The iPhone from an Android Perspective

[tbayrgs]

For all that Apple has done wrong, they do a whole lot right. Using Android (Samsung) as my main and now only device since 1/2025, I sorely miss Apple's live activities. The fact that no Android manufacturer, and Google, even comes close is pathetic, tbh. There are promises to support more apps but that's all vapor to me thus far. Another one is password managers, it is still a mess on Android - I use Bitwarden. For some reason Firefox is just broken and the browser extension won't allow biometric log in. Samsung browser doesn't support Dark Reader extension or Bitwarden. Other browsers support zero extensions. I currently have 3 browsers installed on my Fold 7, though Firefox is still 99% functional. With Safari, which does support Bitwarden and Dark Reader, I just glance at my iPhone and I'm logged in or password filled, done.

For usual daily activities iOS is still supreme. Yet I still use Android because I enjoy it much more.

I have the same criticisms. Been living primarily with my Pixel 9 Pro Fold for a month and the inadequacies and inconsistency of browsers is a big frustration. When Chrome desktop is such a power house, how is mobile Chrome such a dumpster fire? I've been trying to live with it in place of Samsung Internet to have my web browsing synced across all my devices but mobile Chrome is just a hot mess. No extension support meaning I have to rely on private DNS settings to content block but then if I want to allow ads on a site I support, I can't easily white list it or one-time override it.

And autofill of anything is a crapshoot. Sometimes my 1Password recommendation will appear, often they don't unless I reset the autofill settings and relaunch Chrome. Performance with Samsung's browser is only marginally better. Bookmarks are multiple touches away and no bookmarks bar when using my Fold in 'tablet mode' (Samsung does this).

And I also miss live activities--don't notice it until they're not available. Apple Pay is also far more ubiquitous across the web and apps vs. Google Pay.

IOS and iPadOS don't necessarily offer the breadth of customization and functionality but the stuff it does well it does really well. I'm not leaving my P9PF behind because of these things but it sure would be nice if Google would dial it in better in some of these areas.

 

[tbayrgs]

What is "Apple's live activities" ??

I somewhat cursory and slightly outdated explanation but fairly accurate.

I would see order status, live sports updates, timer countdown, paid parking time remaining, live uber/lyft status updates, live weather updates (i.e. rain starting in 5 min and lasting for however long). Those are just what came to me off the top of my head.

 

[Ludatyk]

For all that Apple has done wrong, they do a whole lot right. Using Android (Samsung) as my main and now only device since 1/2025, I sorely miss Apple's live activities. The fact that no Android manufacturer, and Google, even comes close is pathetic, tbh. There are promises to support more apps but that's all vapor to me thus far. Another one is password managers, it is still a mess on Android - I use Bitwarden. For some reason Firefox is just broken and the browser extension won't allow biometric log in. Samsung browser doesn't support Dark Reader extension or Bitwarden. Other browsers support zero extensions. I currently have 3 browsers installed on my Fold 7, though Firefox is still 99% functional. With Safari, which does support Bitwarden and Dark Reader, I just glance at my iPhone and I'm logged in or password filled, done.

Have you tried Edge browser? It supports extensions... and I notice Bitwarden is available on it.

 

[Harthag]

Have you tried Edge browser? It supports extensions... and I notice Bitwarden is available on it.

Edit- tried Edge Canary which supports Bitwarden, dark reader, and ublock origin which is great. Bitwarden extension doesn't allow biometric login. It's an ongoing issue with Bitwarden that I can't believe isn't addressed. No issues on the iOS or desktop apps / extensions.