, computers. There is a specific Android app which is pretty nice and works great. I could use a couple of extra features (like auto-saving photos) but they have updates all of the time.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging&hl=en_US

Since I still heavily use (and only use iCloud) Apple Cloud Contacts and Calendar there are 2 wonderful apps for Android that sync up with iCloud:

SmoothSync for Cloud Contacts
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.dmfs.carddav.icloud&hl=en_US

SmoothSync for Cloud Calendar
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.dmfs.caldav.icloud&hl=en_US

You will end up creating an AppleID app-specific password and the 2 apps work perfectly. My Android phone, Macbooks, iPad all are always in sync.

Just my 2 cents....Good Luck!
 
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You'd gain an iPhone.

You know what they do, right? I take it you've watched some YouTube videos, maybe gone to an Apple store and checked one out? You know the difference between Android and iOS, third-party manufacturers and Apple?

I'm just confused by the fact that you state you're already got a phone that you "like very much." What more are you looking for beyond the phone you have? Would switching to an iPhone get you those things?

I think you need to think about why you're asking the question. Are you looking for a reason to switch to an iPhone, or a reason NOT to? Honest question: was there any info in the previous answers you didn't already know? I feel like the details and benefits listed are fairly well known.

If you haven't already gone to an Apple store to check one out, maybe do so to see how it compares to your phone you already like very much.

Good luck!
 
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willentrekin said:
You'd gain an iPhone.

You know what they do, right? I take it you've watched some YouTube videos, maybe gone to an Apple store and checked one out? You know the difference between Android and iOS, third-party manufacturers and Apple?

I'm just confused by the fact that you state you're already got a phone that you "like very much." What more are you looking for beyond the phone you have? Would switching to an iPhone get you those things?

I think you need to think about why you're asking the question. Are you looking for a reason to switch to an iPhone, or a reason NOT to? Honest question: was there any info in the previous answers you didn't already know? I feel like the details and benefits listed are fairly well known.

If you haven't already gone to an Apple store to check one out, maybe do so to see how it compares to your phone you already like very much.

Good luck!
Click to expand...
Agreed. If you are able, going to a store and playing with one - even a demo model - would yield quite a bit of information that may not be obtainable from a webpage.
 
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Major advantage would be having the same account and apps on the iPad and iPhone, allowing more seamless back-n-forth, especially with iCloud Drive and continuity. But if the iPad is merely an entertainment device, don’t bother. Enjoy the Mi 8, it’s a nice phone.
 
burrzoo said:
I have to say first off that I'm a total Apple Fan Girl but...I lost interest in iPhones as my daily driver after my iPhone 6+.
I still work on themes for iPhones so have kept my old 6+ and I like to follow the news and these forums (so plz don't flame me). I've been using Samsung phones ever since. That being said, the "continuity" is *mostly* there. I have an iPad and various Macbooks and an iMac. I don't miss Facetime on a phone because of the iPad and computers (and really don't use FT that often). At first I really missed iMessage since I love being able to text on my Macbook but recently found a reliable Android solution. I'm using Android Messages. It's browser-based so you can use it on any tablet, non-Android phones, computers. There is a specific Android app which is pretty nice and works great. I could use a couple of extra features (like auto-saving photos) but they have updates all of the time.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging&hl=en_US

Since I still heavily use (and only use iCloud) Apple Cloud Contacts and Calendar there are 2 wonderful apps for Android that sync up with iCloud:

SmoothSync for Cloud Contacts
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.dmfs.carddav.icloud&hl=en_US

SmoothSync for Cloud Calendar
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.dmfs.caldav.icloud&hl=en_US

You will end up creating an AppleID app-specific password and the 2 apps work perfectly. My Android phone, Macbooks, iPad all are always in sync.

Just my 2 cents....Good Luck!
Click to expand...

How did you wean yourself off of iPhone!? No sarcasm...

I'm kinda bored right now, cause all my close friends have Samsung phones, which seemingly seem much more capable.

Ex. I'm SOOO ENVIOUS of always on display. When we're together, and our phones are on the table, their phones just seem so much more fun than my iPhone. And I have the Xs to boot.

