iPhone has become slower than Android

[Ultra AleM]

Hi, guys. Using iOS 17 and Android with One UI 5.1 or Pixel Experience in parallel, I have noticed that iPhone has become slower, less fluid and less reliable than Android. On Android, touches are registered instantly even when you move your finger at lightning speed, animations are super-fast (thus effective for productivity) and there is no lag. I'm talking of course about the top of the line (e.g., Galaxy S23 with second-generation Snapdragon 8). On iPhones, on the other hand, the situation is becoming disturbing. Animations are slow, touches don't often register (sometimes if the animation hasn't completely finished its run, the system won't let you give input), and there are lags sometimes. In addition, the absence of a "universal back" often forces you to go with your finger to the top of the screen with further loss of time, also because the little buttons (e.g., X) on iPhone are smaller and can fail more on the very first try. What is happening, has iPhone seriously lost one of its historical advantages? I am considering, for the first time in my life, abandoning iOS as my personal system. Nobody here in Europe uses iMessage or FaceTime anyway, so those two advantages (important in the U.S.) are lost. What do you guys think?

 

[AeroSatan]

It's all about what works for you. I agree the S23U is a superior device minus the Apple Ecosystem perks. So what it all comes down to is how big a factor Apple ecosystem is in your workflow, if it just relies around the iPhone, go with the Sammy or a Pixel.

 

[ManuCH]

I have never found iOS to be slow and less fluid. I'm currently on an iPhone 15 Pro Max and I also own a Samsung Galaxy S23 as a comparison. Both are good, but I still prefer the iOS UI by a lot. There are too many design inconsistencies in Android that really bother me, and the scrolling is much better and fluid on iOS. But definitely, both get the job done.

If you're not tied into the Apple ecosystem (for example, not having all your photos on iCloud Photos etc), why not give Android a try? If you hate it, you can always come back. There's not much to lose. I tried myself, and it wasn't good enough for me to make the switch. I definitely still prefer iOS.

I am also from Europe, and while nobody uses iMessage, I use FaceTime a lot. The alternatives also have quite crappy quality. So I would definitely miss FaceTime.

Good luck!

 

[Jared G.K.]

I have to admit, I'm experiencing similar on my 15P/17.0.3 from time to time. The most annoying issue is that sometimes swipes or touches don't register, I have to try 3,4,5 times, or, e.g. in case of the widgets 'side bar' (the 'old' one when swiping left from the home screen), taps don't register at all, so I have to swipe up from the bottom, back to home screen, then left, then it works again in most cases.

However, I believe/hope this is a iOS 17 thing which would mean it should be fixed over time.
But it's annoying and I never before experienced that with iOS to that degree, not even with newly released versions.

 

[Ultra AleM]

I have to admit, I'm experiencing similar on my 15P/17.0.3 from time to time. The most annoying issue is that sometimes swipes or touches don't register, I have to try 3,4,5 times, or, e.g. in case of the widgets 'side bar' (the 'old' one when swiping left from the home screen), taps don't register at all, so I have to swipe up from the bottom, back to home screen, then left, then it works again in most cases.

However, I believe/hope this is a iOS 17 thing which would mean it should be fixed over time.
But it's annoying and I never before experienced that with iOS to that degree, not even with newly released versions.

iOS 17 made things worse but unfortunately this was there before. Inputs are not always recorded as they are on Android. For those who are used to doing things quickly for maximum productivity, this is a disaster.

 

[FeliApple]

I’m using an iPhone Xʀ on iOS 12 and it is completely smooth. I pay attention to these things and I’ve had absolutely no issues.

 

[Helmsley]

I haven't used a device running Android for a very long time, but I've always found my iPhones and iOS very slick.

Maybe I need to try an Android device to see how it feels.

 

[Altis]

It's been that way since iOS 7 for me. Input-blocking following animations (even with them disabled) probably ignores 30% of my inputs, then the way gestures are all stacked means it gets it wrong another 30% of the time.

