Other Would you ever switch to Android?

[ian87w]

Yeah I am a design engineer and outsource to Chinese manufacturers to make parts for us but a lot of our customers are actually stating they don't want Chinese parts going forward. The challenge for me over the past 3 years has been to redesign certain things to make them cheaper to manufacture in Europe. To be honest I am happy communicating via email with suppliers and don't want to mix business and pleasure. Having them as contacts on LinkedIn is far enough lol.

I hope you get a solution to this if Apple block WeChat in future

Off topic aside, I do agree with you that for anything related to business, email is and should be the one in use. The "paper" trail is easier vs a chat. I am having this particular problem here with us Indonesians. Thanks (in a negative way) to whatsapp, many people are just glued to whatsapp for all their communications, and emails are often times ignored. Sometimes I literally have to whatsapp the person for them to check the email I just sent.

 

[waldoputty]

Yeah I am a design engineer and outsource to Chinese manufacturers to make parts for us but a lot of our customers are actually stating they don't want Chinese parts going forward. The challenge for me over the past 3 years has been to redesign certain things to make them cheaper to manufacture in Europe. To be honest I am happy communicating via email with suppliers and don't want to mix business and pleasure. Having them as contacts on LinkedIn is far enough lol.

I hope you get a solution to this if Apple block WeChat in future

i see. yes sourcing is a big issue. with the covid19 startup, we are trying to avoid parts from china, but we are dependent on china for the most critical part. i told the supplier if sales go nuts, lets try to avoid logistics/political stuff by manufacturing it here. however he said his supply chain is in china so he is stuck even though his headquarter is in pa.

but when we partner together, wechat is necessary to keep the relationship, at least for me and almost everyone i know.

 

[waldoputty]

You would still be able to sideload it on any Android phone regardless. Just make sure you get the APK from an official source and you are fine.

This is why Chinese Android phones will not have a problem if the ban goes through. They do not use the Play Store in the first place.

This is one of the beauties of open source. Flexibility.

Although personally I predict if this ban does happen, Apple will coincidentally release a minor update to enable sideloading on Chinese iPhones. No way are they actually going to lose their second biggest market over political games.

thanks!

i think my odds are pretty good.
i say 50-50 wechat can operate in us as long as you already have it downloaded.
i say better than 50-50 that i can use it using a vpn if they try to ban it
so my odds are at least 75-25
after election day, i say 50-50 my problem goes away because politics go away.
after inauguration, i say another 50-50 my problem totally goes away
by feb 2021, that comes out to 93.75% for a good outcome

 

[waldoputty]

Off topic aside, I do agree with you that for anything related to business, email is and should be the one in use. The "paper" trail is easier vs a chat. I am having this particular problem here with us Indonesians. Thanks (in a negative way) to whatsapp, many people are just glued to whatsapp for all their communications, and emails are often times ignored. Sometimes I literally have to whatsapp the person for them to check the email I just sent.

i do the same thing.
i wechat my colleagues in china after emailing them to make sure they check their email...

 

[valinda]

Yes, I could switch to Android. I actually sold my 11 pro max on Swappa last month. I’m kinda tired of big heavy phones. Should have purchased just the 11 pro instead. Right now using my S10 plus, even though it’s big, it’s lighter than the pro max. It works just fine, and I really don’t need an iPhone, but I’ll probably get another one, regardless. I’ll see if I like what Apple offers in the fall.

 

[JagRunner]

The last Android I had was an S3 from 2012. I'm sure it has changed a lot since.

I don't get why people say they are trapped in an ecosystem. You are never trapped. You may lose some money and time switching over and it may be a painful process at first but you are never trapped.

 

[Hal~9000]

Switched to Android here.

Anecdotal, but after months of the same issue I finally got fed up with my iPhone 7 Plus being complete garbage at holding onto a VOLTE / data signal while driving to & from work.