I'm simply tired of the same ole same ole. I think the Galaxy S10 would be the phone that would get me to give Android another chance. It's hard though cause I have Apple Watch, Airpods, Apple TV, etc... Plus, I want to purchase a MacBook soon. I know when I've had Android, little things like tap to go back to top of the page in safari, better app design, and better overall support made me come back.

I'm just so bored/complacent with iPhone, that I feel the need to shake things up. I always have said that "an Android phone, and and iPad" are the best combination.

Any advice; any of the "little things" I mentioned gotten any better since your time on Android!? Does Chase/BOA/Suntrust have biometric login!? I just get so anxious at the thought of switching to Android, that I shut myself down before I even have a chance to get going, lol!!!

Help!!!!!!!

***Edit*** my last Android was Galaxy S5
 
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I think I am kind of on the same boat.
I have been on the android camp for many years and had various android versions, from pure with nexus phones to skinned.

I am not a heavy phone user, since I don't even do social networking.
I value camera quality since my phone is my most used device to take pictures.

I use my tablet and phone just for my personal leisure use.
I am lucky enough not to have to do work on those devices and not to have to do work at home or on the go.

So my iPad is solely a content consuming device to browse the Web, watch videos, participate in online forums like this one and such.

In all honesty, what got me to android was the price vs hardware and that tendency has been getting steeper with apple price increases.

For example, I got my mi8 this Christmas for 330 euros.
It has a 6.2 amoled display, snapdragon 845, 6gb of ram, 128 of storage and a great dual camera setup.
I live in Europe and here, for that same amount I could only get a used iPhone 7 already out of warranty or the cheapest new phone would be the xr 64gb at 700 euros.

It's not that I couldn't afford it, it just that I have a real hard time justifying to myself in good consciousness to spend that much more.

But also out of some boredom and since I enjoy the content consumption experience, I am wondering what that price difference to step up to an iPhone would bring me and specially in conjunction with my iPad.

Cheers
 
Wide opeN said:
How did you wean yourself off of iPhone!? No sarcasm...

I'm kinda bored right now, cause all my close friends have Samsung phones, which seemingly seem much more capable.

Ex. I'm SOOO ENVIOUS of always on display. When we're together, and our phones are on the table, their phones just seem so much more fun than my iPhone. And I have the Xs to boot.

I'm simply tired of the same ole same ole. I think the Galaxy S10 would be the phone that would get me to give Android another chance. It's hard though cause I have Apple Watch, Airpods, Apple TV, etc... Plus, I want to purchase a MacBook soon. I know when I've had Android, little things like tap to go back to top of the page in safari, better app design, and better overall support made me come back.

I'm just so bored/complacent with iPhone, that I feel the need to shake things up. I always have said that "an Android phone, and and iPad" are the best combination.

Any advice; any of the "little things" I mentioned gotten any better since your time on Android!? Does Chase/BOA/Suntrust have biometric login!? I just get so anxious at the thought of switching to Android, that I shut myself down before I even have a chance to get going, lol!!!

Help!!!!!!!

***Edit*** my last Android was Galaxy S5
Click to expand...
I understand your reasonings.

Maybe wait for IOS 13 who knows many always on display comes with the latest update. Same with a new home screen layout which is expected
 
I don't get the whole "I'm bored with my iPhone...". Maybe you need a new hobby or have WAY too much time on your hands. Not directing this to any one individual, I have just observed that this sentiment of "I'm bored with my iPhone..." in this site, and other websites and publications that are even Mac oriented.

I could care less what someone else has or thinks of me because I have an iPhone or fill in the blank. I figured this out years ago. You want to impress me, be a good, kind person whether someone is looking or not and always do the right thing.

I think back at my first iPhone (the original) and my iPhone X and can't believe the great strides made in the hardware and software of these devices. What I love most about my iPhone; it's a very powerful computer, that just happens to make actual phone calls, takes great photos and videos and slips into your pocket and last a full day on one charge (I'm a heavy user). I know I can take for granted, how well it works and how much I rely on it. Bored, no. It just works, yes.
 
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Wide opeN said:
How did you wean yourself off of iPhone!? No sarcasm...

I'm kinda bored right now, cause all my close friends have Samsung phones, which seemingly seem much more capable.

Ex. I'm SOOO ENVIOUS of always on display. When we're together, and our phones are on the table, their phones just seem so much more fun than my iPhone. And I have the Xs to boot.