It seems like Apple just doesn't care about how fast and responsive their software is anymore. They used to brag how their displays were a few milliseconds more responsive than Android devices, now a 1000ms delay because you just did something is perfectly fine. Remember when the calculator app was giving bad answers because inputs were blocked (and it wasn't obvious to the user)? It's too bad given how powerful the hardware is.

 

[Paddle1]

I'm usually okay with it. The only animations that bother me are the control center ones. Particularly when you do something like long press into the Bluetooth menu and have to sit through three back-to-back input blocking animations just to close the CC.

 

[one more]

What kind of input are we talking about here? Typing, pressing buttons, expanding control centre tiles, or what? 🤔

I cannot think of any issues on iPhone 15 or 12 mini before that, both running iOS 17. When I type on them I swipe-type and it recognises the words very well, the rapidity of click responses can also be tweaked in Settings > Accessibility > Touch.

Can you give us a concrete example, or better attach a short screen video, so we can see exactly what you mean?

PS Do you use a screen protector on your iPhone by any chance, as this can make a big difference to touch sensitivity.

 

[FILIPSN007]

I agree. I sold my iPhone 12 Pro after update to iOS15. iOS used to be smooth experience even with 60Hz display but these days are gone.

Whole experience of iOS is worse with each iOS update. I am still little bit optimistic and time to time visiting Apple store just to check out If something was changed. Its 2 years and nothing.

I am still using old Macbook Pro and I would like to buy new one but why would I do that without iPhone? I can not convince my self to do it.

 

[Ultra AleM]

What kind of input are we talking about here? Typing, pressing buttons, expanding control centre tiles, or what? 🤔

I cannot think of any issues on iPhone 15 or 12 mini before that, both running iOS 17. When I type on them I swipe-type and it recognises the words very well, the rapidity of clock responses can also be tweaked in Settings > Accessibility > Touch.

Can you give us a concrete example, or better attach a short screen video, so we can see exactly what you mean?

PS Do you use a screen protector on your iPhone by any chance, as this can make a big difference to touch sensitivity.

There are many examples. Try holding down a link on Safari and selecting "open in a new tab." It starts an animation that won't let you do anything until it's finished. Or try taking a screenshot and saving it from the top left command and then immediately swipe from the bottom to exit. It won't let you for a full second. And a thousand other examples.

 

[papbot]

There are many examples. Try holding down a link on Safari and selecting "open in a new tab." It starts an animation that won't let you do anything until it's finished. Or try taking a screenshot and saving it from the top left command and then immediately swipe from the bottom to exit. It won't let you for a full second. And a thousand other examples.

I just tried each of those things. The action was immediate in both cases, with no unexpected lag. Taking the screenshot, saving to photos, and swiping up immediately after to exit the app I was in all happened immediately, or at least as fast as I could move my fingers. I can’t say I never see any lag; I occasionally do, never in those actions but every now and then in other ways.

 

[one more]

There are many examples. Try holding down a link on Safari and selecting "open in a new tab." It starts an animation that won't let you do anything until it's finished. Or try taking a screenshot and saving it from the top left command and then immediately swipe from the bottom to exit. It won't let you for a full second. And a thousand other examples.

Just tried it, no issues at all. 🤷🏻‍♂️

What iPhone are you using? If it’s new enough, perhaps reinstall iOS 17 from IPSW file?

 

[papbot]

Just tried it, no issues at all. 🤷🏻‍♂️

What iPhone are you using? If it’s new enough, perhaps reinstall iOS 17 from IPSW file?

View attachment 2299961

I’ve only ever installed OTA, at least since that became possible ages ago, and haven’t seen any lags in those functions. When I have had similar issues in other functions I always assumed something was stuck ongoing in the background and if a simple restart didn’t fix it a forced reboot always would.

 

[Ultra AleM]

I just tried each of those things. The action was immediate in both cases, with no unexpected lag. Taking the screenshot, saving to photos, and swiping up immediately after to exit the app I was in all happened immediately, or at least as fast as I could move my fingers. I can’t say I never see any lag; I occasionally do, never in those actions but every now and then in other ways.

