Would you trade your iPhone for an Android?

[Black Magic]

No. Android is an inferior product and Google admitted to copying iOS back when the iPhone was released. Why own an imitator that is still playing catch up when you can own the originator? All of Android's features are "mediocre" user experience wise with Google Maps being the clear star. Google Now, Google Play, and others are "me too" services that are inferior to iOS options. iOS 7 Google Maps is superior to Android's Google Maps I have heard.

Also, the Android experience is not cohesive. Each phone feels dramatically different and you have 2 different email apps, calendar apps and so on. I don't want a gmail app and a email app.

OS updates and bug fixes vary across devices. I don't want to buy a new phone every year just to get the latest security updates and bug fixes.

Unless you want to troubleshoot your phone and tinker all the time, why go through the headache of the Android experience? Hand anyone at any age group an iOS device and they will be proficient day one. The same can't be said with Android.

 

[C DM]

No. Android is an inferior product and Google admitted to copying iOS back when the iPhone was released. Why own an imitator that is still playing catch up when you can own the originator? All of Android's features are "mediocre" user experience wise with Google Maps being the clear star. Google Now, Google Play, and others are "me too" services that are inferior to iOS options. iOS 7 Google Maps is superior to Android's Google Maps I have heard.

Also, the Android experience is not cohesive. Each phone feels dramatically different and you have 2 different email apps, calendar apps and so on. I don't want a gmail app and a email app.

OS updates and bug fixes vary across devices. I don't want to buy a new phone every year just to get the latest security updates and bug fixes.

Unless you want to troubleshoot your phone and tinker all the time, why go through the headache of the Android experience? Hand anyone at any age group an iOS device and they will be proficient day one. The same can't be said with Android.

Out of curiosity, in what way are apps like Google Now or Google Play are inferior to iOS options?

Although Android was retooled to be more in line with the design of iOS/iPhone in its initial stages and even beyond that, all these years later, why does that imply that it's somehow worse or behind now? Even a leader doesn't necessarily always stay a leader simply based on being the first some time ago.

 

[Troneas]

there is so much prejudice towards android here.


i admit android pre-ICS or even pre-JB if you are extremely demanding was a sub-par product, but it has made enormous progress over the past 18 months starting with 4.1 JB.


before i used to look at android with disgust and disdain, now i feel likewise about iOS 7.


JB and KK are not only extremely advanced, versatile and solid operating systems, but very fun to use as well.

 

[Black Magic]

Out of curiosity, in what way are apps like Google Now or Google Play are inferior to iOS options?

Although Android was retooled to be more in line with the design of iOS/iPhone in its initial stages and even beyond that, all these years later, why does that imply that it's somehow worse or behind now? Even a leader doesn't necessarily always stay a leader simply based on being the first some time ago.

I guess one example would be setting location based reminders. Last time I checked Google Now couldn't do that among other things but it's possible that Google updated it's capabilities.

While I hear what you are saying with the leader versus follower debate, I think the leader in this case has the clear edge. Apple designs it's products with a clear vision and goal in mind. Google it appears does not. Google mostly does "me too" features on the Android side of things just to catch up not to give you a better experience. A quick example of this would be Siri arrived then came Google Now.

 

[cynics]

No. Android is an inferior product and Google admitted to copying iOS back when the iPhone was released. Why own an imitator that is still playing catch up when you can own the originator? All of Android's features are "mediocre" user experience wise with Google Maps being the clear star. Google Now, Google Play, and others are "me too" services that are inferior to iOS options. iOS 7 Google Maps is superior to Android's Google Maps I have heard.

Also, the Android experience is not cohesive. Each phone feels dramatically different and you have 2 different email apps, calendar apps and so on. I don't want a gmail app and a email app.

OS updates and bug fixes vary across devices. I don't want to buy a new phone every year just to get the latest security updates and bug fixes.

Unless you want to troubleshoot your phone and tinker all the time, why go through the headache of the Android experience? Hand anyone at any age group an iOS device and they will be proficient day one. The same can't be said with Android.

I'm actually finding things to go back and forth as far as playing catch up. Notification center, control center, camera from lock screen (Motorola android devices) are a few things I missed going from Android to iOS back when I got my 4S. iOS now has those things and even now I still preferred Android notification center albeit I don't know what it's like now on Android. Something's I can do without like the live wallpapers I didn't care for or use in Android and now available in iOS I don't either which I'll add are extremely limited.