I'm simply tired of the same ole same ole. I think the Galaxy S10 would be the phone that would get me to give Android another chance. It's hard though cause I have Apple Watch, Airpods, Apple TV, etc... Plus, I want to purchase a MacBook soon. I know when I've had Android, little things like tap to go back to top of the page in safari, better app design, and better overall support made me come back.

I'm just so bored/complacent with iPhone, that I feel the need to shake things up. I always have said that "an Android phone, and and iPad" are the best combination.

Any advice; any of the "little things" I mentioned gotten any better since your time on Android!? Does Chase/BOA/Suntrust have biometric login!? I just get so anxious at the thought of switching to Android, that I shut myself down before I even have a chance to get going, lol!!!

Help!!!!!!!

***Edit*** my last Android was Galaxy S5
Click to expand...

What led me toward leaving iPhone WAS boredom. I have had many iPhones over the years (and totally enjoyed the party atmosphere of waiting in line for hours and hours to buy a new model..meeting new people, talking about all different tech, etc.) and was able to jailbreak most of them. The jailbreaking allowed me to truly customize and personalize my iPhone. I've spent hours and hours working on themes, chatting with people all over the world at all hours of the night. It's fun and it IS a hobby of mine. Between making icons and working on customizing widgets I end up have a lot of fun.
Jailbreaks were changing. They were few and far in between. Android phones on the other hand are VERY customizable right out of the box! I have my Note 9 set up exactly like I want it to be. Cool looking and features added to make the phone very fun to use. In addition to having the **ability** to have up to 1 TB of extra storage and having a great camera "always with you" (but for sure, Apple has always had fantastic cameras on pretty much most all their phone models), I'm loving this phone and do not have a desire to go back to iPhone...at the moment.
It's not to say that sometime in the future Apple will come out with a gorgeous totally wonderful new phone and I'll be buying. You never know!
Right now, I'm anxious to see the new Foldable Phones. I know they will cost a fortune but it's still enticing to me.
@Wide opeN, I don't have Chase/BOA/Suntrust apps but all of my other banking apps allow me to use Samsung's biometrics (iris or fingerprint saved to the Samsung Pass app) to login in. Very, very convenient!
 
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Gator1pk said:
I don't get the whole "I'm bored with my iPhone...".
Click to expand...

Same. But perhaps mainly because we seem to think of our phones more as tools, whereas folks who are bored think of them as objects?

The NY Times ran an interesting "Steve Jobs Never Wanted Us to Use Our iPhones Like This" today, basically about Jobs' vision. I'm not sure how much it really does align with Jobs' vision, but in terms of speculation I found it an interesting read.

Because being bored with a phone seems kind of like being bored with a hammer. It's not about the tool; it's about what you use the tool to do. If there are tasks you need to do that require a different tool, you buy a different tool. You don't try to use the hammer as a screwdriver.

Ex. I'm SOOO ENVIOUS of always on display. When we're together, and our phones are on the table, their phones just seem so much more fun than my iPhone. And I have the Xs to boot.
Click to expand...

This seems like a good example. Because if you want an always-on display so you can see information without picking up your phone, the iPhone is not the phone you need. Me, I can't imagine what I'd need to see that would require an always-on display -- but I have an Apple Watch. I can see the time and notifications at a glance on my wrist . . . without reaching for my phone with its always-on display.

In all honesty, what got me to android was the price vs hardware
Click to expand...

You're never going to find satisfaction with Apple, then. Apple has always focused on experience and design moreso than value. You'll always be able to find a cheaper phone, but likely not a better one. Apple doesn't compete on price, just like it doesn't compete for marketshare. That's just not what it's trying to do as a business.
 
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Quote: In all honesty, what got me to android was the price vs hardware

Now, many of the Flagship Android devices have close (expensive) pricing like Apple.
 
burrzoo said:
Quote: In all honesty, what got me to android was the price vs hardware

Now, many of the Flagship Android devices have close (expensive) pricing like Apple.
Click to expand...
I agree.
Samsung and to some extent Huawei are following apple prices on their flagships.
But on android there is choice as there are many manufacturers and models.
Like I said, it's not that I can't afford it, it is just that I like a good bang for the buck.
I have a phone with great build quality, design, top specs, great camera. For an iPhone, I would be paying basically 100% more just to use iOS instead of android, as the hardware is pretty similar.
On the other hand, I am using the ipad heavily at home and iOS is growing on me, so I keep wondering what if...
Its like they say, the grass is always greener on the other side.
 
