Android vs iOS has been the biggest rivalry in tech industry for the best part of the last decade. Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS are the only two operating systems used in smartphones and tablets today. Windows is finished, period.
Android which is more PC-like than iOS in that its interface and basic features are generally more customizable from top to buttom. While iOS is more secure but less customizable.
The first Android phone, the T Mobile G1 (or the HTC dream in the United States) appeared in October 2008. The first iPhone was launched in June 2007. Since then, both these operating systems have changed substantially.
In this article, I will list the pros and cons of both iOS and Android as well as significant differences between the two platforms.
Android vs iOS – Comparison on the Basis of Features
1. Hardware:
Hardware is where there is a significant difference between iPhone and Android.
Apple makes iPhones, so it has a very tight control over how the software and hardware work in sync. On the other hand, Google offers its Android software to every handset maker including Samsung, HTC, LG, Sony, Motorola, etc. This is in addition to Google’s own brand of Pixel phones which were launched in 2016. This is one of the main reason Android phones vary widely in size, weight, features and quality.
Higher priced Android phones tend to be of high quality and fairly reliable while cheaper models may overheat, freeze up frequently or break. IPhones have also had hardware issues, but they are of high quality.
If you are planning to buy an iPhone, you just need to pick your model. While if you are going for an Android, you have to pick both a brand and a model, which can be confusing and overwhelming. On the other hand, if you think the other way, you also have a of lot of options to suit your budget, features and tastes.
2. Battery Life:
The batteries in early iPhone models required a charge nearly every day, but that no longer the same. In recent models, you can go 2 days at a time without needing a charge.
The case of battery is more complex in Android due to a large variety of models which differ in terms of brands, chipsets and screen sizes. Some Android phones have more than 6 inches screen and other features that burn much more battery life. There isn’t a clear winner in Android versus iOS battery life, however Android can deliver devices that works much longer than iPhones on a single charge.
3. Security:
If you are concerned about the security of your smartphone, there’s only one choice – iPhone.
The reasons for this are myriad and too long to completely go into here. For the shorter version, consider these two facts.
According to one study, 97% of all malware, viruses, worms, etc affected Android while 0% attacked the iPhone.
Even the head of Google’s Android team had admitted ‘we cannot guarantee that Android is designed to be safe….If I had a company dedicated to malware, I should be addressing my attacks on Android.’
4. App Selection:
Apple’s iOS used to boast of the best app store, but Android has made huge strides in matching it in recent years. These days, nearly every app you can think of is available for both platforms i.e iOS and Android.
However, iPhone still has a slight edge here, because the platform generally gets new apps first and these apps tend to get updates for new features more quickly. In a few cases, the iOS version of a given app can look better than the Android version seemingly with more care put towards the design.
5. Software features and interface:
Android and iOS both are getting updated regularly with new features which increase productivity and bring ease of access.
Historically, iOS was considered to be a more user-friendly operating system compared to Android. However, its not true anymore. Both platforms have become extremely polished and easy to use. But, in general, iOS is slightly simpler and more streamlined while Android offers more features to power users.
6. Digital assistants:
iPhone has Siri, Android phones have Google Now. Both do a similar job, but their capabilities differ. Google Now isn’t really a virtual assistant you can have a conversation wit, whereas Siri does at least try.
Both can be used to set alarms, reminders, get directionscheck cinema timings, sending text messages and emails using dictation.
However Siri tends to do a better role at understanding the task in hand and is less likely to dish up web search results.
