Interest in Switching to iPhone Drops Among Android Users Ahead of iPhone 13 Launch, Survey Shows

[specious]

I can see this pushing even more users to Signal, for better or worse.

Everyone should probably be using apps like Signal for all comms. I loved iMessage and while some of my security contacts use Signal, with this change there's no good reason not to shift as it's multi-platform and has solid end to end encryption... at least for now.

Unfortunately with Apple finally rolling over (the 800lb gorilla that has been fighting the good fight for user privacy and security globally) it's quite likely we'll see other companies following suit and building in robust surveillance mechanisms and backdoors, as well as governments feeling emboldened to pass legislation mandating backdoors. A lot of companies pushed user privacy and security mostly to compete with Apple... with Apple backing off, so will the industry. Unfortunately these backdoors will be used by nefarious actors of all sorts (not just nation states) so the net effect is a much less secure and private mobile ecosystem.

Where this ultimately leads, I don't know, but it's a dark day for users everywhere.

 

[HeftySteelsak]

Since I don't deal in kiddie porn, CSAM doesn't bother me.

Since I'm not a terrorist, the Patriot Act doesn't bother me.

Since I'm not a criminal, Stop and Frisk doesn't bother me.

 

[jntdroid]

...as well as governments feeling emboldened to pass legislation mandating backdoors...

If you haven't already, look up Australia Identify and Disrupt Bill...

While not necessarily mandating a backdoor, it's even more overreach from what I've read so far. Definitely an example of a government feeling emboldened (though not likely due to Apple given the timeframe).

 

[Chapman8tor]

Speaking as a long-time iPhone user who is part of an iPhone family and owns many Apple products and pays for Apple One, I too am losing interest in the iPhone. This is the first time I hung onto one generation of iPhone while letting the next pass me by. My current iPhone 11 Pro doesn't feel too far behind the 12, and if the 13 only offers slightly better cameras and some iOS tweaks, I'm probably going to let it pass me by as well. What *is* getting me excited is what Samsung is doing with their two new foldables and what the next generation of Galaxy phones might offer.

 

[Chapman8tor]

It would be interesting to see a reverse survey: how many iPhone users are considering a move to Android

You can count me as one iPhone user who is genuinely interested in making a switch in 2022. I just want to compare the Pixel 6 versus the Galaxy 22 before I make up my mind.

 

[mi7chy]

Since I don't deal in kiddie porn, CSAM doesn't bother me.

People that make that comment probably don't know about the 4th amendment.

https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-4/

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

 

[CR45H 0V3RR1D3]

So, to be clear, they want a piece of tech from 2014. Also, they're are upset because of CSAM. I mean, I can understand how people would be apprehensive of this technology. But, if you have nothing to hide, I don't really understand the problem. It seems like people are bitching just for the sake of it. 🤷 Apple still means privacy from external intruders. I take it no one remembers the smackdown they laid on the government when they wanted access.

 

[jntdroid]

I take it no one remembers the smackdown they laid on the government when they wanted access.

That situation gets referenced a lot but is really the only high profile situation where they did that. They've also bent to the will of other governments (especially China) already as well. You (global "you" ) can't pick and choose your Apple behavior to fit the narrative. Well, I guess you can... but it's not reasonable.

 

[Just sayin...]

You can count me as one iPhone user who is genuinely interested in making a switch in 2022. I just want to compare the Pixel 6 versus the Galaxy 22 before I make up my mind.

You’ve EXACTLY nailed my situation as well. 👍 Looks like Jan/Feb will be time to read reviews and evaluate.

 

[burgman]

Historically Apple has respected this dynamic without overstepping with the OS. Many feel they are now significantly overstepping with the operating system

This is a separate issue from the post I replied to, I agree with you on this point.

 

[parasitius]

What Android users are used to:
1. No limited customization
2. Free Apps
3. Pirate Apps
4. Free Content
5. Access to other phones in stealth mode
6. Torrent downloads

Apple market don’t fit that universe at all. I don’t want to read “not all Android users are the same blah blah blah” at least in my 14 years working with people using Android around me they all use their devices like that and none of them pays more than $150 for a phone either. So, if you think in a real panorama every Android user have a flip or high end phone in their pockets, thank God because you are living in a high end community and have money to spend other than pay your bills. Android users aren’t the Market. That’s the truth.

yeah I'll just have to say you have an extremely biased sample, i can't even relate to your post 1%

Free apps as opposed to what? All my good apps on Android cost me. All the free ones are commercial (Uber, Booking, food delivery). Never heard a thing about piracy, free content, dunno what stealth mode means, and people involved with torrenting hopefully get thrown in jail where they belong. (Considering how torrenting chokes a PC to death, you'd have to be a fool to run it on a phone CPU, wtf???)

 

[The Game 161]

You can count me as one iPhone user who is genuinely interested in making a switch in 2022. I just want to compare the Pixel 6 versus the Galaxy 22 before I make up my mind.

