Is it possible to be happier outside the Apple ecosystem?

[flybub]

But therein lies the problem - if you love the Watch, you have to have the iPhone. Should your choice of watch dictate your choice of phone? Probably not, but it's these micro-dependencies that cause issues. That's how Apple gets you all-in, even if you'd rather not be.


I think the best way to look at is instead of always thinking of an "ecosystem", reframe it as "Apple is the OS". There are inherent limitations, but also obvious advantages, right down to the unified interface across devices. For years people claimed macOS was starting to look like iOS, but that's by design - it reduces visual and cognitive friction.

Having the Pixel 5 then the 7 Pro along with the Pixel Watch 1 then 2, I don't really mind the pixel watches. I will more than likely switch back to Android for my next phone and will also move to the Pixel Watch 4, or whatever is out at the time. I've also considered going the Garmin watch route as well.

I'm not tied to the Apple Watch, but it's still better than anything Wear OS offers by quite a bit. But as good as the AW is, I won't stay on iOS because of it.

 

[circatee]

I totally feel you regarding the phantom notifications. I see I am not alone in that regard.

What I ended up doing on my iPhone was turn off notifications on all "non-essential" apps, especially shopping apps. This significantly cut down on the number of "dings" I was getting, and also ensured that whenever I was notified, it's usually because of something important (like an incoming message).

Hear, hear! I only have notifications for Messages and Phone calls, that is it...

 

[blairh]

These days, it seems most people still stay within the Apple ecosystem because of the tight integration between their devices, but outside that factor, what other advantages are there to keep buying Apple products?

I was thinking... maybe one can be happier outside the Apple ecosystem? There are many reasons for it:

- More hardware to choose from, whether that's phones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, etc.

More often, other brands offer way better hardware (screens, storage, ram, batteries, cameras, wired and wireless charging speeds...) for less money, and you can often find unbelievable deals on these products, like with Samsung.

I mean, less than 2 months after the Z Fold 7 release, I've seen the device 400€ cheaper (1.550€ outright). If you fandom a slim device, the S25 Edge can now be bought for 850€.

These are amazing prices for top notch hardware. Meanwhile, Apple is still selling the latest base iPhone 16 with 128GB and 60Hz screen for 800€...

Same can be said with tablets and smartwatches. The most expensive smartwatches can be found way cheaper 6 months after release.

Then, you have other Android benefits, like better AI features, Gemini, more customization, more consistent navigation throughout the OS, better multitasking, being able to download torrents, etc. Now Google and Samsung guarantee 7 years of OS updates, so not an Apple benefit anymore.

You can pair a Google or Huawei watch with a Samsung or Oppo, you can use an Ultra tablet with a Xiaomi phone, etc. Maybe the integration isn't as tight as with Apple or between same brand devices, but it's not terrible either. Now we have Android Quick Share for easy file transfers, but there's also third party options, like Blip, which works as good.

Having better hardware (Apple still doesn't have foldables, for example), more options, sometimes better software (now more obvious than ever with AI), and all that for much less money than with Apple.

So, if one doesn't need the super tight integration of Apple devices, can they be happier outside of their ecosystem?

For me, the most important factor in this debate is price. Being able to buy an S25 Ultra or Edge when there's discounts for the same price as the base iPhone 16 is just crazy.

Apple has clear advantages IMO.

iMessage is king in America. Losing it would seriously be terrible in my use case.

I have an Apple Store less than a mile from my home. I know I can get great service at any time for all my Apple products.

I prefer the square face of the Apple Watch.

The folding iPhone is coming next fall.

iOS apps are more polished than Android apps.

Perfect harmony between Apple devices.

I’m speaking for me personally. Others may prefer Android and non-Apple devices for their own reasons.

 

[DankeBrutus]

Have you used nextcloud? Is it any good?

Personally, no I don't use Nextcloud. I have heard mostly good things about it but I haven't found a use for it. I don't use web office stuff in my personal life and for network storage I can simply mount an SMB share via a VPN. If I was using the Google suite heavily I probably would replace it with Nextcloud.

 

[yabeweb]

Switched many times between Android and iOS, switched many times between Mac OS and Windows, the only thing that gave me problem is when I tried switching between iPad OS and Android.

I really do not see much h difference in Mac / Win and Android / iOs, sure there are some things better here some other better there, but overall the experience is quite simulate for me.

The iPad....that's a different story, mostly due to app rather than the OS I guess, but Android Tablets for me are still ages behind.

You can be happy away from Apple sure, there is no reason not to, and there are reason to be happy with apple... so it's really down to what you like.

Never cared for iMessage, for everything else, there are ways to work Android with Macs and iPhones with Windows pretty much with all features compatibility.

 

[TheLocNar]

After seeing what they did with iOS 26, yes it's possible to be happier with Android!

 

[dumastudetto]

After seeing what they did with iOS 26, yes it's possible to be happier with Android!

Samsung are looking to replicate much of iOS 26 in their next OneUI 8.5 update.

 

[TheLocNar]

Samsung are looking to replicate much of iOS 26 in their next OneUI 8.5 update.

Glad I dont have a Samsung.

 

[mjschabow]

I've definitely learned that the key to surviving outside the Apple ecosystem is "time". I'm almost at a year or using zero Apple products or services. At first it was an adjustment, and the last domino to fall was Apple Music, but then I discovered that YouTube Music is awesome. At this point, returning to Apple would actually be a chore.

