Things you can't do on an iPhone

[convergent]

After a couple of months with a Note 8, following years of different iPhone versions, I continue to find new things I can do that make me more productive, which I don't believe can be done on an iPhone. I thought it would be helpful to start a list so people looking at alternatives can see what they gain.

Smart Lock - Just discovered this and loving it. I already like having different unlock mechanisms and use Iris and FPS together. But just setup Smart Lock so that when I have my Gear S3 with me, my phone stays unlocked. You can do this with devices or locations.

Samsung Pay - For those unaware, this uses NFC (like Apple Pay), but also includes MST which simulates a swipe on older terminals. In the US, this makes it work in most places. I rarely used Apple Pay, but using Samsung Pay most of the time now.

Home Screen Customization - This may not seem to be a big deal to iPhone owners, but I am loving the ability to move icons around. What's the point of a background image if its covered. I keep my icons on the sides, making a much more visually appealing home screen.

S-Pen - A whole set of functions with this... but two I love are the ability to jot notes on my Always On Display without even turning the phone on; and as a heavy OneNote user, having a pen on both my Surface Pro and Note 8 is a great combo.

What things are you doing on your Android phone that you can't do on an iPhone?

 

[michael9891]

What things are you doing on your Android phone that you can't do on an iPhone?

Putting icons on my home screen wherever the hell I want, bliss!

 

[Puddled]

Ooh. Where to start?

* File system. Quite how IOS users put up with IOS files is a mystery to me. It is a damn phone. Why cant i transfer and manage my own files on IOS?

*NFC.

*fast charge out.of.the.box.

*Multi tasking.

*Use Cloud services without $$$$$

 

[KingslayerG5]

Not needing to sync it to iTunes to move media files or delete a photo in an album.

File manager

Torrent apps

PiP

Split-view

Theming

 

[Roadstar]

What things are you doing on your Android phone that you can't do on an iPhone?

Split screen. I wish I could use smart lock, but as my phone is connected to work Exchange, Smart Lock has been disabled by policy.

 

[Tig Bitties]

Default settings. I should be able to chose myself which keyboard I want as default, or which browser.

Themes like a dark mode or icon packs.

Widgets on the homescreen

Group notifications

Real file system. I should be able to plug my phone into my PC, and use it as a portable hard drive, drag and drop files.

.apk installs, like using YouTube OG with no ads.

True ad blocker like AdAway that even blocks ads in apps and all browsers System wide blocker.

 

[Coxy]

Default settings. I should be able to chose myself which keyboard I want as default, or which browser.

This is possible.

 

[Tig Bitties]

This is possible.

Truly default ? Even when replying to a text from the lock screen using 3D Touch ? That pissed me off so much, when it wouldn't be the Gboard I set as default, but instead was the Apple keyboard. Like WTF ?

When I had the iPhone 7 Plus I used the Google GBoard, but certain instances the stock iPhone keyboard was forced onto me like when entering passcode or replying to a text from the lock screen.

My point I couldn't have the Gboard used 100% all the time every time, it was more like 90%. I want to set and use it 100% and never see the stock Apple keyboard ever again, but on iOS 10 they wasn't possible.

 

[Coxy]

Fair enough you got me there! I also use Gboard and do find the odd app or website password field (through safari) where it changes to stock.

Pretty sure lock screen text reply works fine though.

 

[KingslayerG5]

Ability to see my battery % without needing to swipe down on the right ear.

Ability to pick which toggles I want to see on the notification shade including the location toggle that iOS still lacks.

Ability to double tap to wake or sleep.

Ability to make third-party apps my default.

Video player apps with the ability to play different video codecs and give me background play.

And for a pair of 2016 LG flagships that I still use, ability to swap to a newer battery. With expandable storage up to 2 TB. Future-proofing my usage with them when it comes to battery and storage. Both can control my TV as well.

Oh yeah, I can insert any 3.5 mm headphone jack to all 7 of the phones I have without an ugly dongle I may sometimes forget at home.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

After a couple of months with a Note 8, following years of different iPhone versions, I continue to find new things I can do that make me more productive, which I don't believe can be done on an iPhone. I thought it would be helpful to start a list so people looking at alternatives can see what they gain.

Smart Lock - Just discovered this and loving it. I already like having different unlock mechanisms and use Iris and FPS together. But just setup Smart Lock so that when I have my Gear S3 with me, my phone stays unlocked. You can do this with devices or locations.

Samsung Pay - For those unaware, this uses NFC (like Apple Pay), but also includes MST which simulates a swipe on older terminals. In the US, this makes it work in most places. I rarely used Apple Pay, but using Samsung Pay most of the time now.

Home Screen Customization - This may not seem to be a big deal to iPhone owners, but I am loving the ability to move icons around. What's the point of a background image if its covered. I keep my icons on the sides, making a much more visually appealing home screen.

S-Pen - A whole set of functions with this... but two I love are the ability to jot notes on my Always On Display without even turning the phone on; and as a heavy OneNote user, having a pen on both my Surface Pro and Note 8 is a great combo.

What things are you doing on your Android phone that you can't do on an iPhone?

Along with what you have already mentioned .......... Using the Note 8

Call Recording ... This is invaluable for me. Sometimes I forget something that was told to me after a call, like the details to an appointment, location, and etc. It's great that I can use an automatic call recording app to replay the conversation. I use the ACR app. The iPhone doesn't have a true call recorder app.

Always On Display ... For the past several Samsung devices, I've been spoiled by this. I don't plan on getting future flagship phones without it. So if Apple doesn't implement it with the X Plus next year, then I'm passing on it.

