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.