I think those who want to try something from iPhone pixel is likely the best option this year. Camera should be fantastic

 

[dfstock]

Apple needs to improve their picture quality. Its the only reason why I'm jealous of my friends Samsung.

 

[jseymour]

... with Apple backing off, so will the industry. Unfortunately these backdoors will be used by nefarious actors of all sorts (not just nation states) so the net effect is a much less secure and private mobile ecosystem.

Signal Private Messenger is open source. So is AOS. So is K-9 Mail. So is the Brave browser. You can't effectively corrupt open source like Apple can it's closed system.

Look at what happened with SPM and Let's Encrypt. All it will take is a sufficiently-motivated group or individual to say "Enough is enough!", put the right pieces together, and start putting out uncorrupted products.

It may be closer than you think. Apple may have just nudged it a bit closer.

Where this ultimately leads, I don't know, but it's a dark day for users everywhere.

Yeah 😟

People that make that comment probably don't know about the 4th amendment.

The argument to that will be "That applies to the government and Apple's not the government." They'd be correct. Blinkered, IMO, but correct.

 

[jntdroid]

"Where this ultimately leads, I don't know, but it's a dark day for users everywhere."


Yeah 😟

But will you, or anybody else, switch or make any changes because of this? I've asked my wife (a non-tech individual) and she has no interest in switching platforms or making any drastic changes, even though she's not a fan of this and understands the ramifications. I fear society just doesn't care much any more as we're all so dependent and addicted to our phones.

 

[bobcomer]

But will you, or anybody else, switch or make any changes because of this? I've asked my wife (a non-tech individual) and she has no interest in switching platforms or making any drastic changes, even though she's not a fan of this and understands the ramifications. I fear society just doesn't care much any more as we're all so dependent and addicted to our phones.

Well, I just bought an android phone and switched it to my main line. I have an iPhone 11 PM that stays at home on my secondary line and it feeds my Apple Watch. I had planned to replace my M1 MBA with an M1X MBP, but no way now and my MBA is sitting there not being used. I still have an Intel Mac Mini that I will be keeping a long time, but it runs an older version of the OS and will not be upgraded. I was going to update my 11 PM to a 13 this month when they announce it, but no way now. I also will not be watching the announcements from Apple this month, no reason to. (the first time in a LONG time that I haven't watched them)

So yes, I care enough to switch and am actually really happy with my Android phone. (Samsung Z Flip 3) I already have Windows computers, so that's not a problem. (I'm an IT Manager, so need them) There's nothing I can replace my Watch with yet, but I wont be updating it either.

 

[jseymour]

But will you, or anybody else, switch or make any changes because of this?

I began the process the day after Apple's announcement. I don't want to repeat it all again, because I've semi-detailed it in other threads, but, in short: I've already whacked all the low-hanging fruit, removed all integration between Apple and non-Apple products, whacked nearly all my iCloud storage, etc. We were heavily into the Apple ecosystem. All that remains is replacing watch, phone, and tablet. That will happen either when the current Apple products age-out or they force CSAM-scanning on us--whichever comes first.

We had relatively near-term plans to spend between two and three thousand dollars on new Apple product. (Two Macs and an iPad.) Canceled. Instead: By this time in a year or two I expect the only remaining Apple product in our home will be our Apple TVs. (Possibly not even those. I really don't much like Apple anymore.)

Even if Apple does a 180 on their announced plans we will not be re-immersing ourselves in the Apple ecosystem. The damage is done. What Apple did was wake me up to just how much trust I'd placed in them. We're getting out. How far, how fast is the only question.

I've asked my wife (a non-tech individual) and she has no interest in switching platforms or making any drastic changes

Mine is. She didn't grok why I was so upset about this, at first. Then I asked her to sit down and watch a video with me that explained it all in a manner such that even a non-techie could get it. After that I said "Well?" "Oh," was her reply. She got it. And she doesn't like it at all.

 

[jntdroid]

Even if Apple does a 180 on their announced plans we will not be re-immersing ourselves in the Apple ecosystem. The damage is done. What Apple did was wake me up to just how much trust I'd placed in them. We're getting out. How far, how fast is the only question.

This is where I'm at now as well. We're all in... phones, watches, Apple TV - though we still use Windows primarily for work purposes. We're too "in". And I'm realizing how truly locked in Apple has us, and how there's really no other area of my life where I let myself have so little diversification (not to sound too dramatic).

This is also one of the reasons why my wife said she (and so many others) likely won't want to mess with changing, even if they're against the hash scanning. She completely agrees that this is a problem philosophically. But so many people simply won't care and won't make any changes until it negatively affects them. Otherwise it's all about whatever works easiest for them - and Apple is anything if not genius at making their ecosystem easy to stay in.

Edit: If the survey here is any indication, she's probably right...

Mine is. She didn't grok why I was so upset about this, at first. Then I asked her to sit down and watch a video with me that explained it all in a manner such that even a non-techie could get it. After that I said "Well?" "Oh," was her reply. She got it. And she doesn't like it at all.