The multiple tasking in iOS's current form is nearly a mirror copy of how it was in android honeycomb.

I still prefer iOS but do like how some of favorite android things have come to it. I have no problem getting features regardless of origin.

Btw you don't need a gmail app and email app, just like in iOS. Just set up email to fetch your gmail just like you would in iOS. Or set up the gmail app and email app like you would in iOS. It's no different.

 

[BenTrovato]

I'm probably going Android next. Now that the NSA has complete backdoor access to my device, I can't see any reason to continue on the platform. Or maybe in 6 months I won't care anymore

 

[Black Magic]

I'm probably going Android next. Now that the NSA has complete backdoor access to my device, I can't see any reason to continue on the platform. Or maybe in 6 months I won't care anymore

Running to Android won't help you. You probably will make it even easier for them going to Google.

From the article, the NSA actually has to have your device for them to install DropOutJeep on it to access your data. Surely you keep your phone on you all the time so nothing to worry about right?

 

[JackieInCo]

there is so much prejudice about android here.


i admit android pre-ICS or even pre-JB if you are extremely demanding was a sub-par product, but it has made enormous progress over the past 18 months starting with 4.1 JB.


before i used to look at android with disgust and disdain, now i feel likewise about iOS 7.


JB and KK are not only extremely advanced, versatile and solid operating systems, but very fun to use as well.

I am basing my decision on past experience. Start with the Nexus 4. The phone would have been a year old for me in February. The thing had battery problems almost since the beginning. There were plenty of times when I would get it out to use an hour after arriving to work and the battery would be down to 50-60%. I unplugged it just before leaving for work.

Then there were the countless times the phone would turn on and start doing things in my pocket such as setting alarms and calling people. It would somehow get past the pattern unlock and just keep doing things until I felt it get hot in my pocket.

I have never had an iPhone do any of these things.

Second device I bought was a Nexus 7, 32GB Cellular. I was lucky if I could use the thing with a total on screen time of one hour over 16-18 hrs before it needed charging. I could actually use it for a total of 3hrs if I used it immediately after charging. After 3hrs, it needed charging.

I only bought the Nexus 7 because everyone said it had a better screen than the iPad Mini and I thought it could be a nice Mini replacement. Four months later, I bought an iPad Mini and wished I would never have wasted time on the Nexus 7. If I had bought the Mini first, there would never have been wasted money on the Nexus 7.

I have had the Nexus 4 & 7 listed in Craigslist for months now and have had offers for less than $100 for each. THat's practically giving them away.

Sold my white unlocked 16GB 4S for $300 a week before Christmas.

I had money saved to buy the Nexus 5. When it came out I didn't buy it right away though I wanted to. Then I watched YouTube reviews that mentioned the battery would be down to 30% or so after seven hours. I would be insane to put up with that again after dealing with the 4&7. I took the money I had saved and bought the iPhone 5S.

One of the greatest features that got me on the 5S was the Touch ID. It works so well that I use it even at home. If the Nexus 4 would have had something like this, it would have solved the problem of the phone turning on and running down the battery in my pocket. The pin code unlock on the Nexus 4 was annoying because not only did I have to enter the four numbers but then I had to press the return button. That's right, one extra button to push when I had one hand to do it with at my job and it was annoying so I used the pattern unlock.

I have never been more happy since buying my 5S and Retina Mini. I love the Mini so much that I spent $900 on the thing and got the 128GB cellular version.

I've even started reading books again because the screen on the Mini makes it so much easier and enjoyable. I tried reading in the Nexus 7 and I could never last more than 20 minutes or so.

I have valid reasons here for wanting to never go back to Android and they are hardly prejudiced. Don't even get me started on the apps. Compare the same app on Android as with the iOS version and there were rarely tablet versions for the Nexus 7 when there were iPad versions for years already.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Turn to the dark side?
Android is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.
Leave the apple ecosystem I will not. Unhappy I would be.

 

[Troneas]

I am basing my decision on past experience. Start with the Nexus 4. The phone would have been a year old for me in February. The thing had battery problems almost since the beginning. There were plenty of times when I would get it out to use an hour after arriving to work and the battery would be down to 50-60%. I unplugged it just before leaving for work.

Then there were the countless times the phone would turn on and start doing things in my pocket such as setting alarms and calling people. It would somehow get past the pattern unlock and just keep doing things until I felt it get hot in my pocket.

I have never had an iPhone do any of these things.