I keep in touch with my parents on a regular basis and it is beyond annoying to have to constantly repeat yourself over and over, having to try and piece together what they are saying while their voice goes in and out, or having to hang up 4 - 5 times in a 30 min call to reset the connection.

I tried tried wiping my 7 Plus back to factory settings without success. I also tried purchasing an iPhone 8 Plus, which actually had a Qualcomm modem in it, hoping it would help with the problem, but it didn't and was promptly returned. I tried using FaceTime Audio instead of VOLTE without any success.

I also had the same issue on 2 different cell service providers (AT&T and T-mobile). I live in a really developed part of the United States (Orange & Los Angeles counties) so its not the cell tower coverage that's the issue.

Eventually I gave up and switched back to my Galaxy S10e yesterday. On the drive home I had a perfect conversation with no dropped calls or signal issues, while on the same route home that my iPhones would struggle at.

There are other pros / cons between the two mobile systems that I quoted below, but having a phone that can actually make calls without constant drops is something that I can't compromise on.

Who knows, maybe I'll come back when Apple starts using quality modems again (hopefully soon in the 12 series). Until then... I'm sticking with Android.

I have an iPhone 7 Plus (with a MBA, AppleTV, Apple Watch, iPad, and Apple Card) and Galaxy S10e (with Tab S6 and Galaxy Buds). I like both and having the ability to easily switch between the 2 has been great to quell the “new phone itch” I get every now and then. Samsung phones have some great benefits to me:

• USB-C ubiquity across all devices. It really bugs me having to carry multiple cords. With Samsung I only need one cord to charge all my devices which increases my happiness. Really wish Apple would get it's act together and use USB-C across its entire lineup but alas...
• Galaxy Buds have a much better physical design without the stupid looking stems sticking out of your ears the way Airpods do, and have the option of a more subtle black color instead of bright white.
• Samsungs “Super Steady” camera mode is amazing! Feels like you are recording video on a gimbal like the professional filmmakers do.
• Samsung Pay can be used anywhere (both NFC + Magnetic Stripe readers), unlike Apple Pay which is NFC only and still not ubiquitous in the U.S.
• Samsungs system wide dark mode is much better than Apples as it even darkens all websites. Nothing more annoying than using my iPhone in bed while my girlfriend is sleeping and then a website, which is bright white even with dark mode enabled, waking her up ***GGGRRRRR***
• Android devices get YouTube PiP mode for free, while on iPhones you either need to be jailbroken or pay $12/mo for YT Premium.
• Boost for Reddit app (Android only) is simply amazing, even better than Apollo for iOS, with the ability to filter what I'm looking for and seeing which which subreddit a particular post was cross-posted from. Since 90% of my job is downtime, Reddit is huge for me to browse various topics so I'm always learning new things or for tons of entertainment / laughs.
• I like how Android gives you much more freedom to things which aren't allowed on iOS such as moving wallpapers, default apps to open things, etc.
• S10e has both fingerprint and face unlock options. The face unlock isn’t anywhere near as secure as FaceID but it’s nice having both options.
• Samsung devices have much better sales (if you're willing to wait a few months), whereas the newest Apple phones rarely, if ever, go on sale if one has prepaid phone service.
• Android devices let you turn off WiFi / Bluetooth with 1-click from their version of control center, while iOS devices force you to go into the settings app and dive deeper to do this.
• Samsung devices feel more cutting edge and can seem like you’re getting more if you are a spec geek. Apple devices are much slower to adopt new things but by doing so are usually more refined.