Split Screen Multitasking ... Yup I actually use this often. And it's a shame Apple doesn't implement this for at least the plus model iPhones.

Dual Audio Bluetooth ... Works great, and both BT speakers will be in sync as long as they are the same BT version.

Dual Messenger ... Let's me use the same messenger app without using secure folder. I use this with Whatsapp.

Separate App sound ... I can play audio on a BT speaker and listen to a separate audio from the phone's speaker.

Taskers ... I use MacroDroid.

Change System Fonts

Oh yea ... almost forgot ... Gear VR and DayDream

 

[yui4]

Most of the above but something simple that I find invaluable on Samsung phones is the clipboard. For somebody who copies and pastes links regularly, I find it superb and really miss it when using the iphone

 

[Tig Bitties]

Quick and easy way to change ringtones and notification sounds. It should be a fast download and one click setting option all done on the phone.

And yes different notification sound settings. One for texts. One for sports scores. One for voicemail, etc...
[doublepost=1512343478][/doublepost]- Ambient display or Always On Display.

- LED Notification light.




Come on Apple it's almost 2018, not 2009 anymore. iOS needs a massive overhaul
[doublepost=1512346021][/doublepost]I've played with a friend's iPhone X, and will admit it's a seriously good looking phone, and very comfortable size, with an amazing display. The overall package is darn near perfect.

But...it runs iOS, and based on this thread, you can see things aren't where super geeks would like iOS to be. Not sure I could ditch Android and be happy on the X ? I mean from holding my buddy's X and playing around with it I love it. But real daily driver use, not sure how I'd adjust ?

 

[widgeteer]

Threads like this is why this forum has become awful. It’s just speed test YouTube videos and people obsessed with telling everyone how much they hate the iPhone.

 

[jamezr]

There is an awful lot of negativity from some.....

 

[macjunk(ie)]

Threads like this is why this forum has become awful. It’s just speed test YouTube videos and people obsessed with telling everyone how much they hate the iPhone.

Where do you see the hate? I thought this was as objective as possible. Just clearly stating what is possible in Android

 

[widgeteer]

There is an awful lot of negativity from some.....

We have a Note 8 thread. But instead of writing a post extolling the virtues of a favorite device, we needed yet another iteration of “I hate Apple more than I enjoy anything I own.” And yeah, I could ignore the thread but as a community member I feel I’m entitled to say my peace. This thread is designed to troll. Period.

 

[Tig Bitties]

This is not a troll thread. I like the iPhone X a lot, it's iOS I don't care for, but...Apple could make it so much better, just following a few things mentioned in here.

How can you not admit iOS feels crippled and could and should be better.

 

[convergent]

We have a Note 8 thread. But instead of writing a post extolling the virtues of a favorite device, we needed yet another iteration of “I hate Apple more than I enjoy anything I own.” And yeah, I could ignore the thread but as a community member I feel I’m entitled to say my peace. This thread is designed to troll. Period.

Why are you even looking at the thread? This thread is not about the Note 8. Did you even read it before starting to disrupt it?

It's in the alternatives to iPhones forum, and I thought it would be good for people considering an alternative to know what an alternative can do that an iPhone can't. You seem to keep showing up in every alternative thread with nothing productive to contribute.

There is nothing about hate here. I just bought an iPad Pro for my daughter. I don't hate Apple.

 

[convergent]

There is an awful lot of negativity from some.....

Just one.

 

[torana355]

Threads like this is why this forum has become awful. It’s just speed test YouTube videos and people obsessed with telling everyone how much they hate the iPhone.

Seriously get over it, ignore the thread if you don't like it. There are plenty of threads on how great the iPhone and its "ecosystem" are and nobody is complaining about those.

 

[jamezr]

We have a Note 8 thread. But instead of writing a post extolling the virtues of a favorite device, we needed yet another iteration of “I hate Apple more than I enjoy anything I own.” And yeah, I could ignore the thread but as a community member I feel I’m entitled to say my peace. This thread is designed to troll. Period.

Maybe...but some choose to participate in exactly what they want to complain about. It serves no purpose to post negativity in multiple threads complaining of the same thing. At some point the negativity and complaining becomes part of the problem.


Sometimes it's not the message but how the message is delivered.

 

[mi7chy]

Setting a different dialer or VOIP app as the default dialer.

Split screen multitasking that even a $50 Android device can do.

True background multitasking. I routinely SSH into my Raspberry Pis, IoT devices, etc. and need to leave the connection running in the background to monitor things. iOS' 3 minute limit is useless and not even enough time for a trip to the fridge and back in time to bring the app to the foreground before it dies.

No emulators without jailbreak or developer account.

 

[macjunk(ie)]

Setting mobile data limits is a big one for me. Android has saved me from monstrous bills more than once. Carriers are getting better at implementing data usage caps though but still.

Mentioned before but backgrounding is so much better. I feel this the most when I am downloading media onto my phone. If I move away from the app that is downloading , the download stops! iOS expects you to keep the app active until the download finishes.

 

[kasakka]

• Downloading apps from the app store over a cellular connection and not getting a notification that a download is too large. I have unlimited data 150 MBps LTE, why do I need to connect to WiFi on my iPad Pro again?
• Text prediction in browser address bar.
• Text prediction with the default keyboard in Finnish.
• Notification lights. I find this a very useful feature because if my phone is resting on a table I can just take a glance at the light color and tell what kind of message is waiting and if it requires immediate attention or not.