I Switched To Android And I Have No Regrets

[Dj64Mk7]

Earlier this week, I took delivery of an Essential PH-1 to replace my (gracefully) aging iPhone 7 Plus. People in the main parts of these forums constantly say how iOS is "miles better" than Android, but I'm beginning to think that those people have never used Stock Android (or a variant, such as Android on the Google Pixel). Android is just as smooth, if not smoother than iOS. And it's more flexible in so many ways. Sure, it can be said that the openness of Android is a weakness, but for me, and I believe a lot of other people, it's a real eye opener, especially coming from the closed nature of iOS. The physical characteristics of the PH-1 are just... wow. The design of this device marries the iPhone 5 and iPhone 7 together for the ultimate device. Sure, the camera is a sore spot, but, as seen here, it can be improved drastically with Gcam (available as a basic .apk download). Overall, I have no regrets in taking the plunge from iOS to Android. What are your thoughts?

 

[gwhizkids]

Earlier this week, I took delivery of an Essential PH-1 to replace my (gracefully) aging iPhone 7 Plus. People in the main parts of these forums constantly say how iOS is "miles better" than Android, but I'm beginning to think that those people have never used Stock Android (or a variant, such as Android on the Google Pixel). Android is just as smooth, if not smoother than iOS. And it's more flexible in so many ways. Sure, it can be said that the openness of Android is a weakness, but for me, and I believe a lot of other people, it's a real eye opener, especially coming from the closed nature of iOS. The physical characteristics of the PH-1 are just... wow. The design of this device marries the iPhone 5 and iPhone 7 together for the ultimate device. Sure, the camera is a sore spot, but, as seen here, it can be improved drastically with Gcam (available as a basic .apk download). Overall, I have no regrets in taking the plunge from iOS to Android. What are your thoughts?

My thoughts are that I’m glad you found a device you liked. You should post this in an Android forum.

 

[1050792]

You only switched for a week, give it a little more time so you can see if you truly miss iOS or not.

 

[Juicy Box]

Overall, I have no regrets in taking the plunge from iOS to Android. What are your thoughts?

You should have an "neither" option in the poll.

My love for Apple products have been fading over the last 4-5ish years, but I don't think I am quite ready to switch to Android.

A friend of mine that used to use Android phones switch to an iPhone 6s Plus that I sold to him a year ago. He always liked the Apple iPhone design since the iPhone 6, but didn't want to spend the money for them. Ironically, I hate the 6 form factor and think it was copied from Androids.

He seemed to like the iPhone 6s Plus and iOS 11 at first, but seems to complain about it a lot now.

First, he said that it seemed a little sluggish, and didn't respond as well. I told him that it was probably iOS 11, as it was fine when I used it on iOS 10.

He also complained about certain features or settings that the iOS didn't have.

Now, he seems to complain about it a lot. Just everything. Bugs, glitches, lack of features, the quality of the screen....

He started looking at Android phones again when we were at Best Buy a few days ago. I think he is waiting to see what iOS 12 is like, and if it disappoints, he might trade in is iPhone for a cheap Android that is on sale.

 

[smirking]

Awesome. I don't love my iPhone, but it helps me get my work done. That's all I care about.

 

[Juicy Box]

Awesome. I don't love my iPhone, but it helps me get my work done. That's all I care about.

This is pretty much how I feel about my iPhone and the iOS.

I think I used to love it, especially the original iPhone, and my old 4s, but over the past 5 years, I have started to get annoyed by iOS. Also, the design of the iPhone has gotten worse imo.

I probably won't switch to Android anytime in the immediate future, but I might be one crappy iOS update away from saying goodbye to the iPhone.

 

[JackieInCo]

I've been an Android user since around 2012 with the Nexus 4 and the Nexus 12 tablet. The next year, I bought the Note 4 and Note Edge and I've been buying almost every Note since then. I only skipped the Note 7 because I didn't think it was worth buying that year.

I've also been an iPhone user all this time as well, since the first iPhone in 2007. I'm using a 7+ and an 8+ although I have the 7+ up for sale.

I have several lines on T-Mobile so I'm using a Note 8, Note 9 and a S9+ on those. Those phones are so amazing that I think I would have no problem going Android all the way. I'm not sure how much longer I'll own an iPhone but I love everything Android.

 

[tonybarnaby]

Good android phones are awesome, but there are loads of sub $200 pieces of crap. I miss android, but I love the Apple Watch too much to go back completely. Besides, my wife likes the “read” and “delivered” notifications iOS provides.

 

[JackieInCo]

Good android phones are awesome, but there are loads of sub $200 pieces of crap. I miss android, but I love the Apple Watch too much to go back completely. Besides, my wife likes the “read” and “delivered” notifications iOS provides.

I've been on vacation this week and all through this coming Wednesday. I also took a vacation from my Apple watch. Haven't missed it once. I already sold one Apple watch last week and I have five more I'm thinking of selling.

