IOS 26…considering Android

[RSmith2023]

Not trying to be contrarian, just genuinely curious. People were flamed for criticizing IOS 26 because it was only in “developer beta”. Now that it is in Public Beta, it still doesn’t seem ready for prime time. I personally don’t find the IOS 26 design that great.

My question is: will iOS 26 cause you to consider switching to Android?

simple answer... No. I actually like the Liquid Glass design. (It's got it's quirks but it's a good move from the flat design that has been present for years.)

But more than that... Google has no concept of what privacy really means. To them, users aer only a source of data to sell to the highest bidder.

 

[Apple_Robert]

No matter which platform one uses, there are going to be things that are disliked (for a myriad of reasons). Leaving a platform over iOS 26 seems rather short-sighted, in my opinion.

1) Is the OS secure and regularly updated with necessary system security patches and does it give one the ability to accomplish personal and or business tasks as needed?
2) Does the OS offer stable integration into other devices one is actively using?
3) Does the OS offer a safe feature-rich App Store, if first party apps aren't meeting one's needs?
4) Does the brand offer good customer support after the sale?

In my opinion, these are the kinds of questions that should be focused on and answered, when considering a move to a different OS.

 

[tbuzleski]

Thinking about switching to pixel. iOS 26 looks like &$$. Hard to look at.

 

[FILIPSN007]

No matter which platform one uses, there are going to be things that are disliked (for a myriad of reasons). Leaving a platform over iOS 26 seems rather short-sighted, in my opinion.

1) Is the OS secure and regularly updated with necessary system security patches and does it give one the ability to accomplish personal and or business tasks as needed?
2) Does the OS offer stable integration into other devices one is actively using?
3) Does the OS offer a safe feature-rich App Store, if first party apps aren't meeting one's needs?
4) Does the brand offer good customer support after the sale?

In my opinion, these are the kinds of questions that should be focused on and answered, when considering a move to a different OS.

I’ll have to disagree.

1. Today, every smartphone is sufficiently secure against threats – even Android. The biggest vulnerability is the user themselves. If someone really wants access to a device, tools like Cellebrite exist.
2. Overrated. I can’t even remember the last time AirDrop actually worked for me. Sending a file from my S25 Ultra to a Windows PC is no issue at all. You can use an alternative browser, notes app, or cloud storage service without any problem.
3. When was the last time you actually installed a new app? I’ve been using the same set of apps for about five years, only rarely adding or removing one.
4. In the EU, Apple does not provide any better support — in fact, it’s often worse than the competition.

I keep reading this forum because I enjoy technology. I like seeing what’s new in the world of iOS and macOS. But what I see here is mostly defending a habit — Apple reinforces this by offering a user experience that practically rewires your brain. It may hurt at first, but I recommend investing a little time to step outside the ecosystem. You have everything to gain.

 

[ayephoner]

Thinking about switching to pixel. iOS 26 looks like &$$. Hard to look at.

huh? can you post some images or links? I haven't seen anything that looks all that much different than any other version of iOS.

I think some of you are just bored and have lofty expectations for nothing in particular.

 

[Reverend Benny]

I would love to switch to something "new" but Android isn't it. Have been looking at alternatives but I’m too tied in to the ecosystem. Not only the OS but certain apps that can't migrate info between platforms and info that can't be exported either. My hopes are that there will be some sort of a third option in the near future. MS has the muscles and could be one player, but it would be nice to have an alternative from another continent than NA.

 

[aperfectcircle]

I would love to switch to something "new" but Android isn't it. Have been looking at alternatives but I’m too tied in to the ecosystem. Not only the OS but certain apps that can't migrate info between platforms and info that can't be exported either. My hopes are that there will be some sort of a third option in the near future. MS has the muscles and could be one player, but it would be nice to have an alternative from another continent than NA.

Huawei Harmony OS Next enters the chat 😆

 

[Reverend Benny]

Huawei Harmony OS Next enters the chat 😆

There are many options, Harmony, Sailfish, Kai, all the different Android flavours (and de-googled ones). But to offer a decent third option and succeed requires a good chunk of money and time.
MS is one player that has a lot of the infrastructure needed and a good userbase. Also CoPilot is getting popular so my guess is that we'll see a Windows Mobile 12 with CoPilot in the near future.

But we'll see, Sailfish is one option I have keept my eye on for some time, but they never seem to gain traction.

 

[achappy]

Well for starters no Android device has matched FaceID so that's a non-starter. Having used FaceID since the iPhone X and on my iPad Pro since 2018 I won't switch to a device that doesn't have it. Tried iPad Mini a few times and hated TouchID.

Also, until Android can handle simple "Family" integration it will never be considered. Apple Cash, Calendars, Reminders, and Notes are handled so much better on iOS. Getting notifications when my son adds/updates/deletes a calendar event or buys something with Apple Cash, or when my wife adds an appointment or adds something to the grocery list. It's crazy that Android still has no notification for Family Calendars. There is no ecosystem that handles Families as well.

Additionally, Apple devices act as one so no matter if I'm on my iPhone, iPad or when I had an iMac. Doesn't matter which device I'm on I get the same functionality. Plus I actually love iOS26 and especially iPadOS26.

 

[Ctrlos]

No matter which platform one uses, there are going to be things that are disliked (for a myriad of reasons). Leaving a platform over iOS 26 seems rather short-sighted, in my opinion.

