I've been with iPhone since the 3GS, but recently have become bored and disappointed with Apple. I think Apple Intelligence was a big let down for me and is what sparked my curiosity about moving to Android. I know this is an Apple forum, but has anyone considered or left Apple for Android? What has your experience been?
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Moving to Android
- Thread starter aYvYyyPhNa
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I have used many of each, iphone and Android. My advice is to buy a flagship android phone. Both operating systems have become more and more like each other over the years, I find it very easy to use either. With Android you have the choice to either use gestures like on iphone, or use the 3 button onscreen navigation bar which I personally think is the best navigation I have ever used. I don't use AI but everything I read/see online says at least with the Google and Samsung phones they are way ahead of Apple in this regard and its not even close.
Believe me I can totally understand the boredom with iphone/iOS.
Believe me I can totally understand the boredom with iphone/iOS.
Android is great. Circle to search and Gemini are so much better than anything Apple Intelligence offers. Clipboard history is something you never quite got on iOS and I sorely miss it when I use an Apple device. But I hate Springboard. Android launcher choices plus the app freedom to interact with the OS more than the iOS sandbox experience allows--it's magic. You can really dial in how the phone behaves if you want to take the time to tinker. And of course you have device choice. This summer we are getting a Nothing Phone 3, Samsung Galaxy Flip 7, Samsung Galaxy Fold 7, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold all within a two-month window.
Switching is easy if you use platform-agnostic services, but can be some work if you are very embedded in the Apple ecosystem... and it can be super easy if you already use a lot of Google services like Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Maps, etc. My switch back and forth is just changing an eSIM. Couldn't be simpler.
I still keep an iPhone, but I use it less and less. I like the camera better than most Android phones I have tried (I think Pixel images are flat and low contrast and OnePlus is way overexposed, but every camera has its fans). And even with RCS, I miss being able to edit my Messages to my blue bubble friends, since I am a horrible speller. I also like Reeder Classic and have not found a good RSS app on Android that works with Inoreader of Feedly and gives me full text by default.
Switching is easy if you use platform-agnostic services, but can be some work if you are very embedded in the Apple ecosystem... and it can be super easy if you already use a lot of Google services like Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Maps, etc. My switch back and forth is just changing an eSIM. Couldn't be simpler.
I still keep an iPhone, but I use it less and less. I like the camera better than most Android phones I have tried (I think Pixel images are flat and low contrast and OnePlus is way overexposed, but every camera has its fans). And even with RCS, I miss being able to edit my Messages to my blue bubble friends, since I am a horrible speller. I also like Reeder Classic and have not found a good RSS app on Android that works with Inoreader of Feedly and gives me full text by default.
I’ve used them all throughout time. Nothing wrong with getting bored and trying something new/different. See how you like it because Apple ain’t going anywhere.
I've been a Google guy for the past few years because I believe the software is best coming from the company who designed it. That said, I think Google is doing a great job with Android 16. I can't wait to see what the next version of Material You looks like when it's done.
Some things to consider when it comes to the ecosystem:
You can use 99% of the „ ecosystem“ features with an android too.
Airdrop: use local send or neardrop.
Airpods: every major headphone brand has multipoint connectable headphones.
Homepod: There are multiple homepod alternatives which are usable with android and apple devices.
Safari: You can sync basically every browser cross devices.
Clipboard: there are alternatives but this one is more or less a + for the ecosystem.
Photos: google photos.
Notes: there are multiple crossplattform note apps.
Messages: Google Messages.
Facetime: google meet and every other Messenger.
Calls: Google Voice but that depends on where you live.
Screen mirroring; never used it and isn’t available for me in the EU anyway.
If/when you switch, write down all of your passwords if you don't use a password manager app.
In a nutshell: iPhone is great for privacy, protection, and "feeling clean" (yes still).
Yes, It infuriates me how Apple has locked things down (puts millions/billions shied up when someone tries to fight back), doesn't implement things and keeps the iOS decades behind in many aspects (often that is their general incompetence at software than malice now I realize).
Considered? Everyday! I am an Android developer by trade (~15 years through and through) and this is what pays the bill literally. So I am sure you would acknowledge that I have really tried -- too many times
I couldn't. I almost always have a spare latest or second latest Pixel and/or Pixel "a" for testing (and I do use it quite a lot - but only "for testing!!!!"). I find them disgusting (pardon the use of strong word) to use because of many reasons - few here:
What Android is better at? Well, pretty much everything else and by damn miles to be honest. Technically speaking Android is simply superior!
In another nutshell: An Android phone is pathetic at privacy (and related stuff) but much much much superior as a tech product.
Yes, It infuriates me how Apple has locked things down (puts millions/billions shied up when someone tries to fight back), doesn't implement things and keeps the iOS decades behind in many aspects (often that is their general incompetence at software than malice now I realize).
I am new here but I think this concern would be on those /r/<apple things> subreddits or discussions.apple.com. So far I have not seen any Android hostility (or hostility when someone criticizes Apple or their product) here (maybe it's the moderation).