Second device I bought was a Nexus 7, 32GB Cellular. I was lucky if I could use the thing with a total on screen time of one hour over 16-18 hrs before it needed charging. I could actually use it for a total of 3hrs if I used it immediately after charging. After 3hrs, it needed charging.

I only bought the Nexus 7 because everyone said it had a better screen than the iPad Mini and I thought it could be a nice Mini replacement. Four months later, I bought an iPad Mini and wished I would never have wasted time on the Nexus 7. If I had bought the Mini first, there would never have been wasted money on the Nexus 7.

I have had the Nexus 4 & 7 listed in Craigslist for months now and have had offers for less than $100 for each. THat's practically giving them away.

Sold my white unlocked 16GB 4S for $300 a week before Christmas.

I had money saved to buy the Nexus 5. When it came out I didn't buy it right away though I wanted to. Then I watched YouTube reviews that mentioned the battery would be down to 30% or so after seven hours. I would be insane to put up with that again after dealing with the 4&7. I took the money I had saved and bought the iPhone 5S.

One of the greatest features that got me on the 5S was the Touch ID. It works so well that I use it even at home. If the Nexus 4 would have had something like this, it would have solved the problem of the phone turning on and running down the battery in my pocket. The pin code unlock on the Nexus 4 was annoying because not only did I have to enter the four numbers but then I had to press the return button. That's right, one extra button to push when I had one hand to do it with at my job and it was annoying so I used the pattern unlock.

I have never been more happy since buying my 5S and Retina Mini. I love the Mini so much that I spent $900 on the thing and got the 128GB cellular version.

I've even started reading books again because the screen on the Mini makes it so much easier and enjoyable. I tried reading in the Nexus 7 and I could never last more than 20 minutes or so.

I have valid reasons here for wanting to never go back to Android and they are hardly prejudiced. Don't even get me started on the apps. Compare the same app on Android as with the iOS version and there were rarely tablet versions for the Nexus 7 when there were iPad versions for years already.

fair enough.


there is no denying that the iphone has a much better resale value than any android phone. that alone is one of the reasons people buy them in the first place.

android upgrades are now being issued faster than before (especially if you have a GE or unlocked edition), probably because manufacturers have finally realised its in their best interest to do so.



myself personally did not experience any battery problems (certainly not any worse than my previous iphone 4S) with my HTC One - which shipped with 4.1.2 and has been updated to KK for almost two months now.

 

[Wuiffi]

I've had android devices, and while they were awesome at the brginning they all started to get laggy and non got any update (that's why I switched from Htc to an iPhone 5). Right now the germen tech site computerbase reports, that neither the HTC one nor the one x (whoch was released nov 2012) will get anymore updates (means they are stuck on 4.2).
while I hope that this is not true it shows my main concern with android. while you may get the latest and greatest you only get it for a short period of time. güthe you and your device will be forgotten

 

[Troneas]

I've had android devices, and while they were awesome at the brginning they all started to get laggy and non got any update (that's why I switched from Htc to an iPhone 5). Right now the germen tech site computerbase reports, that neither the HTC one nor the one x (whoch was released nov 2012) will get anymore updates (means they are stuck on 4.2).
while I hope that this is not true it shows my main concern with android. while you may get the latest and greatest you only get it for a short period of time. güthe you and your device will be forgotten

i can tell you right now that that is not true.


my htc one unlocked is running 4.4 since november and HTC has announced that US carrier phones will be getting 4.4.2 this month. i am too expecting that upgrade soon as well.


i haven't been following the one x but i read somewhere recently it was getting JB 4.3 pushed as well.


can't tell you what is happening in germany but HTC has supported KK for the HTC One and has already been pushed to many phones around the globe. if you do not get it in your country (which is extremely unlikely) its because your carrier delays.

 

[Wuiffi]

i can tell you right now that that is not true.


my htc one unlocked is running 4.4 since november and HTC has announced that US carrier phones will be getting 4.4.2 this month. i am too expecting that upgrade soon as well.


i haven't been following the one x but i read somewhere recently it was getting JB 4.3 pushed as well.


can't tell you what is happening in germany but HTC has supported KK for the HTC One and has already been pushed to many phones around the globe. if you do not get it in your country (which is extremely unlikely) its because your carrier delays.

