Switching Between iPhone and Android Will Get Easier With New Apple and Google Collaboration

[MacRumors]

Apple and Google are teaming up to make it easier for users to switch between iPhone and Android smartphones, according to 9to5Google. There is a new Android Canary build available today that simplifies data transfer between two smartphones, and Apple is going to implement the functionality in an upcoming iOS 26 beta.

Apple already has a Move to iOS app for transferring data from an Android device to an iPhone, while Google has an Android Switch app that can migrate data from an iPhone to an Android smartphone. The new method will apparently replace the existing apps, offering a transfer function when setting up a new iPhone or Android device.

The collaboration will apparently add "more functionality" and support for transferring data types that are not available to transfer with the current tools.

Both Apple and Google are facing regulatory pressure around the world, with multiple countries scrutinizing practices that might keep customers locked into a platform. Making it simpler for users to transition from one platform to another will be beneficial to both companies.

Article Link: Switching Between iPhone and Android Will Get Easier With New Apple and Google Collaboration

 

[What_Is_George]

from the perspective of someone that has no interest in switching off of Apple, this is definitely a net positive for the whole phone industry. Making it easier to switch keeps Apple fighting harder to keep existing customers.

 

[NVDA]

Will Android ever get iMessage support? Only thing holding me back.

 

[vertsix]

This is actually a great thing. It doesn't matter what phone you choose to use (the fact there are options is already a good thing), being able to switch as you choose is a great thing and consumer friendly.

Everyone should be able to conveniently choose what hardware or software they wish to use.

 

[xmach]

from the perspective of someone that has no interest in switching off of Apple, this is definitely a net positive for the whole phone industry. Making it easier to switch keeps Apple fighting harder to keep existing customers.

It should also make Apple fight even harder to win over customers from Android, since that will soon be easier

 

[vertsix]

Will Android ever get iMessage support? Only thing holding me back.

Probably not, unfortunately. iCloud Photos should be as well, as that is a major anchor to iOS for a lot of people as well (or at least a convenient way to transfer everything seamlessly from cloud to cloud).

 

[sjsharksfan12]

Give Apple Music support to Gemini. I had to switch from Assistant to Gemini last night because I was asking for directions for Google assistant and I got the "This is what I found on the web" or I don't know. I think Google forced that issue on me.

 

[ChrisMac47]

The more sharing the better.

 

[macconservative]

The only thing I have had a problem with is switching WhatsApp. Not a matter of linking devices but issue when you try to restore a backup. Android only lets you choose Google drive and ios version only lets you restore from iCloud. If you are switching from ios to Android the transfer does work but not the other way around

 

[macconservative]

This is actually a great thing. It doesn't matter what phone you choose to use (the fact there are options is already a good thing), being able to switch as you choose is a great thing and consumer friendly.

Everyone should be able to conveniently choose what hardware or software they wish to use.

Especially when there are apps that Apple would still be able to make money off Android users

 

[SkyRom]

This sucks. I don't want anything to be "easier" for Google gathering information/data. Sharing = more leaks/backdoors. I don't want Apple getting cozier with Google, I want them to create compelling products and software free of garbage ads and bloat that make me never consider leaving the walled garden in the first place.

 

[pdaholic]

I just spent the last several months trying to switch to Android with the Z Fold 7. It’s not the data migration that was the difficulty…it’s the fact that many shared apps on the Android side are just inferior. They are often buggy or lacking features found in the same app made for iOS. E.g., my work scheduling app on the Android phone has to be restarted each day for information to be displayed, and some days it displays the wrong day; the same app works flawlessly on iOS. I love the hardware on the Android side, but the better functionality of Apple software keeps me in the ecosystem.

 

[ab2c4]

I have been really liking how things between the two have been going lately. Android and iOS continue to slowly but surely become more and more similar every year. I have an iphone but every time I pick up and use an Android its so easy as they aren't very different anymore, the way they operate is much the same now unlike 10 years ago.

 

[krakenrelease]

Will Android ever get iMessage support? Only thing holding me back.