Try again. Evidently you've been slow with your finger. After tapping "open in a new tab in the background" on Safari, you instantly move your finger to scroll on the page while there is the animation of the link being catapulted to the bottom right. It won't let you do that for a second. I tried it on both iPhone 14 Pro and 15 Pro.

 

[Ultra AleM]

Just tried it, no issues at all. 🤷🏻‍♂️

What iPhone are you using? If it’s new enough, perhaps reinstall iOS 17 from IPSW file?

View attachment 2299961

Try again. Evidently you've been slow with your finger. After tapping "open in a new tab in the background" on Safari, you instantly move your finger to scroll on the page while there is the animation of the link being catapulted to the bottom right. It won't let you do that for a second. I tried it on both iPhone 14 Pro and 15 Pro.

 

[FeliApple]

Try again. Evidently you've been slow with your finger. After tapping "open in a new tab in the background" on Safari, you instantly move your finger to scroll on the page while there is the animation of the link being catapulted to the bottom right. It won't let you do that for a second. I tried it on both iPhone 14 Pro and 15 Pro.

I tried this on an iPad Air 5 on iPadOS 15 and it was instant. I can’t move my finger to scroll any faster and the iPad’s reaction is immediate.

 

[Ultra AleM]

I tried this on an iPad Air 5 on iPadOS 15 and it was instant. I can’t move my finger to scroll any faster and the iPad’s reaction is immediate.

Let me see with a video. Long press on a link, select "open in background" and then IMMEDIATELY scroll on the page you're interacting with before this operation. I can assure you it doesn't let you scroll immediately. There's some sort of voluntary lag set by engineers. And not only here, unfortunately. It happens frequently.

 

[papbot]

No lag here. You’re having an issue specific to you. Obviously we are not. If there is an issue we’ve never noticed so no video is necessary.

 

[Ultra AleM]

No lag here. You’re having an issue specific to you. Obviously we are not. If there is an issue we’ve never noticed so no video is necessary.

If you read further up, other users have confirmed what I claim. And, again, I have experienced the same problem on both iPhone 14 Pro and 15 Pro. Also on YouTube a lot of channels complain about the issue of less responsive touch on iOS compared to Android. Please do not defame me.

 

[papbot]

No defamation intended. We do not have this issue. You apparently do. The only issue I’m having currently is a delay in emails being synced and downloaded from iCloud. This may be specific to me.

The only delay/lag I’m having is that tapping on my phone to wake and unlock it is not recognized on the first tap and I have to repeat it. I’ve run into that before and it’s less often now but is really the only instance of a lack of, or noticeably slow, response I run into.

 

[Ultra AleM]

No defamation intended. We do not have this issue. You apparently do. The only issue I’m having currently is a delay in emails being synced and downloaded from iCloud. This may be specific to me.

I confirm that if you are not experiencing this problem, which has been confirmed by thousands of people everywhere, you are not doing the operation correctly. If you move your fingers at lightning speed, you will notice that sometimes touches are not voluntarily registered. This is a choice of the engineers. Animations are not only slower than in Android, but sometimes they force you to wait for them to finish before you can interact with the interface again. If you take a video of the operation you do, I can tell you why you are not doing it correctly. If, on the other hand, you claim to be right without bringing any evidence to benefit your argument, I can't do anything about it.

 

[papbot]

I confirm that if you are not experiencing this problem, which has been confirmed by thousands of people everywhere, you are not doing the operation correctly.

Don’t defame me and the thousands of others who are doing this with no issue. You have this problem we do NOT!

 

[I7guy]

There are many examples. Try holding down a link on Safari and selecting "open in a new tab." It starts an animation that won't let you do anything until it's finished. Or try taking a screenshot and saving it from the top left command and then immediately swipe from the bottom to exit. It won't let you for a full second. And a thousand other examples.

So it’s working as designed but you don’t like it at this point? Think that’s perfectly fair.