Would you not consider OS26 the platform though? None of us are iPhone users; we are iOS users. What shell it inhabits is largely superfluous. It bugs the heck out of me that a subsection of users (and this is not directed at yourself) seem to think that innovation begins and ends at a hardware level. They spend all their time complaining about the iPhone being 'dull' when its no different to any other glass and metal sandwich.

iOS though is far from 'dull' and Apple provide a fresh set of features to it n an annual basis, for free. Complaints about it should be levelled at the software team, not the hardware.

 

[JSDK]

I don't mind Android as an operating system, I thought it worked well, and I personally thought the new Pixel Pro 10 was super cool, especially with Pixelsnap. I'm so tempted... BUT. I've been there before. I've done the "full switch" before, where I've sold MacBook, iPad, AirPods and iPhone and replaced with a Windows Laptop, an Android Phone (Galaxy S22) Galaxy Buds etc., and the first few days are always tense - setting up new devices, and all the new options.

But once everything is set up, and everyday life is running, I found that everything had become more cumbersome. My wife has an iPhone, and refuses to switch to something else, and suddenly I have to find new solutions for our shared calendar, a new solution for our Shopping List in the reminder app, new solutions for our lights, and smart things in the house that all more or less run in HomeKit, which I (when I had an iPhone) shared with my wife via the Home app. New solution for FindMy etc etc etc.

Besides that, my AirTags are worthless, and I can't interact with the Apple TVs we have around the house. Everyone in my family has iPhones, and most of my friends do too, and suddenly there are several things that don't work - for example, iMessages. We don't have RCS in our country yet.

Several things. It ended up that after a few months it was all sold again, and I bought new Apple equipment, and haven't looked back. Not because I don't want to, but it can't be done practically without me having to change all sorts of things that in no way make the switch easier. There is simply NO benefit for me in switching to Android.

So short answer. No.

 

[martint235]

simple answer... No. I actually like the Liquid Glass design. (It's got it's quirks but it's a good move from the flat design that has been present for years.)

But more than that... Google has no concept of what privacy really means. To them, users aer only a source of data to sell to the highest bidder.

Apple shares your data too. “Affiliates and service providers” is an incredibly broad, non-specific umbrella.

 

[ayephoner]

Apple shares your data too. “Affiliates and service providers” is an incredibly broad, non-specific umbrella.

Apple is MUCH better about it.

 

[martint235]

Apple is MUCH better about it.

That’s ok then. Once your data is out there, it’s freely available to all.

 

[ayephoner]

That’s ok then. Once your data is out there, it’s freely available to all.

Funny. I thought plenty of businesses were making money data mining. Someone should tell them to stop wasting their time.

(I own an iphone, but use google suite daily, so this issue doesn't really matter to me personally).

 

[martint235]

Funny. I thought plenty of businesses were making money data mining. Someone should tell them to stop wasting their time.

(I own an iphone, but use google suite daily, so this issue doesn't really matter to me personally).

Data miners tie the different data sets together for you. Yes they charge because they are saving you time and effort. You could do it for free with the right investment in resources and time.

 

[canadianpj]

Not trying to be contrarian, just genuinely curious. People were flamed for criticizing IOS 26 because it was only in “developer beta”. Now that it is in Public Beta, it still doesn’t seem ready for prime time. I personally don’t find the IOS 26 design that great.

My question is: will iOS 26 cause you to consider switching to Android?

Nope, not at all. Good rage bait tho.

 

[Slo Pesci]

I was considering Android until I bought the Samsung A56 and it forced me to download Temu and Tiktok and came preloaded with a "Mobile Klinik" app. This was an unlocked brand new Samsung bought from Staples.

 

[Reverend Benny]

I was considering Android until I bought the Samsung A56 and it forced me to download Temu and Tiktok and came preloaded with a "Mobile Klinik" app. This was an unlocked brand new Samsung bought from Staples.

It's cheap for a reason.
Like cheapo PC computers that has a ton of crapware.

 

[Slo Pesci]

It's cheap for a reason.
Like cheapo PC computers that has a ton of crapware.

I hear ya but on a $650 CAD phone it's still unacceptable. Cheapens the brand.

 

[Reverend Benny]

I hear ya but on a $650 CAD phone it's still unacceptable. Cheapens the brand.

Yes, its beyond me why a "premium" brand like Samsung sell some of their cheap phones.
And trying weird tacticts such as offering quarterly updates instead of monthly and so on.
The A56 isn't a bad phone, its just annoying that they are filling it with crap.

 

[GioGiusi]

These posts I swear to god. Apple would have to convert the entire OS to 8-bit UI before most people even considered the POS Android as a viable alternative.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I hear ya but on a $650 CAD phone it's still unacceptable. Cheapens the brand.

You can wipe a cheap pc and do a clean Windows install, and I've done it many times. Can you do that with a Cheap Android? I have no idea...

There are a couple Androids in my household, but they're Pixels and don't come with such nonsense.

 

[Reverend Benny]

These posts I swear to god. Apple would have to convert the entire OS to 8-bit UI before most people even considered the POS Android as a viable alternative.

I kinda like the idea of an 8 bit look, should be launched as a feature in iOS27 "on the other end of liquid glass we offer a clean 8 bit look".

 

[Dianneeraser]

huh? can you post some images or links? I haven't seen anything that looks all that much different than any other version of iOS.

I think some of you are just bored and have lofty expectations for nothing in particular

Here’s a couple screen shots of why I think iOS 26 is poor design. These are on public beta 5 and 6: