Thinking about buying a new phone? The operating system is probably one of the first things that comes to mind. Should you choose Apple iOS or Google Android? Over time, each have amassed a devoted user base that has kept with them religiously. However, with ongoing innovation, the incorporation of smart voice assistants, and customization choices, it is becoming increasingly difficult to pick between the two. Ultimately, it all boils down to personal preference.Regardless, it's a good idea to understand the two operating systems and their characteristics before selecting one. Let us recognize that the two operating systems are comparable on many levels. They interact with touchscreens, run apps, and are extremely customisable. It is just a difference in how distinct functions are carried out. When you pick a platform, you are choosing the experience that it provides. So, today we'll look at how iOS and Android vary from one another.
Topics:
- Interface
- AppStore
- Features
- Voice Assistants
- Security
- Updates
iOS is known for its clean and simplified user interface. Even though iOS has evolved a lot, Apple has still managed to stick to the same home screen layout since the launch of its very first iPhone. Adding to that, you’re bound to get the same user experience and features, no matter what iPhone you buy. That’s one of the reasons users have stuck with iOS Apple phones over the last few years. The OS has an ecosystem that people are comfortable with. The app drawer is essentially the home screen. All the apps on the phone can be found here. There is not a lot of room for customization, at least in terms of the look. Even so, many users still prefer the interface because it’s well designed and simple to use.
There is another quick settings tab that can be accessed by swiping up. This is the Control Panel, which gives you quick access to settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane mode, Night mode, and others. Apple has also integrated a media tab here that gives you quick controls over media being played on the device. The latest version of the OS also carries app widgets. Widgets let you access features of the app without having to open the actual app. All the widgets can be found on the left of the homescreen. You can quickly look at your calendar, get up to date with the latest news, read your emails, and a lot more. You can customize widgets to your preference and need. You also get to access the latest apps you’ve used.
Android
Android is the most popular operating system. Almost 80 percent of the smartphones today run Android OS. That is because Android is an open-source operating system. Being open source also gives them the ability to tweak the OS however they feel necessary. This has led to a market full of Android smartphones that offer a diverse experience in terms of user interface.
Widgets are a big feature on Android OS. Unlike iOS, widgets may be put anywhere on the home screen. Android Widgets are also more intuitive. The ones I commonly use are the Clock, Calendar, and Google Search. There are the most number of widgets available here. You’ll even find two or three different variants of widgets for the same app, which makes the experience even more customizable.
On iOS, you can download and install apps from the Apple App Store. There are some two million or so apps across a wide variety of genres to choose from. When you open the app store, you’re greeted with the latest and the most popular apps. Apps are also recommended based on your preference. It’s important to point out that the App Store also carries a separate list of apps that are specially designed for the iPad. Apps are generally reviewed by Apple before being made available for download on the App Store. Because of this, most apps are of decent quality. There is less clutter, and the apps are also safer. Some of the latest apps are usually introduced exclusively on iOS, but you may also notice that they are paid.
Android
Android phones also come with their own set of Google apps. Google Play, Hangouts, Google Maps, Google Chrome, Gmail, and a variety of additional apps are available. These need to be synced together with a Google account. If you have a Gmail ID or other Google-owned services, you probably already have a Google account. Because people have used services like Gmail and Google Chrome for many years, it has become easy for Google to bring everything together in an Android smartphone. In a way, the ecosystem already existed; it’s just that an Android phone brings it together in one place. One of the advantages of this is that you can install apps on an Android smartphone remotely, using your PC or laptop. All you have to do is go to the Play Store (http://play.google.com) and push a request for the app on your device.
The Google Play Store is home to about 2.2 million apps. You can find an app practically for every use here. Not just that, you’d generally find more variations of the same app made by different developers. This is not necessarily a good thing, because the number of options can lead to clutter. There is plenty of competition, so apps are generally free.