Now for the features of iOS that always seem to draw me back:

• iMessage. This is my #1 reason for sticking with iOS as most everyone I know have iPhones and don’t want to download / keep track of a completely separate app just to have full featured text conversations w/ me if I’m on Android.
• Facetime. See above.
• Security Updates. Sometimes this can be a double edged sword if the new iOS update decreases your devices performance or battery life, but I'd always rather have the latest security patches than not. Apple delivers consistent security patches for 5 years. Samsung though is no slouch and has been fantastic with updating their devices. With Samsung you normally get monthly security updates for 3 years, then quarterly updates in year 4, then in year 5 security fixes for when critical vulnerabilities are discovered.
• AirDrop. Allows me to send whatever I want to my girlfriend without burning through our limited data plans or having the videos I send to her be compressed in iMessage. If I'm on Android I can do this when on WiFi via Skype or Dropbox but again its another app for them to download.
• FindMyFriends. Helps to know my family members made it home safe without having to bug them for a text. Google Maps has this capability but some of my family members understanably don't trust giving Google access to their location all the time.
• iCloud Keychain. Built into the OS and makes it really simple to keep my passwords secure. Auto fills everywhere I need it to and works better than Samsungs version (Samsung Pass) does.
• Privacy. Apple seems like a good defender of privacy. While I don’t feel uneasy at all with Samsung devices due to their Knox security system which they developed for business / government contracts... I still feel safer with my data outside of Googles reach.
• App permissions. On Android, apps can be very pushy w/ wanting permissions. For example, in the past the Chase Banking app demanded to have access to read / write the files on my phone in order to let me use it (it has since been updated to not require it). The iOS version of this same app does not. In general iOS apps ask for less permissions and also accept less while still letting you use them.
• Apple Store Customer Service. I haven’t had to use my Samsung warranty but if I did I assume I’d have to send it in and wait for it to be fixed and returned. With Apple I can just walk in and get a replacement on the spot, usually by a really nice rep.
• Apple Watch. Tizen smartwatches are a decent option, with most of the same features as Apple Watch, but it bugs me that they don't have access to Google Maps. I prefer the silent vibration patterns Apple Watch gives me to turn right-or-left via Apple Maps so I don't have the GPS talking voice continually interrupting my conversations.
• Kindle app Immersion Reading to my AppleTV via AirPlay. I have a tough time staying attentive to a book I’m reading if I’m only getting one input method (audio or visual). Kindle Immersion Reading to my AppleTV lets me get both pathways: following along visually while the book is being read out loud, all on a big screen TV. This feature has allowed me to read countless books I would have never been able to before as my mind would have continually gotten sidetracked or lost focus of where I was in the book.

 

[LFC2020]

The last Android I had was an S3 from 2012. I'm sure it has changed a lot since.

Not really, had a s4 back in the days, then a note 10 plus recently, kept it for 2 days before switching back to my XS max, android is still the same nightmare that is was back then.

 

[JagRunner]

Not really, had a s4 back in the days, then a note 10 plus recently, kept it for 2 days before switching back to my XS max, android is still the same nightmare that is was back then.

Yeah, I don't think I could switch. I like how my Macbook, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, and Airpods all work together.

 

[The1andOnly]

Yeah, I don't think I could switch. I like how my Macbook, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, and Airpods all work together.

This exactly. If I switched, I’d have to switch everything.

 

[44267547]

Ideally what I would like, is have an iPhone and an android device for personal use, just so I can experience both platforms, the problem is, I don’t have a need to have two separate lines with two separate phone numbers. I really wouldn’t want to flip-flop Sim cards between one device or another just for the sake of having a different phone. I used to do that in the past with iPhone models (The SE and 7 Plus) switching Sim cards and it gets annoying after a while.

 

[swarlos]

Yes. Switched from the original SE to Galaxy S10e 15 months ago, and have since switched from iPad to Samsung Tab A 10.1. I do like Apple products, but at the moment, they're either too big or too expensive for me. Having seen the new SE, I'm glad I didn't wait. I may go back to Apple in the future if they lower their prices/release something I actually want.