I am sorry I made a mistake (happens on those touchscreens). not the HTC One but the One X and. one X+ won't get updates. for everyone speaking german here is the link http://www.computerbase.de/news/2014-01/htc-one-x-und-one-x-plus-erhalten-keine-updates-mehr/

----------

and here is the ars article about the One X and One X+ beeing stuck on 4.2
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/01/htc-one-x-and-one-x-will-not-receive-kitkat-stuck-on-android-4-2-forever/

 

[cynics]

I've had android devices, and while they were awesome at the brginning they all started to get laggy and non got any update (that's why I switched from Htc to an iPhone 5). Right now the germen tech site computerbase reports, that neither the HTC one nor the one x (whoch was released nov 2012) will get anymore updates (means they are stuck on 4.2).

while I hope that this is not true it shows my main concern with android. while you may get the latest and greatest you only get it for a short period of time. güthe you and your device will be forgotten

Just to note on the updates. Android updates core apps independently of the OS. So if you treat the OS as an app launcher the phone itself stays very much up to date. There is no need for an OS update for Google to add a feature to Google maps or to fix a security problem with the browser.

Android being open source gives a lot of power to the phone manufacturers but in the end you get surprisingly similar results to what Apple does with iOS.

Some will say, "Well that maybe the case but you don't get features added to the OS itself". That is true however lets say for example you have an Android phone that the manufacturer stopped updating the OS and your Android phone didn't get Google Now. How is that any different then the iPhone 4 not getting Siri, or native navigation, or my 4S not getting AirDrop, etc?

Aside from a pretty little version 4.4 (or whatever the latest Android is) in the about settings they are very similar. People get too hung up on running the latest version of Android for no reason.

 

[Black Magic]

Just to note on the updates. Android updates core apps independently of the OS. So if you treat the OS as an app launcher the phone itself stays very much up to date. There is no need for an OS update for Google to add a feature to Google maps or to fix a security problem with the browser.

Android being open source gives a lot of power to the phone manufacturers but in the end you get surprisingly similar results to what Apple does with iOS.

Some will say, "Well that maybe the case but you don't get features added to the OS itself". That is true however lets say for example you have an Android phone that the manufacturer stopped updating the OS and your Android phone didn't get Google Now. How is that any different then the iPhone 4 not getting Siri, or native navigation, or my 4S not getting AirDrop, etc?

Aside from a pretty little version 4.4 (or whatever the latest Android is) in the about settings they are very similar. People get too hung up on running the latest version of Android for no reason.

Not sure i agree with this. While Google may update key apps individually, it still would be nice to address the bug that may affect battery life or have that security update addressed without purchasing a new phone. When you look at iOS as a whole, yes older phones didn't get all the features but they got a better and more secure OS. Find my phone is one such example of why OS updates are welcomed.

 

[Wuiffi]

Just to note on the updates. Android updates core apps independently of the OS. So if you treat the OS as an app launcher the phone itself stays very much up to date. There is no need for an OS update for Google to add a feature to Google maps or to fix a security problem.

yes, that is right now, above Ice cream sandwich, but "back then" (we are talking froyo times) there were essentiell things like wifi tethering missing. You knew googles added it to the latest OS and you just wouldn't get it (even if you had a very good device).
I allways stayed informed about the latest android devices (especially the nexus 5 and HTC One i like), but stories like the one about the updates of the. one X and X+ bring back the bad memory (at first a was a real android fan).

 

[sixrom]

My love of choices is the only reason I still have my iPhone 5S as my backup smartphone. I will not abandon Apple after years of joy and great productivity with my MBP's, MBA's and such.

In fact it's thanks to my tiny iPhone that drove me to Android so I could enjoy the spacious display and fun lightning fast and accurate Swype keyboard.

Perhaps Apple will build something relevant in the larger form factor. If not I'm delighted with what my Nexus 5 does. The fact that it syncs and fits in so easily with my Apple ecosystem is a big bonus.

 

[T5BRICK]

yes, that is right now, above Ice cream sandwich, but "back then" (we are talking froyo times) there were essentiell things like wifi tethering missing. You knew googles added it to the latest OS and you just wouldn't get it (even if you had a very good device).
I allways stayed informed about the latest android devices (especially the nexus 5 and HTC One i like), but stories like the one about the updates of the. one X and X+ bring back the bad memory (at first a was a real android fan).

FroYo came out in May 2010, and the last update was in November 2011. It was released when iOS 3 and 4 were still around(iOS 5 was released in October 2011 as well). you ought to be comparing it to hardware and operating systems released around the same time.