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gdourado said:
I agree.
Samsung and to some extent Huawei are following apple prices on their flagships.
But on android there is choice as there are many manufacturers and models.
Like I said, it's not that I can't afford it, it is just that I like a good bang for the buck.
I have a phone with great build quality, design, top specs, great camera. For an iPhone, I would be paying basically 100% more just to use iOS instead of android, as the hardware is pretty similar.
On the other hand, I am using the ipad heavily at home and iOS is growing on me, so I keep wondering what if...
Its like they say, the grass is always greener on the other side.
Click to expand...
Tell you what... I believe that I have a really good solution for you right now. It would be to buy a used iPhone. Lots of decent iPhone 7's (not too old, not too new to be super expensive) around the $250. mark on Swappa. This way you're not "too" commited but will certainly have a phone that will last a long time and you can always switch SIM cards back & forth between Android & iPhone (unless you're a Sprint customer). If you don't like, you can probably resell it for a similar price (usually you cannot do that with Android devices). Check out Swappa.
https://swappa.com/mobile/info/apple-iphone-7
 
I think that if you already have an iPad, an iPhone just becomes a second iPad that you are spending $700-$1000+ on with cellular capabilities (unless you have a cell iPad).

Having both iPad and iPhone just felt redundant. I happily jumped off the iPhone train a few months ago when I got my Note9. I still have a MBA, MBP, 12.9 iPad Pro 2018. The continuity was nice, and is probably the biggest reason I'd go back to an iPhone (if I wanted to), but the ecosystem is toxic. I stayed with iPhone for so long just because I wanted iMessage; didn't like anything else about it (not even iOS... I don't like iOS on iPad, either, but the Apple Pencil experience is much better than something like the Surface pen). I realized just how much more I could get from my phone when I got the Note9. I much prefer Android notifications, love my huge 6.5 inch screen, and the customization. I don't plan on going back to iPhone. Android apps have gotten much better and they don't crash as much as they used to. In fact, my iOS apps crashed more than the Android apps on my Note9.
 
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nartycrem said:
I think that if you already have an iPad, an iPhone just becomes a second iPad that you are spending $700-$1000+ on with cellular capabilities (unless you have a cell iPad).

Having both iPad and iPhone just felt redundant. I happily jumped off the iPhone train a few months ago when I got my Note9. I still have a MBA, MBP, 12.9 iPad Pro 2018. The continuity was nice, and is probably the biggest reason I'd go back to an iPhone (if I wanted to), but the ecosystem is toxic. I stayed with iPhone for so long just because I wanted iMessage; didn't like anything else about it (not even iOS... I don't like iOS on iPad, either, but the Apple Pencil experience is much better than something like the Surface pen). I realized just how much more I could get from my phone when I got the Note9. I much prefer Android notifications, love my huge 6.5 inch screen, and the customization. I don't plan on going back to iPhone. Android apps have gotten much better and they don't crash as much as they used to. In fact, my iOS apps crashed more than the Android apps on my Note9.
Click to expand...

6.4 inches.

Have you tried the S pen on the tab S3 or S4?
 
nartycrem said:
I think that if you already have an iPad, an iPhone just becomes a second iPad that you are spending $700-$1000+ on with cellular capabilities (unless you have a cell iPad).

Having both iPad and iPhone just felt redundant. I happily jumped off the iPhone train a few months ago when I got my Note9. I still have a MBA, MBP, 12.9 iPad Pro 2018. The continuity was nice, and is probably the biggest reason I'd go back to an iPhone (if I wanted to), but the ecosystem is toxic. I stayed with iPhone for so long just because I wanted iMessage; didn't like anything else about it (not even iOS... I don't like iOS on iPad, either, but the Apple Pencil experience is much better than something like the Surface pen). I rea
Click to expand...
nartycrem said:
I think that if you already have an iPad, an iPhone just becomes a second iPad that you are spending $700-$1000+ on with cellular capabilities (unless you have a cell iPad).
Click to expand...

This is a fact. Which is why iPad no longer interest me at all. I'll be getting my first Mac Book soon!!!
 
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