Curious, which video?

 

[PC_tech]

But will you, or anybody else, switch or make any changes because of this? I've asked my wife (a non-tech individual) and she has no interest in switching platforms or making any drastic changes, even though she's not a fan of this and understands the ramifications. I fear society just doesn't care much any more as we're all so dependent and addicted to our phones.

People have clearly said they are switching or have started the process, just because your wife doesn't care to switch doesn't mean others won't 🙄

 

[darkcompass]

Im seeing people saying "We're Out" or "I'm not getting a new apple device" - so where are you all going to go thats not already been privacy compromised other than feature phones and a digital camera?

 

[bobcomer]

Im seeing people saying "We're Out" or "I'm not getting a new apple device" - so where are you all going to go thats not already been privacy compromised other than feature phones and a digital camera?

Apple is the only one with on device scanning, so anywhere else is better. But anyway, just read the whole thread and you can tell where we went.

 

[I7guy]

I began the process the day after Apple's announcement. I don't want to repeat it all again, because I've semi-detailed it in other threads, but, in short: I've already whacked all the low-hanging fruit, removed all integration between Apple and non-Apple products, whacked nearly all my iCloud storage, etc. We were heavily into the Apple ecosystem. All that remains is replacing watch, phone, and tablet. That will happen either when the current Apple products age-out or they force CSAM-scanning on us--whichever comes first.

We had relatively near-term plans to spend between two and three thousand dollars on new Apple product. (Two Macs and an iPad.) Canceled. Instead: By this time in a year or two I expect the only remaining Apple product in our home will be our Apple TVs. (Possibly not even those. I really don't much like Apple anymore.)

Even if Apple does a 180 on their announced plans we will not be re-immersing ourselves in the Apple ecosystem. The damage is done. What Apple did was wake me up to just how much trust I'd placed in them. We're getting out. How far, how fast is the only question.


Mine is. She didn't grok why I was so upset about this, at first. Then I asked her to sit down and watch a video with me that explained it all in a manner such that even a non-techie could get it. After that I said "Well?" "Oh," was her reply. She got it. And she doesn't like it at all.

While I am not happy with on-device scanning. I have no intention of going to android nor throwing away my Apple gear.

- First IOS suits me better.
- Second, photos are still scanned somewhere. Unless you don't take any photos or don't back them up.

Everybody has to do what they feel is the right thing for them.

 

[I7guy]

People have clearly said they are switching or have started the process, just because your wife doesn't care to switch doesn't mean others won't 🙄

And doesn't mean there will be a meaningful amount of switchers; enough to effect the bottom line. (And also those who switch from android to ios)

 

[jseymour]

But so many people simply won't care and won't make any changes until it negatively affects them.

That point has been made before. My answer is I don't really care what others do. I have to do what I believe is right for my family. And what I feel is right for my family is not waiting until it bites us.

Edit: If the survey here is any indication, she's probably right...

I'm more surprised that as much as 17% claim they're leaving than I am 44% say they're remaining.

Curious, which video?

Caution: The volume levels between host and guest vary wildly. You'll have to ride the volume control.

Im seeing people saying "We're Out" or "I'm not getting a new apple device" - so where are you all going to go thats not already been privacy compromised other than feature phones and a digital camera?

I'm going back to Android. If my privacy and security are going to be compromised, anyway, why continue to live under Apple's thumb? It was tolerable when there was a good reason. There's no longer a good reason.

While I am not happy with on-device scanning. I have no intention of going to android nor throwing away my Apple gear.

Who said anything about throwing anything away? I'm going to sell my Apple stuff when the time comes.

Everybody has to do what they feel is the right thing for them.

Of course.

And doesn't mean there will be a meaningful amount of switchers; enough to effect the bottom line.

Doesn't figure into my equation. Hell, since I own Apple stock, others can buy all the Apple stuff they want. No longer will I encourage people to buy Apple kit, but neither will I necessarily discourage it.

 

[blueflame]

That point has been made before. My answer is I don't really care what others do. I have to do what I believe is right for my family. And what I feel is right for my family is not waiting until it bites us.


I'm more surprised that as much as 17% claim they're leaving than I am 44% say they're remaining.


Caution: The volume levels between host and guest vary wildly. You'll have to ride the volume control.

I'm going back to Android. If my privacy and security are going to be compromised, anyway, why continue to live under Apple's thumb? It was tolerable when there was a good reason. There's no longer a good reason.


Who said anything about throwing anything away? I'm going to sell my Apple stuff when the time comes.


Of course.


Doesn't figure into my equation. Hell, since I own Apple stock, others can buy all the Apple stuff they want. No longer will I encourage people to buy Apple kit, but neither will I necessarily discourage it

I really respect clarity of thought. I agree. however I will also actively discourage those over whom I have any influence to buy apple Kit. over time, this will hurt the bottom line of apple. I will hold my stock until then however.

my morals preclude me from spending Money on them, not making money off of them.