HTC has a pretty poor track record for updating their devices, but the HTC One seems to be kept up to date very well so far.

 

[dragon671556]

I seriously doubt I will ever go back to an Android device. My first smartphone was the Motorola Atrix 4g...pretty good phone liked to restart itself...a lot. It kept a good signal and had pretty good battery life. It locked up a couple of times on me had to do hard resets a couple of times.

April 2013 I decided to get the 4s. I haven't had any trouble other than a strange battery drain issue I'm currently experiencing.

Google purchased Motorola and promised Atrix 4g owners the ICS update...which the Atrix was more than capable of running btw. People had already jailbroken their Atrix and had ICS ROMs running on Atrix. Google and Motorola removed that statement from their website and denied it happened. So I said good bye to Motorola and Google.

At least with IOS I know that more than likely I'll get updates especially security updates that Atrix was denied. Safer apps and most of the time pretty apps. I liked being able to customize my Atrix a bit more and it was easier to transfer music, audio books and stuff over. But I can learn and adapt pretty quick and plus my niece who texts me alot uses an Iphone and since I have an old texting plan from ATT (200 texts for $5) Iphone works best for me.

 

[cynics]

Would you trade your iphone for an android?

Not sure i agree with this. While Google may update key apps individually, it still would be nice to address the bug that may affect battery life or have that security update addressed without purchasing a new phone. When you look at iOS as a whole, yes older phones didn't get all the features but they got a better and more secure OS. Find my phone is one such example of why OS updates are welcomed.

Exploitable security issues are in apps not the OS level and those apps are fixed as frequently as iOS app if not more so. At the OS level there will always be security holes an exploits, heard of jailbreaking? And actually Android phones with locked boot loaders are more difficult to exploit then iOS has been since the JB community has been able to JB near all versions of iOS.

Battery life? Meh, I've yet to run a version of Android that was better/worse then the next. To me it's like the massive battery problems with iOS 7.0.4 that I do not suffer from. Apparently 7.1 is better but I can bet you a buck there will be a hundred "Bad battery life 7.1!!" threads just like every version of iOS has, which again I've yet to suffer from. Notice the poster above me having battery problems, should we blame that on the version of iOS he's running?

Find iPhone is great. Compared to certain Android apps it's a toy. Cerberus for example, can do all sorts of stuff. You can record/hear from the microphone, lock unauthorized sim, it works without a sim, gps can be activated by a mere text message, you can wipe the phone and still track it. It's very impressive.

Regardless, I never found much merit with the whole upgrade thing. The only time I could see an update being annoying is when a certain carrier (Verizon) is withholding an update while people with the same phone on a different carrier get the update.

 

[cdmoore74]

I did just that with my iPhone 5s to a Note 3. But before the 5s I was already a Android user for 4 years with a Droid OG, Droid X, Galaxy Nexus and Note 2 under my belt. I wanted to give Apple a try but I could not hang. There are days when I miss the build quality and size but I never felt at home with it. Android is so much more flexible for what I want to do. Being able to plug my phone into my computer to access my sd card without silly software is such a basic concept. Felt like a prisoner with iTunes.

 

[JackieInCo]

I did just that with my iPhone 5s to a Note 3. But before the 5s I was already a Android user for 4 years with a Droid OG, Droid X, Galaxy Nexus and Note 2 under my belt. I wanted to give Apple a try but I could not hang. There are days when I miss the build quality and size but I never felt at home with it. Android is so much more flexible for what I want to do. Being able to plug my phone into my computer to access my sd card without silly software is such a basic concept. Felt like a prisoner with iTunes.

I always had to use Android File Transfer to transfer anything to my Nexus 4 and 7. There was no other way. Not so free huh?

 

[DiCaprioAngel]

Definitely not. The only reason why I went with the iPhone 5 because the screen size is perfect and I like the IOS. Android phones are too big for my taste and I just don't like the look of the OS. That's just me, though. My boyfriend has a Samsung Galaxy S4, but I'm still drawn to my iPhone. Nothing else like it for me.

 

[MacLappy]

I almost did this time for the galaxy note 3. Was at the Sammy store holding a white unit when I had that sickening feeling in the pit of my tummy with a sudden memory influx of all the bad experiences with android in the past. Promptly put the note 3 back and got at iPhone 5S instead.

 

[evorc]

Would you trade your iphone for any android phone ? Only serious answers please , no arguments needed just honest opinions !

In short ***** no!!!