 

[smirking]

I think I used to love it, especially the original iPhone, and my old 4s, but over the past 5 years, I have started to get annoyed by iOS. Also, the design of the iPhone has gotten worse imo.

It's not easy for a device to remain ideal throughout a period of rapid change. Not to be a cynic, but if you're ecstatic about a technology today, it has nowhere to go but down. Don't despair though. It'll probably come back up again.

There are some people here who have switched back and forth. More power to them. I wish I had that kind of time to invest in my smartphone. As long as my phone is doing what I need it to do, I'm not going to even think of switching. I hung onto my Blackberry until the iPhone 4s when I came to the conclusion that the writing on the wall was getting too big to ignore.

I still kind of miss that Blackberry.

 

[Zwhaler]

I switched to the Note II back in 2012 after owning the iPhone 4 for two years. Android software (particularly ToichWiz) was more of a compromise back then, but the hardware was so much more interesting than the iPhone at that time (phablet vs the iPhone 5). I've since grown into Android and vastly prefer it. I play around with the iPhone X and latest iPhones over time regularly and their usability is limited for my purposes. Since I know what life outside of the iPhone is like, I am well aware of Apple's quirks when they want me to use my phone a certain way (mainly with file management) and I just can't get over it. I think day-to-day usability of apps on iPhone is slightly better but I can't customize the iPhone the way I want it so I've been happly using Android ever since, and will gladly switch back to iOS when it does what I want.

 

[mi7chy]

There's a place for both.

I usually recommend iPhones/iPads to retirees that come to me for help since the features are more basic so less confusing.

Android for the tech savvy since it has fewer limitations and is more like a computer replacement.

 

[pika2000]

Oh, this topic again. I never understand why people must "switch" and use one platform solely. I use both iOS and Android since both have their strengths. Why limit yourself to just one single platform? Why not enjoy BOTH platforms?

In short, I use both.

 

[Dj64Mk7]

Oh, this topic again. I never understand why people must "switch" and use one platform solely. I use both iOS and Android since both have their strengths. Why limit yourself to just one single platform? Why not enjoy BOTH platforms?

In short, I use both.

I never said I wasn't keeping my iPhone around. But I bought this Android phone with my hard-earned money, so I'm going to use it for a long time to come.

 

[5105973]

There's a place for both.

I usually recommend iPhones/iPads to retirees that come to me for help since the features are more basic so less confusing.

Android for the tech savvy since it has fewer limitations and is more like a computer replacement.

We put our parents on iPhones and iPads because those were less confusing. But if Apple moves fully to the gesture based controls and removes the home button on iPad we are toast.

 

[mi7chy]

We put our parents on iPhones and iPads because those were less confusing. But if Apple moves fully to the gesture based controls and removes the home button on iPad we are toast.

Fully agree. Smashing the home button different ways to get results is simple and tried and tested. Also, it's consistent from iPhone up to 8 to all iPads. The iPhone X gestures is like subjecting them to foreign finger gymnastics. At their age it shouldn't be an uphill battle. It'll be interesting if Apple go all in on gestures and alienate customers they've forgotten or keep two distinct UIs.

 

[IowaLynn]

I was dismayed to find Google's new gestures and swipe action in 9.0 "Pie."

For Recent Apps does not enhance or add a better feature. Luckily there is an option to offer old Recent in Gesture settings.

I doubt I'll ever learn all the things a Note 9 can do, but they're there.

 

[ivanwi11iams]

Good point. From a pick and use case, the iOS does offer that brilliantly...!

We put our parents on iPhones and iPads because those were less confusing. But if Apple moves fully to the gesture based controls and removes the home button on iPad we are toast.

 

[5105973]

Fully agree. Smashing the home button different ways to get results is simple and tried and tested. Also, it's consistent from iPhone up to 8 to all iPads. The iPhone X gestures is like subjecting them to foreign finger gymnastics. At their age it shouldn't be an uphill battle. It'll be interesting if Apple go all in on gestures and alienate customers they've forgotten or keep two distinct UIs.

I hate resurrecting Steve Jobs ghost, but one thing he used to take pride in was that even the oldest least technically inclined people (like my father-in-law) could use an iPad or iPhone. He made people and their user experience the focus of the technology.

I can see Apple moving farther away from that in their pursuit of Jony Ive’s dream of a slab of glass. That slab of glass is going to be gorgeous and impressive. Yay.

And once it’s achieved and we are all done being in awe of the perfect beauty of it, I hope somebody with more sense and less of their head up their own butt will swing the pendulum the other way and someday we will get phones you can safely drop or even throw at the wall without incurring damage. That they will design and engineer a phone that will have a user friendly logical interface where you don’t have to guess what press does what, rather than find out the hard way when you least want to. A phone that will have excellent ergonomics and enough room inside for an amazing battery that liberates us from charging pucks and outlets for data.

The swiping is fine and even preferable for people with normal motor control. For anyone with arthritis and/or visual acuity issues or tremors, it can be challenging. At least this is what I’ve observed.

I’ve noticed my phones that lack bezels seem to terrify my in-laws and parents. They hate being handed a Samsung or X to look at photos. Nobody of any age likes how easy it is to hit the display and activate the wrong thing.

Okay that’s my rant for today. Now get off my lawn!

 

[sartrekid]

The swiping is fine and even preferable for people with normal motor control. For anyone with arthritis and/or visual acuity issues or tremors, it can be challenging. At least this is what I’ve observed.

This is spot on. I've made the exact same experiences with my mom who has all of the above plus other challenges due to several heavy strokes. After the first heavy stroke, she was able to use the iPad Air 2 super easily as well as any phone. After the recent strokes, she's lost the ability and I can only hope that Apple (or any other company, really) continue to make devices that one can teach people with disabilities because they need it the most. But yeah, they're also the least "lucrative" audience that exists, so there's that, unfortunately. =/ I hate this.

 

[Juicy Box]

ut if Apple moves fully to the gesture based controls and removes the home button on iPad we are toast.

I hate resurrecting Steve Jobs ghost, but one thing he used to take pride in was that even the oldest least technically inclined people (like my father-in-law) could use an iPad or iPhone.

I have been posting stuff like this over the past few years. Apple's software used to be very intuitive to use, just about anyone could use their software and feel like they are at an intermediate level when it came to technology.

Now it seems like I have to google how to do anything on Apple products.

My baby boomer parents used to be pretty good with their Apple devices such as their Mac and ATV 3. I would occasionally have top assist them with something, but for the most part, they got it.

Now, I get a couple calls a week due to a problem with tvOS on their ATV4k and issues with iOS. Man, I wish their was a way to remote into tvOS and iOS devices. Addressing a 1 minute problem in person, takes an hour over the phone with them.

He made people and their user experience the focus of the technology.

I think Apple really needs to go back to this. Under Jobs, the user experience was the main focus, maybe even too much so, as the upside down Apple on the laptop comes to mind.

 

[1050792]

I have been posting stuff like this over the past few years. Apple's software used to be very intuitive to use, just about anyone could use their software and feel like they are at an intermediate level when it came to technology.

Now it seems like I have to google how to do anything on Apple products.

My baby boomer parents used to be pretty good with their Apple devices such as their Mac and ATV 3. I would occasionally have top assist them with something, but for the most part, they got it.

Now, I get a couple calls a week due to a problem with tvOS on their ATV4k and issues with iOS. Man, I wish their was a way to remote into tvOS and iOS devices. Addressing a 1 minute problem in person, takes an hour over the phone with them.


I think Apple really needs to go back to this. Under Jobs, the user experience was the main focus, maybe even too much so, as the upside down Apple on the laptop comes to mind.

I don't get this, since iOS ls pretty much the same for years, nothing has changed so the "ease" of use is still the same as it used to be.
"Now it seems like I have to google how to do anything on Apple products. " really?

 

[flameproof]

I moved (very nervously) from iPhone to android a few years ago.

Nervous because, I tried before Android 2.34 in a test phone that I used for ROM tests and really didn't liked it a bit. But at that time, iOS had a not acceptable limitation, I couldn't edit *.txt files in my Dropbox. Something I really wanted to do.

When I made the plunge a while later my first droid was 4.4 (stock), very different from 2.34(?) and fully workable.

I had an iPad too, that sucked even more. There where no torrent apps then. So you get a movie on your PC, need to start iTunes (always hated iTunes) and move the file to the VLC folder. Then you could view it with VLC - but no other movie player. At that time iOS for iPad had even not file browser.

And then the lack of app stores. Apple has one. For Android you have plenty, but don't really need them, you can install any APK directly. You can go on Github and try a nightly of whatever type.

I still would not say iOS is just for old people that need as simple as possible. Android is way more flexible - but can be as simple as you want it.

PS: the edit *.txt files function became obsolete for me when google brought KEEP to the phone. Amazing productivity app.

 

[kasakka]

I was on iPhone until iOS 7 made my iPhone 4 slow as molasses. Moved to Galaxy S4, then to a Oneplus One and have had a Oneplus 3 for a few years. Now I'm going back to iPhone because most of the annoyances I had with iOS are no longer issues and the hardware has improved. I thought the iPhone 6/7/8 were horribly bulky bezel monsters so the iPhone X was a nice return to an actually compact device. My main beef with it is the price so hopefully in a few days we will get a little bit cheaper options to choose from.

For me the primary reason to go back to an iPhone is because aside from Samsung there are very few phones that are smaller than my Oneplus 3. It's about the maximum I'm willing to handle and a full-screen display makes it awkward. The iPhone X fits my hands better based on what I've tried in a store.

Both Android and iOS have their own set of annoyances to live with. During the time I've been on an Android phone I've still had an iPad so I'm familiar with both operating systems. For everyday usage I think it comes down to personal preference rather than any particular superiority on either platform.

 

[lazerferrari]

I currently have an iPhone 8 and I am not enthusiastic about the X or the upcoming XS because the headphone jack and Touch ID has been removed. I may go back to Android on my next upgrade.