Phones Moved to Pixel after 16 years on iPhone

[macsince2008]

iPhone owners are ones that just need a phone that works.

Android owners are ones that have free time to spare tinkering around and customizing their UI.

My first smartphone was the Samsung Galaxy S 4G. Never again. I have more important things to do. That's also why I choose an iMac over Mac mini + Apple Studio Display any day. I value simplicity so I can concentrate on things in life that are worth my attention and a design that brings joy to my life.

And I know what some of you are thinking," Concentrate on what? Posting on MacRumors?"

To that I say, if I help one single person live a simpler life, I save a lifetime of saved energy and time with a 5 minute post. Now multiple that for two, three, four people...

That's why I said OP will go back to iPhone earlier in this thread. He seems to be a smart man.

I'm using a Pixel phone running Android 16. I primarily use Google apps, but also have WhatsApp, Todoist, and a home automation app installed. I'm confident that this is probably the most optimized mobile operating system I've used in years. iOS 26 felt like a rushed update to compensate for the lack of intelligence in Apple Intelligence, something for the fans to enjoy for a week and secretly dislike for months.

 

[AlixSPQR]

the painfully slow iCloud sync with files and photos

If it is slow at all, most times on the fly I notice that syncing generally is paused due to things like saving battery, non-optimal network, or optimising system performance. It's obviously just different ways of masking server shortcomings on Apple's part. Google Photos uploads without any issues at all in the described situations. Still, I prefer Apple's ecosystem. Also, video capture on iPhone is superior.

 

[robvalentine]

They could have made it BETTER. Instead, they made it stupid.

Whilst I usually chuckle at all the people moaning about iOS26 like it's the apocalypse, my non tech GF was like wtf when it auto updated. I was handed the phone and told to fix it lol. I reduced the transparancy, but I think apple changed for the sake of change, where as with material 3, google improved. Google definately won the UI competition of 2025

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Why do you prefer Android?

Great question and response.

I prefer Google's core apps vs Apple's. I prefer Phone app with Google's call screener, hold for me, Direct My Call, Spam call detection, Messaging, Chrome vs Safari, Gmail although Apple Mail is pretty good, I prefer Google Maps (best mapping software) vs Apple Maps, Keep Notes vs iOS Notes.

As was mentioned earlier, Android doesn't lock its core apps to the operating system whereas Apple does. So many years after OS support is no longer available, you will still receive app updates from the Google Play store. So your core Android apps will continue to function, most importantly Chrome. Those apps could also get new features.

As someone who has purchased many Apple devices, once iOS updates are no longer available, apps start to lose compatibility so Safari will begin to break and other core apps might also begin to have problems.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

iPhone owners are ones that just need a phone that works.

Android owners are ones that have free time to spare tinkering around and customizing their UI.

My first smartphone was the Samsung Galaxy S 4G. Never again. I have more important things to do. That's also why I choose an iMac over Mac mini + Apple Studio Display any day. I value simplicity so I can concentrate on things in life that are worth my attention and a design that brings joy to my life.

And I know what some of you are thinking," Concentrate on what? Posting on MacRumors?"

To that I say, if I help one single person live a simpler life, I save a lifetime of saved energy and time with a 5 minute post. Now multiple that for two, three, four people...

That's why I said OP will go back to iPhone earlier in this thread. He seems to be a smart man.

It depends on the person. My wife has been a Pixel user for years; she never tinkers or customizes anything, other than wallpaper and moving around icons. That's it.

I don't think the majority tinker on either platform.

 

[ayephoner]

Great question and response.

I prefer Google's core apps vs Apple's. I prefer Phone app with Google's call screener, hold for me, Direct My Call, Spam call detection, Messaging, Chrome vs Safari, Gmail although Apple Mail is pretty good, I prefer Google Maps (best mapping software) vs Apple Maps, Keep Notes vs iOS Notes.

As was mentioned earlier, Android doesn't lock its core apps to the operating system whereas Apple does. So many years after OS support is no longer available, you will still receive app updates from the Google Play store. So your core Android apps will continue to function, most importantly Chrome. Those apps could also get new features.

As someone who has purchased many Apple devices, once iOS updates are no longer available, apps start to lose compatibility so Safari will begin to break and other core apps might also begin to have problems.

You have a valid point overall, but some of the apps you mention are not tied to the OS, as you say. I use a lot of google apps on my iphone, including google maps, gmail, chrome, google home, drive, gemini, google photos, google calendar...

That's one thing that's nice about iphones is that it doesn't lock you out of the google ecosystem. But if you have an android, you will have zero access to the apple ecosystem. Yes, I know this is because of Apple, but still holds true.

And you are right about OS support with Apple, but they offer OS support for an insanely long time, which includes security updates. They just had an update available for the iphone 5s, 13 years after it launched. I don't use phones that long, but if I did, the security updates would be more of a concern than individual app updates by a huge margin.

 

[TSE]

All valid responses. I change my mind. Android must have changed a lot since I had the very first Samsung Galaxy. I remember they sold it to me at the T-Mobile store by saying Android was better because at the time it’s web browser supported flash. Oh god what a mistake that was… must have unknowingly held onto some resentment.

Maybe I should try it.

 

[DankeBrutus]

iPhone owners are ones that just need a phone that works.

Android owners are ones that have free time to spare tinkering around and customizing their UI.

My first smartphone was the Samsung Galaxy S 4G. Never again. I have more important things to do. That's also why I choose an iMac over Mac mini + Apple Studio Display any day. I value simplicity so I can concentrate on things in life that are worth my attention and a design that brings joy to my life.

And I know what some of you are thinking," Concentrate on what? Posting on MacRumors?"

To that I say, if I help one single person live a simpler life, I save a lifetime of saved energy and time with a 5 minute post. Now multiple that for two, three, four people...

That's why I said OP will go back to iPhone earlier in this thread. He seems to be a smart man.

I was an Android user until the Galaxy S6 and Samsung turned me off of the platform. I left right before the Google Pixel came out for the iPhone 6s.

If we're talking about iOS 10, 11, or 12 I absolutely agree with you that iOS, in comparison to Android 5 or 6 (can't remember which version I had on that phone since it was carrier dependent), was much more simple and stable. My S6 would frequently hard crash near the end of my time with it and the 6s was rock solid, iOS 10 and 11 are what made me love iOS. If we're talking about the past some-odd years though, maybe 2022 to today, with iOS 16/17+ and Android 13+ I gotta say that iOS is beginning to feel like Android did back in 2016/2017. iOS now feels like it is doing too much to feel entirely coherent like iOS 12 did and Android has only been improving in that department. Even just the GUI of iOS feels like a mess. We have significantly different UI across apps and features, like the UI of the Action Button configuration screen looks like it came from an entirely different company. Then you look at Android 16 with Material 3 and you have a coherent design while still looking fun and fresh with the animations, layouts, and shapes.

 

[Luftkopf]

As someone who has purchased many Apple devices, once iOS updates are no longer available, apps start to lose compatibility so Safari will begin to break and other core apps might also begin to have problems.

I’ve got to be honest, I’m a pretty big fan of iPhones, and iOS, having used it since iOS 1.1. I don’t know what would have to happen for me to even think about switching, but credit where it’s due.

I have to give this one to Android. Once an iPhone hits a certain age and apps start dropping support, it’s usefulness declines sharply despite the condition of the phone.

I still have my iPhone 5, and my 8 Plus. The 5 is feeling old now, but the 8 Plus does surprisingly well.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

You have a valid point overall, but some of the apps you mention are not tied to the OS, as you say. I use a lot of google apps on my iphone, including google maps, gmail, chrome, google home, drive, gemini, google photos, google calendar...

That's one thing that's nice about iphones is that it doesn't lock you out of the google ecosystem. But if you have an android, you will have zero access to the apple ecosystem. Yes, I know this is because of Apple, but still holds true.

And you are right about OS support with Apple, but they offer OS support for an insanely long time, which includes security updates. They just had an update available for the iphone 5s, 13 years after it launched. I don't use phones that long, but if I did, the security updates would be more of a concern than individual app updates by a huge margin.

But IIRC all other web browser's which is required by Apple, use Apple's Webkit so when Safari starts to break, so do the others. I found that out with an iPad 2 running iOS6 many years after iOS6 was no longer supported.

I'm speaking for myself and others that I know running on devices no longer receiving updates. I and they have never encountered a security issue. Until it does, I don't worry about that.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I’ve got to be honest, I’m a pretty big fan of iPhones, and iOS, having used it since iOS 1.1. I don’t know what would have to happen for me to even think about switching, but credit where it’s due.

I have to give this one to Android. Once an iPhone hits a certain age and apps start dropping support, it’s usefulness declines sharply despite the condition of the phone.

I still have my iPhone 5, and my 8 Plus. The 5 is feeling old now, but the 8 Plus does surprisingly well.

And as some of us told the OP, if you like what you are using now, doesn't mean the greener pastures will. I own several Android devices and bought an iPhone 13 just to see what it was like. I gravitate to Android, it works better for me. It sounds like iOS does that for you.

 

[Luftkopf]

And as some of us told the OP, if you like what you are using now, doesn't mean the greener pastures will. I own several Android devices and bought an iPhone 13 just to see what it was like. I gravitate to Android, it works better for me. It sounds like iOS does that for you.

That's what it's about, isn't it. We have choice for a reason. Use what works best for you, and ignore the outside noise!

 

[ayephoner]

But IIRC all other web browser's which is required by Apple, use Apple's Webkit so when Safari starts to break, so do the others. I found that out with an iPad 2 running iOS6 many years after iOS6 was no longer supported.

I'm speaking for myself and others that I know running on devices no longer receiving updates. I and they have never encountered a security issue. Until it does, I don't worry about that.

Like so many other things, it just speaks to different priorities. Knowing what I know about security updates, I would never dream of using a device for much at all that wasn't still receiving them.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Like so many other things, it just speaks to different priorities. Knowing what I know about security updates, I would never dream of using a device for much at all that wasn't still receiving them.

I don't and have never put my life's story on any of my devices and that includes iOS and Android, so anyone looking to steal any information will find none.

 

[kate_58]

After 16 years on every (or alternate year) iPhone, I recently took the decision of moving everything to Google Cloud and Google Pixel.
The first reason was the painfully slow iCloud sync with files and photos, the second being the behaviour of the staff at Apple Store, Saket (careless, rude, and undeniably ego-filled). Complained via email to Joz, he replied, but nothing further really happened.

The Pixel has a great camera, nice video boost features, and mostly smooth software. The device is quite slow as compared to iPhone, processing power slow, but the AI is crazy nice, and far ahead of othersHey everyone, interesting discussion going on here! 😊 I just wanted to chime in because I've found myself getting lost in similar debates before. I remember a time not too long ago when I was trying to decide whether a MacBook or an iMac would suit my work-from-home setup better. After reading numerous threads and going back and forth, I ended up watching more YouTube videos than I'd like to admit, haha.

In the end, what helped me most was just taking a step back and thinking about my daily use. For me, portability was key, even though I rarely leave my home office! It’s funny how we can get caught up in the debate and forget what's truly important to us personally. So, I think it’s just about balancing your needs with a bit of personal preference. Hope that helps a bit! 🌟

.

Now I know a lot of my fellow MacRumors readers won't be able to digest someone moving to another mobile operating system, and their comments always make me laugh. Blindly accepting and praising any brand, no matter how irrational the fan-following is, slows down innovation and lets the others move forward.

PS: I am still using the M5 MacBook Pro, as there is nothing better.

 

[Churchman]

Unfortunately, that's par for the course. In today's world people tend to get bored much easier and look at alternatives because the Smartphone has been for many years a mature market. There's only so much you can do with a smartphone and it has been done for the most part. Now that we can take pictures, search the web, have a voice assistant, buy stuff online, download apps etc, that's no longer enough to keep people's attention.

So companies, especially Apple since they are considered the smartphone leader where they influence market trends, can no longer keep things the same. So every once in awhile, they decide it's time to repaint the room or hide all the toys under the bed.

The longer they kept the look of iOS7, the more they risked their customers leaving for greener pastures. So now they've changed all the questions you knew and now you and everyone else using an iDevice will spend time finding the answers.