Considered? Everyday! I am an Android developer by trade (~15 years through and through) and this is what pays the bill literally. So I am sure you would acknowledge that I have really tried -- too many times
I couldn't. I almost always have a spare latest or second latest Pixel and/or Pixel "a" for testing (and I do use it quite a lot - but only "for testing!!!!"). I find them disgusting (pardon the use of strong word) to use because of many reasons - few here:
- Privacy and the way Google still lets your data to be "free for all" (even after tightened screws) and doesn't reign in apps as hard as Apple does (one example - TrueCaller refuses to work on Android if you don't provide Contacts permission. On iOS? Doesn't even complain. Too many more examples)
- Biggest - Google actually tracking every things you do or don't do on your phone and showing you ads for it - when you lift the phone, put it down, you breathe, you didn't breathe, you walked, you stopped, you sped up.. even if GPS is off at least to you! And having no way to opt out!
- This alone is THE DEAL BREAKER. Makes you literally feel "naked" always! This is a very defeating feeling. Makes you feel helpless in such a way.
- And still not implementing a "SOLID" "brick the lost/stolen phone decisively!"
- Force install those bloated Google apps and automatically logging you to them even if you don't want to use them (or use them w/o an a/c like Maps) because.
- A completely distracting UX (Apple is moving in that direction too).
- Ensh--ittifying the UX in such a way that - either you use a feature (with lots of crap) or if you use it the ensh--ittification sticks.
What Android is better at? Well, pretty much everything else and by damn miles to be honest. Technically speaking Android is simply superior!
In another nutshell: An Android phone is pathetic at privacy (and related stuff) but much much much superior as a tech product.
There are a number of users (not so much in this sub-form), who post on any samsung/pixel etc news post with pretty poor arguements on why iOS is better. I have experienced some hostility when defending Android (I have a S25 ultra, pixel 9 pro xl, and iPhone 16 pro (soon to be sold), so I like to think I have a good amount of balance. If my iphone hardware could run the pixel's software, then that would be my perfect phone.
Been out of Apple ecosystem for several years. IMO, Apple' hardware is too expensive especially recent releases of the iPhone. And, I really like the ability to personalize my android phone (S25U).
I see. I am new here so maybe I am yet to experience that.
And my perfect phone would be a pixel 4a/5/5a or iPhone Mini size phone (without the magically breakable material called glass except the screen) that runs Android with permission, safety and data control of iOS without the ominous and omniscience tracking by Google
Or I can just with the current Android on a small phone without Google tracking.
Anything you recommend with a Sony TV and Samsung Phone? I have the OG Homepod (Just 1) and I might be in the market to go with something else. The Homepod still works, but are there alternatives that actually can work with the Apple TV and Samsung Phone?
Look at the Sonos speakers for example. But there are multiple which Work with google Assistant.
I've been with iOS for over 10 years and recently switched to Android - Samsung S25 Ultra. I picked it up in February, used it for about 5 months, and now I'm going to sell it and move back to iOS.
I've actually started using an old iPhone 12 that I had and will likely pick up a 16 Pro shortly. The iPhone I used prior to getting the S25 was the 13 Pro which I purchased on launch in 2021.
While there is nothing wrong with Android, and I was using a flagship phone, I simply prefer iOS for a number of reasons.
I've actually started using an old iPhone 12 that I had and will likely pick up a 16 Pro shortly. The iPhone I used prior to getting the S25 was the 13 Pro which I purchased on launch in 2021.
While there is nothing wrong with Android, and I was using a flagship phone, I simply prefer iOS for a number of reasons.
Regarding pop-up ads on Android phones (Pixels and Galaxies as those are the only ones I could buy here in the USA), is there a way to completely disable or block ALL advertising or pop ups on these phones? I am considering switching to a Fold 7 or Pixel Fold but will not be happy to see any kind of pop up in the interface. I am not referring to the web browsing apps, but in the UI. Last android phone I used was a Note 9 I think. Also, the Samsung bloat... is that still a thing? Can you disable all the Samsung AI stuff? Or does it actually work?
99% is just set your DNS server to dns.adguard-dns.com.
The occasional self-hosted ad like those on IMDb.com can still get through, but can be squashed by using pretty much any browser but Chrome. I use Vivaldi, but Brave, Edge, Firefox, Samsung Internet, and more offer adblocking support.
(And you are not limited to Pixel or Galaxy. Granted, you want a folding phone, and those are the only companies making them here. But there are also slab phones from OnePlus, Nothing, Motorola, Unihertz, TCL, Blu, some ASUS and RedMagic, and probably others. You just don't some Chinese brands that are available in the EU/UK like Xiaomi, Honor, Oppo, Vivo.)
Yes and yes. Just about every Samsung app can be uninstalled or disabled.
I've made the switch as well, also had the iphone since the 3Gs. I recently purchased the Samsung S25 Ultra and it's great. I mainly upgraded for the cameras. As a photographer, the S25 Ultra cameras are among the best. Others have mentioned that the os is like ios and they are right. It's a very easy switch and a nice change. Now I'd like to move most of the music & albums from the iphone to my S25 Ultra if there is an easy way. I've researched it some, but need more options to read over. Has Anyone here on this thread successfully transferred music from the iphone to android??
The way I done this but it was a while ago. I downloaded all my purchased music with iTunes on a pc, put them on an SSD and plugged that into the phone and dragged them to the music folder.
It was a while ago but there might be an easier way now.
I also just use the YouTube music app to play them as it has a device files option.
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I've been back and forth a few times since I have no loyalty to any company and most of my files are with 3rd party providers. I will say if you're switching just because you're bored, you'll probably only find temporary relief by switching to another OS entirely. Once the novelty wears off you'll probably find yourself back to square one. Both OS's are mature and stable.