There's support allready. You will get the message 🤣

 

[macconservative]

I just spent the last several months trying to switch to Android with the Z Fold 7. It’s not the data migration that was the difficulty…it’s the fact that many shared apps on the Android side are just inferior. They are often buggy or lacking features found in the same app made for iOS. E.g., my work scheduling app on the Android phone has to be restarted each day for information to be displayed, and some days it displays the wrong day; the same app works flawlessly on iOS. I love the hardware on the Android side, but the better functionality of Apple software keeps me in the ecosystem.

I use both as well

 

[robvalentine]

The only thing I have had a problem with is switching WhatsApp. Not a matter of linking devices but issue when you try to restore a backup. Android only lets you choose Google drive and ios version only lets you restore from iCloud. If you are switching from ios to Android the transfer does work but not the other way around

I think that's because google and Apple only let you backup to their own clouds. If I could back up to USB or google drive on iOS I would probably be back on my pixel by now lol

 

[NVDA]

There's support allready. You will get the message 🤣

Not without being hated by everyone else in the group chats lol

 

[Unregistered 4U]

from the perspective of someone that has no interest in switching off of Apple, this is definitely a net positive for the whole phone industry. Making it easier to switch keeps Apple fighting harder to keep existing customers.

The “rest of the industry” is Android. Folks get iPhones because they don’t want Android (it’s definitely not because they’re cheaper!). People that don’t want Android aren’t going to want Android just because it’s easier to switch TO Android. Because, you see, they don’t want Android.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

This is great for consumers! They’ll have the option of buying a product designed by a Big American Tech company, or a product designed by a Big American Tech company!

 

[falainber]

The “rest of the industry” is Android. Folks get iPhones because they don’t want Android (it’s definitely not because they’re cheaper!). People that don’t want Android aren’t going to want Android just because it’s easier to switch TO Android. Because, you see, they don’t want Android.

Do you mean these people do not buy iPhone because they want one? Just because they don't want Android? Interesting.

 

[HouseLannister]

But when will it move MVNO eSIMs without asking me to contact my carrier? That's the biggest pain point when switching/upgrading and needs to be 100x easier and more reliable.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Do you mean these people do not buy iPhone because they want one? Just because they don't want Android? Interesting.

YUP! Because, and here’s the part that may be hard to understand. People that want Android, buy Android. Why not, nothing prevents them. Those that don’t want Android, don’t buy Android. Well, I suppose there are a FEW that don’t want Android but buy it anyway because they have to have something to complain about in their lives.

But, yes, the group of people that buy things they don’t want (especially expensive things) is pretty darned small.

 

[IceCool]

This is great for consumers! They’ll have the option of buying a product designed by a Big American Tech company, or a product designed by a Big American Tech company!

Ridiculous conclusion that means quite literally nothing. It's not about where the companies are based, but rather the improvements they're making to make it easier to switch between OS and hardware. And I'm not sure if you're aware... but you have the full capability to buy from a Big Non-American Tech company. I hear some great phones come out of Korea...

 

[Mikep976]

YUP! Because, and here’s the part that may be hard to understand. People that want Android, buy Android. Why not, nothing prevents them. Those that don’t want Android, don’t buy Android. Well, I suppose there are a FEW that don’t want Android but buy it anyway because they have to have something to complain about in their lives.

But, yes, the group of people that buy things they don’t want (especially expensive things) is pretty darned small.

What about me.

I don’t want to buy Apple, but I do. Mainly because of family lock in and being tied to iMessage, FaceTime, and iCloud Photos with relatives.

I appreciate Apple, and you’ll pry my MacBook and Apple TV from my hands, but for me the iPhone is just so absolutely meh compared to phones that literally give you a tablet in your pocket.

 

[justanotherdave]

What about me.

I don’t want to buy Apple, but I do. Mainly because of family lock in and being tied to iMessage, FaceTime, and iCloud Photos with relatives.

I appreciate Apple, and you’ll pry my MacBook and Apple TV from my hands, but for me the iPhone is just so absolutely meh compared to phones that literally give you a tablet in your pocket.

This doesn’t help you because if you switch to Android you still don't get FaceTime or iMessage. All this does is allow you to move your data over. It doesn’t increase interoperability between iOS & Android.