I like this reply so much.

It was likely typed up and posted fairly quickly, but there are truths in this post that speak to me for basic life reasons.

#1
"In today's world people tend to get bored much easier, and look at alternatives ... to keep [their] attention."
- We know this. Nothing new. But it is just a reminder to me to step off the Gerbil wheel of life. Then take a moment to see the tactics that people and businesses use to try to lead me by the nose of my materialist life.

#2
"To keep people's attention ... repaint the room or hide all the toys..."
- Again, we know this. But saying it has been a reminder or refresher. This is marketing tactics, political tactics, combat tactics, psychological warfare tactics... Sun Tzu 101 stuff.

#3
This statement here is gold to me (with a few edits):
"They've changed all the questions you knew, and now you and everyone else ... will spend time finding [new] answers..."
- Kind of like a dog chasing a ball that is thrown back and forth across the yard, or a cat chasing a string or a laser light - neither animal is aware that they are being played with to the delight of a "smarter" individual.
- From Combat to Politics, this is very tactical. And it is hyper-relational to me. When / if a relationship goes from wonder and love and roses to transactional and indifferent, one can experience this type of thing as a form of manipulation. Yes - it's a negative take but it is based on something I have experienced. Obviously one can look at this in the affirmative as well ... make positive life change by reframing "the question / the issue" so that you get new and better answers and outcomes.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I like this reply so much.

It was likely typed up and posted fairly quickly, but there are truths in this post that speak to me for basic life reasons.

#1
"In today's world people tend to get bored much easier, and look at alternatives ... to keep [their] attention."
- We know this. Nothing new. But it is just a reminder to me to step off the Gerbil wheel of life. Then take a moment to see the tactics that people and businesses use to try to lead me by the nose of my materialist life.

#2
"To keep people's attention ... repaint the room or hide all the toys..."
- Again, we know this. But saying it has been a reminder or refresher. This is marketing tactics, political tactics, combat tactics, psychological warfare tactics... Sun Tzu 101 stuff.

#3
This statement here is gold to me (with a few edits):
"They've changed all the questions you knew, and now you and everyone else ... will spend time finding [new] answers..."
- Kind of like a dog chasing a ball that is thrown back and forth across the yard, or a cat chasing a string or a laser light - neither animal is aware that they are being played with to the delight of a "smarter" individual.
- From Combat to Politics, this is very tactical. And it is hyper-relational to me. When / if a relationship goes from wonder and love and roses to transactional and indifferent, one can experience this type of thing as a form of manipulation. Yes - it's a negative take but it is based on something I have experienced. Obviously one can look at this in the affirmative as well ... make positive life change by reframing "the question / the issue" so that you get new and better answers and outcomes.

I'm happy it hit home and no I did not plagiarize it, though it wasn't implied. It's something I've said on several occasions.

 

[840quadra]

On a tablet or laptop I get it but do people actually use Adobe etc apps on a phone? I've subscribed to loads of productivity apps over the years but never anything I wanted to use on a phone display. About the only thing from the iPhone I can think of is Halide, but this is motivated by most Android phones baking in manual modes to their camera apps. (It's kind of hilarious Apple still selling a 'Pro' phone that doesn't even have shutter speed control)

iPhone and Android users all use their devices for a broad but largely similar set of uses. Barring hardware features like a Lidar scanner or a folding display there isn't actually as much between them as people (or Apple's marketing) might think.

I batch process thousands of RAW photos a year on my iPhone (and sometimes Pixel) using Lightroom.

My 16 pro processed over a terabyte of 4K video, and over 15,000 photos before it was traded in.

I use pro apps on my phone, and WISH Apple grew up and permitted us to connect their phones to a 4K monitor and use it in a desktop environment like we can on Android. I actually feel Apple should remove the "Pro™" moniker until they give windowed desktop support to their devices.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

I like this reply so much.

It was likely typed up and posted fairly quickly, but there are truths in this post that speak to me for basic life reasons.

#1
"In today's world people tend to get bored much easier, and look at alternatives ... to keep [their] attention."
- We know this. Nothing new. But it is just a reminder to me to step off the Gerbil wheel of life. Then take a moment to see the tactics that people and businesses use to try to lead me by the nose of my materialist life.