Um if anything Sʌᴍsᴜɴɢ is getting ridiculously expensive while  is actually becoming the more budget friendly option haha. Don’t get me wrong  is still expensive but sheesh come on the note 20 ultra starting at $1300 with an aluminum frame and gimped 120hz display

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Um if anything Sʌᴍsᴜɴɢ is getting ridiculously expensive while  is actually becoming the more budget friendly option haha. Don’t get me wrong  is still expensive but sheesh come on the note 20 ultra starting at $1300 with an aluminum frame and gimped 120hz display

What’s wrong with an aluminium frame if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[swarlos]

I have tried ... many times ... including recently. There are always some shiny features that get me to try Android on various flagship phones, but at the end of the day I'm painfully reminded again and again why I don't use Android.

Haha this has been me every year since the Nexus 6P launch. I’ve purchased numerous Android phones including the Galaxy devices to try and see if I could ever switch back but I get annoyed within the first few hours of this so called advanced operating system lacking little quality of life software enhancements that I promptly put my sim back in my iPhone and breath a sigh of relief.

One particular annoyance is Androids implementation of keyboard replacement shortcuts it’s freaking awful. Samsung’s is even more annoying as I use a shortcut to turn lol into LOL but on the S20 it says the shortcut and expanded phrase can’t be the same which makes no sense to me! Ugh LOL it’s little things like that which will keep me on iOS.

 

[ian87w]

What’s wrong with an aluminium frame if you don’t mind me asking?

He/she might mean that at that price level, he/she is expecting something more premium than aluminum, like stainless steel like on the iPhone Pro models. I'm sure the thinking is that Apple can make $399 iPhone using aluminum frame.

 

[swarlos]

What’s wrong with an aluminium frame if you don’t mind me asking?

He/she might mean that at that price level, he/she is expecting something more premium than aluminum, like stainless steel like on the iPhone Pro models. I'm sure the thinking is that Apple can make $399 iPhone using aluminum frame.

Exactly what ian87w said, for the price point it’s ridiculous that Sʌᴍsᴜɴɢ still refuses to use a stainless steel frame, they position the phone as a premium device but use a cheap metal. Sʌᴍsᴜɴɢ has never used stainless on their phones and I think it’s stupid. They could have done something different and cool by using Titanium for the Ultra since they’re charging out the butt for it.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Exactly what ian87w said, for the price point it’s ridiculous that Sʌᴍsᴜɴɢ still refuses to use a stainless steel frame, they position the phone as a premium device but use a cheap metal. Sʌᴍsᴜɴɢ has never used stainless on their phones and I think it’s stupid. They could have done something different and cool by using Titanium for the Ultra since they’re charging out the butt for it.

7000 series aluminium is not a cheap metal by any stretch of the imagination. It’s aerospace grade and often carries a higher price per kilo than 316 stainless steel depending on market fluctuations. This whole perception that aluminium is cheap when applied to smartphones is purely down to clever marketing and consumers who who nothing about metals buy into this philosophy. I’d much rather have an aluminium frame phone for its lighter properties personally and am happy Apple are willing to put such a premium aluminium at a cheaper price point.

 

[44267547]

This whole perception that aluminium is cheap when applied to smartphones is purely down to clever marketing and consumers who who nothing about metals buy into this philosop

Marketing? Mate, Apple doesn’t market their aluminum whatsoever on their smart phones (They do however on the smart watch, because they want to boast the lightweight/durability properties For the sport model). They may have briefly mentioned it during an iPhone keynote, but have never spent any extended amount of marketing, aside from the stainless bands and glass backing for wireless charging. They (As in consumers) don’t care in terms of what phone material is used. You’re playing it like they do, when they don’t. Most consumers don’t even pay attention to that type of marketing as it stands, for what very little exists to begin with.