 

[Bkdodger]

I've definitely learned that the key to surviving outside the Apple ecosystem is "time". I'm almost at a year or using zero Apple products or services. At first it was an adjustment, and the last domino to fall was Apple Music, but then I discovered that YouTube Music is awesome. At this point, returning to Apple would actually be a chore.

YouTube Music and Apple Music here on Android

 

[robvalentine]

I much prefer android to iOS I think, but I love my macbook pro too much, to completely ditch apple. Material 3 expressive is much better than liquid glass, which I don't think is a bad as people make out

 

[Bkdodger]

I much prefer android to iOS I think, but I love my macbook pro too much, to completely ditch apple. Material 3 expressive is much better than liquid glass, which I don't think is a bad as people make out

Agree I much prefer Android but I don't hate iOS experience as much as others with liquid and all though I have to say iOS in general has been buggy overall in recent years

 

[turbineseaplane]

but then I discovered that YouTube Music is awesome

I second this.

To me the real secret sauce here is how, being attached to YT, you have access to endless incredible bootlegs and alternative versions of things that were never official releases by a label.

 

[I7guy]

I've definitely learned that the key to surviving outside the Apple ecosystem is "time". I'm almost at a year or using zero Apple products or services. At first it was an adjustment, and the last domino to fall was Apple Music, but then I discovered that YouTube Music is awesome. At this point, returning to Apple would actually be a chore.

I second this.

To me the real secret sauce here is how, being attached to YT, you have access to endless incredible bootlegs and alternative versions of things that were never official releases by a label.

So one picks their poison, apple or google. I’d like to see how many eschew apple and google and survive on Linux.

 

[turbineseaplane]

So one picks their poison, apple or google. I’d like to see how many eschew apple and google and survive on Linux.

If Apple ever locks down macOS to be like iOS is, you'll get your wish and I promise to stay around and report how it's going. 😊

 

[BigMcGuire]

While I like the idea of Linux - I've tried it a few times and the loss of convenience is real. There is a cost to everything though - that convenience isn't cheap on Apple.

I help my neighbors and have helped my coworkers with Android in the past. The ability to save $ is amazing - with Amazon Fire tablets and cheap Android phones. My neighbor has a tablet and a phone that costs a 10th of my iPhone. That says something. She's happy. She reads Kindle books, texts, and takes photos like anyone else.

My mother in law - we got her an iPhone and an iPad Air and a Mac mini. She enjoys the ability to iMessage family and FaceTime - she finds it much easier to use. Helps her family is in the Apple ecosystem already (us included).

I too find it funny how Apple and Samsung copy each other a lot. lol.

 

[jamezr]

I too find it funny how Apple and Samsung copy each other a lot. lol.

They all copy from each other. Its just business....

 

[tbayrgs]

I've definitely learned that the key to surviving outside the Apple ecosystem is "time". I'm almost at a year or using zero Apple products or services. At first it was an adjustment, and the last domino to fall was Apple Music, but then I discovered that YouTube Music is awesome. At this point, returning to Apple would actually be a chore.

I second this.

To me the real secret sauce here is how, being attached to YT, you have access to endless incredible bootlegs and alternative versions of things that were never official releases by a label.

I am also enjoying YouTube Music. Big advantage for me is how it integrates so much of my YouTube favorited live music into playback in the YT Music app.

One big gripe though is how you cannot sort albums by artist, which kind of blows my mind. It’s such a simple feature. I’m quite versed in album names that I’ve loved for years but I add new albums to my library and haven’t committed all their names to memory. Apple Music (and pretty sure Spotify as well), I just select an artist and can then see a list of any of their albums that I’ve saved. Not being able to do something so simple on YT Music is pretty ridiculous.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I am also enjoying YouTube Music. Big advantage for me is how it integrates so much of my YouTube favorited live music into playback in the YT Music app.

One big gripe though is how you cannot sort albums by artist, which kind of blows my mind. It’s such a simple feature. I’m quite versed in album names that I’ve loved for years but I add new albums to my library and haven’t committed all their names to memory. Apple Music (and pretty sure Spotify as well), I just select an artist and can then see a list of any of their albums that I’ve saved. Not being able to do something so simple on YT Music is pretty ridiculous.

Agree about frustrations.

Google is horrible about fixing any of this stuff or bringing user desired features. They just do not care.

I wouldn't personally pay for YT music on its own, but since I get it with my YT Premium anyhow I do use and enjoy it for what it is.

 

[mjschabow]

I am also enjoying YouTube Music. Big advantage for me is how it integrates so much of my YouTube favorited live music into playback in the YT Music app.

One big gripe though is how you cannot sort albums by artist, which kind of blows my mind. It’s such a simple feature. I’m quite versed in album names that I’ve loved for years but I add new albums to my library and haven’t committed all their names to memory. Apple Music (and pretty sure Spotify as well), I just select an artist and can then see a list of any of their albums that I’ve saved. Not being able to do something so simple on YT Music is pretty ridiculous.

Yeah I normal just search for the artist and then play the album from there. The one area where Apple excels is library management. Too bad that their algorithms are *****.

 

[tbayrgs]

Agree about frustrations.

Google is horrible about fixing any of this stuff or bringing user desired features. They just do not care.

I wouldn't personally pay for YT music on its own, but since I get it with my YT Premium anyhow I do use and enjoy it for what it is.

Same…I get both YT Music and Apple Music for free but find YT Music better at serving me better music based on my library and preferences so been using it since switching to a Pixel 10 Pro Fold as my primary device.