#2
"To keep people's attention ... repaint the room or hide all the toys..."
- Again, we know this. But saying it has been a reminder or refresher. This is marketing tactics, political tactics, combat tactics, psychological warfare tactics... Sun Tzu 101 stuff.

#3
This statement here is gold to me (with a few edits):
"They've changed all the questions you knew, and now you and everyone else ... will spend time finding [new] answers..."
- Kind of like a dog chasing a ball that is thrown back and forth across the yard, or a cat chasing a string or a laser light - neither animal is aware that they are being played with to the delight of a "smarter" individual.
- From Combat to Politics, this is very tactical. And it is hyper-relational to me. When / if a relationship goes from wonder and love and roses to transactional and indifferent, one can experience this type of thing as a form of manipulation. Yes - it's a negative take but it is based on something I have experienced. Obviously one can look at this in the affirmative as well ... make positive life change by reframing "the question / the issue" so that you get new and better answers and outcomes.

I tend to agree with what you have written above.

In reality if it wasn't because I can make phone calls with the iPhone and also carry it in my pocket, it would find it as boring as my iPad. I only use my iPad maybe for 3-5 minutes once per month while I top-charge its battery, but that's about it. I don't use the iPhone nor the iPad for online shopping nor anything else that requires using passwords. The iPad I may use to search or view webpages (has a larger screen than my iPhone), and my iPhone for voice (calls) and text messages.

Maybe someday I will use a cellphone that is not larger than the 14-Pro I now use, but it has to be foldable or similar to my MacBook. Also, since I have friends and family members who leave overseas, I would prefer other than iMessage to place phone calls internationally. I use WhatsApp at the moment, and am pleased with it.

 

[ab2c4]

I have had two Google phones and really liked stock Android. I had the Nexus 5 and loved the heck out of that phone even though the specs weren't flagship, but it was reliable, super fast, and couldn't beat the price at the time ($350USD I think). Battery didn't last long lol, and the single speaker was crap, but other than that I loved it. Great "little phone". Also had the Pixel 2XL and that phone was really good. I used it for two years then gave it to my mom and she used it I think another three years.

Stock Android is probably my favorite OS of all time. I plan to switch back to an Android phone for my next phone as iphones and ios really have worn out their welcome for me. ios is so boring and IMO filled with design flaws compared to Android, and typing on an iphone is a terrible experience compared to an Android. Plus, for me, NOTHING beats the Android on screen navigation bar (I really hate the gesture navigation system in ios). I will probably get a Samsung though as they still make a smaller and very light weight option (the smallest S series phone). My last Samsung phone was the Note 2. Looking at the Google phones they are all on the heavy side for their size and after my last few phones (some were heavy, some were light like my current iphone Air), I only want light weight and smaller phones going forward.

Side note. My son is a die hard Samsung phone user and recently got a Samsung Smart watch. That thing is awesome compared to my Apple watch.

 

[Ctrlos]

I think I probably prefer the 3rd party apps on iOS but actually hardly ever use them. The reason I use Android is because the phone choice is much greater. If I get bored with a Pixel I can swap to (say) an S23 with about a £30 excess. Also about twice a year I really miss Windows Phone and on Android I can create a facsimile in about 15 minutes.

 

[Dave.UK]

Have not really cared to be on android for years and couldn’t care less about android I really like being in apple devices can expect more updates and I like how Apple related products work together as for iOS 26 it is okay doesn’t bother me like I thought it would and the iPhone 16e is not a bad phone in my opinion just really held back by the price which I agree is kind of unfair but this is Apple we’re talking about and Apple does not like to be seen as low end product seller lol

Does your Apple device not have any full stops or commas?!

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Does your Apple device not have any full stops or commas?!

He forgot to use his Apple magic keyboard

 

[Wide opeN]

Again I've been back on Android almost two months now, after a 10+year hiatus.

Android has closed any perceive gap considerably. I'm having the most fun and enjoyment I've had in years on Android and a smart phone in general.

I don't think I'd give that up right about now if I wanted too.

 

[ClaraStahlbaum]

How is security on the Pixel compared to Iphone?