 

[Xiroteus]

Using a Note 8 iPhone SE (2016) and an iPad 6th Gen

I like both. I do prefer Apples updates vs Samsungs two year updates. Moving files around Android is always easier. Apple works well with it's own products. I do like Apple for tablets. Have not used an Android tablet in some time.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Marketing? Mate, Apple doesn’t market their aluminum whatsoever on their smart phones (They do however on the smart watch, because they want to boast the lightweight/durability properties For the sport model). They may have briefly mentioned it during an iPhone keynote, but have never spent any extended amount of marketing, aside from the stainless bands and glass backing for wireless charging. They (As in consumers) don’t care in terms of what phone material is used. You’re playing it like they do, when they don’t. Most consumers don’t even pay attention to that type of marketing as it stands, for what very little exists to begin with.

They did highlight stainless steel as a main feature on their Pro marketing and its synonymous with consumers for being better because it’s on a more expensive product.

I wasn’t necessarily talking about all consumers in general, I was mainly addressing the poster I was responding to. It’s very clear when you handle both types of phones that the finishes are different. Consumers are dumb to most things tech nerds bleat on about but aesthetics are noticed on the whole.

 

[Velli]

I have an iPhone 7 Plus (with a MBA, AppleTV, Apple Watch, iPad, and Apple Card) and Galaxy S10e (with Tab S6 and Galaxy Buds). I like both and having the ability to easily switch between the 2 has been great to quell the “new phone itch” I get every now and then. Samsung phones have some great benefits to me:

• USB-C ubiquity across all devices. It really bugs me having to carry multiple cords. With Samsung I only need one cord to charge all my devices which increases my happiness. Really wish Apple would get it's act together and use USB-C across its entire lineup but alas...
• Galaxy Buds have a much better physical design without the stupid looking stems sticking out of your ears the way Airpods do, and have the option of a more subtle black color instead of bright white.
• Samsungs “Super Steady” camera mode is amazing! Feels like you are recording video on a gimbal like the professional filmmakers do.
• Samsung Pay can be used anywhere (both NFC + Magnetic Stripe readers), unlike Apple Pay which is NFC only and still not ubiquitous in the U.S.
• Samsungs system wide dark mode is much better than Apples as it even darkens all websites. Nothing more annoying than using my iPhone in bed while my girlfriend is sleeping and then a website, which is bright white even with dark mode enabled, waking her up ***GGGRRRRR***
• Android devices get YouTube PiP mode for free, while on iPhones you either need to be jailbroken or pay $12/mo for YT Premium.
• Boost for Reddit app (Android only) is simply amazing, even better than Apollo for iOS, with the ability to filter what I'm looking for and seeing which which subreddit a particular post was cross-posted from. Since 90% of my job is downtime, Reddit is huge for me to browse various topics so I'm always learning new things or for tons of entertainment / laughs.
• I like how Android gives you much more freedom to things which aren't allowed on iOS such as moving wallpapers, default apps to open things, etc.
• S10e has both fingerprint and face unlock options. The face unlock isn’t anywhere near as secure as FaceID but it’s nice having both options.
• Samsung devices have much better sales (if you're willing to wait a few months), whereas the newest Apple phones rarely, if ever, go on sale if one has prepaid phone service.
• Android devices let you turn off WiFi / Bluetooth with 1-click from their version of control center, while iOS devices force you to go into the settings app and dive deeper to do this.
• Samsung devices feel more cutting edge and can seem like you’re getting more if you are a spec geek. Apple devices are much slower to adopt new things but by doing so are usually more refined.

Now for the features of iOS that always seem to draw me back:

• iMessage. This is my #1 reason for sticking with iOS as most everyone I know have iPhones and don’t want to download / keep track of a completely separate app just to have full featured text conversations w/ me if I’m on Android.
• Facetime. See above.
• Security Updates. Sometimes this can be a double edged sword if the new iOS update decreases your devices performance or battery life, but I'd always rather have the latest security patches than not. Apple delivers consistent security patches for 5 years. Samsung though is no slouch and has been fantastic with updating their devices. With Samsung you normally get monthly security updates for 3 years, then quarterly updates in year 4, then in year 5 security fixes for when critical vulnerabilities are discovered.
• AirDrop. Allows me to send whatever I want to my girlfriend without burning through our limited data plans or having the videos I send to her be compressed in iMessage. If I'm on Android I can do this when on WiFi via Skype or Dropbox but again its another app for them to download.
• FindMyFriends. Helps to know my family members made it home safe without having to bug them for a text. Google Maps has this capability but some of my family members understanably don't trust giving Google access to their location all the time.
• iCloud Keychain. Built into the OS and makes it really simple to keep my passwords secure. Auto fills everywhere I need it to and works better than Samsungs version (Samsung Pass) does.
• Privacy. Apple seems like a good defender of privacy. While I don’t feel uneasy at all with Samsung devices due to their Knox security system which they developed for business / government contracts... I still feel safer with my data outside of Googles reach.
• App permissions. On Android, apps can be very pushy w/ wanting permissions. For example, in the past the Chase Banking app demanded to have access to read / write the files on my phone in order to let me use it (it has since been updated to not require it). The iOS version of this same app does not. In general iOS apps ask for less permissions and also accept less while still letting you use them.
• Apple Store Customer Service. I haven’t had to use my Samsung warranty but if I did I assume I’d have to send it in and wait for it to be fixed and returned. With Apple I can just walk in and get a replacement on the spot, usually by a really nice rep.
• Apple Watch. Tizen smartwatches are a decent option, with most of the same features as Apple Watch, but it bugs me that they don't have access to Google Maps. I prefer the silent vibration patterns Apple Watch gives me to turn right-or-left via Apple Maps so I don't have the GPS talking voice continually interrupting my conversations.
• Kindle app Immersion Reading to my AppleTV via AirPlay. I have a tough time staying attentive to a book I’m reading if I’m only getting one input method (audio or visual). Kindle Immersion Reading to my AppleTV lets me get both pathways: following along visually while the book is being read out loud, all on a big screen TV. This feature has allowed me to read countless books I would have never been able to before as my mind would have continually gotten sidetracked or lost focus of where I was in the book.

It's always interesting how different people prioritize. Other than wifi/BT also in iOS control center, I think your list makes perfect sense. You're not wrong for wanting those things you listed as Android advantages. However, for me personally, there is literally not one of them that matters to me (and where I live, the Pay situation is actually reversed), and some that I flat out consider disadvantages. On the other hand, every single point you mention as iOS advantages are deal breakers to me. It's the perfect list to explain why I use iOS, and would never in a million years consider Android.

 

[bwfcbecky]

Um if anything Sʌᴍsᴜɴɢ is getting ridiculously expensive while  is actually becoming the more budget friendly option haha. Don’t get me wrong  is still expensive but sheesh come on the note 20 ultra starting at $1300 with an aluminum frame and gimped 120hz display

I I would never buy a Note 20 or Apple equivalent because the prices are ludicrous, but when I bought my S10e, taking price and size into consideration, Apple's only alternative was the iPhone 8. The XR was far too big for me personally. I just thought the 8 was expensive for what it is when compared to the S10e and ultimately I felt like a change.

 

[Jon.Stewart87]

So I switched around the same time many did. When Apple released the X cycle of phones and the only alternative was the 8, I moved over to OnePlus. Considering moving back over because of the 11. Can grab one for pretty cheap on Amazon right now - and it's a 128GB international version for $699.

 

[quietstormSD]

I did rock a NextBit Robin as my main driver for about a month while I had an iPhone 6. It was ok, but not as polished as iOS. I would use an android as a secondary device gladly. But probably not my main driver.

 

[Expos of 1969]

I I would never buy a Note 20 or Apple equivalent because the prices are ludicrous, but when I bought my S10e, taking price and size into consideration, Apple's only alternative was the iPhone 8. The XR was far too big for me personally. I just thought the 8 was expensive for what it is when compared to the S10e and ultimately I felt like a change.

I agree. Very pleased with my S10e. I hope something similar is available 2 or 3 years from now.