Features
iOS
iOS generally comes with little bloatware, but there are still some proprietary apps that most of us wouldn’t use. In the new iOS 10 now, you can delete these apps if you want to. This gives you more space on the device and reduces clutter. iOS also features plenty of other features that make life easy on a daily basis. One of the few we like is the Raise to Wake. You can simply pick up your phone, and the screen comes to life, showing you all your notifications without having to press any buttons. There is also a split screen mode on iOS. iPads, however, make the most of it. It is possible to utilise two supported applications simultaneously. Not all apps support this feature, though. Most of the apps are proprietary Apple apps and some third-party apps. The split screen on the iPhone works differently. You can’t use two apps simultaneously, but in landscape mode, the screen splits the app in order to give you more information.
For several years, the Camera app has undoubtedly been iOS's standout feature. It allows the front and back cameras to capture high-quality images in a variety of circumstances. The camera app is user-friendly and responsive. You can even access the camera directly from the lock screen, ensuring that you don't miss any important moments. You don't need to download another third-party camera software because the camera app already has the majority of the functionality you require.
Besides that, the photo management on iOS has become really good. Through machine learning, the Photos app compiles all your photos in different categories beyond just locations and dates. For example, you can search for photos based on what’s in them—you can search for a friend’s name, mention water, or even the color red, and the app will show you all the relevant photos. Cloud storage is also an important element of iOS. The iPhone relies on the iCloud storage after the internal storage on the phone. You can use it to automatically back up all your photos, videos, and other files on the phone. You get 5GB of iCloud storage by default with the iTunes account you create.
Android
As previously stated, Android phones built by various OEMs have distinct UI layers, which might affect the OS experience. These UIs also provide their own collection of programs, which may not be particularly helpful but do take up space. However, with some of the recent phones I’ve seen, the number of unwanted apps is reducing. Most of the manufacturers are just sticking with the stock Google apps.
Android also provides a built-in battery saver mode, which reduces battery consumption in dire situations and helps your phone battery last much longer. However, the battery saver feature depends on the phone’s manufacturer. Many manufacturers load their own versions of the battery saver feature, some of which may work better in preserving the battery. One of the new features introduced on the latest Android 7 (Nougat) is the split-screen feature. This feature allows you to use two apps simultaneously, side by side. Not many apps apart from the Google Apps support this feature. This feature is now built into the OS as well, and support for many third-party apps is expected soon.
iOS - Siri
Siri is the voice assistant on iOS. Since its launch in 2011, we’ve seen it evolve from just carrying out basic tasks on the phone to getting you information from the web. Siri has become more responsive in the last few years. In most scenarios, when asked a question, Siri usually replies with a visual and text rather than taking you just to a web page.
Android - Google Now/Google Assistant
Android's speech assistant is known as Google Now. Its interaction with Google Search gives you relevant search results. Aside from that, Google Now can perform specific tasks on the smartphone, but it is not as responsive as Siri. For example, if you ask it to switch on Bluetooth, it will send you to the Bluetooth toggle screen, where you must enable Bluetooth manually. Google Now is accessible on phones running Android Marshmallow and earlier.
iOS
iOS is well-known for its security. Apple believes in strong encryption practices. They have even improved security by running all the apps’ data through encrypted HTTPS. They also manage the apps on the App Store, with chances of getting malware on the phone being close to non-existent. Apple has time and time again focused on making it better. When it comes to theft or losing your phone, iOS has a solution in place. It’s called ‘Find My iPhone.’ You can track the locations of your iPhone by going to iCloud.com and logging in with the same iTunes account as the phone. There are other features as well that include locking the device and erasing the data on it.
Android
Android was regarded to be the most prone to malware. However, in the last few years, Google has made huge developments in the security department. Like Apple, Google has also started setting up stringent security checks for apps before releasing them on the Play Store. Phones running Android 6 (Marshmallow) and later may also select the permission for an app separately. With Android 7, Google has also announced automatic security checks that scan the device for malware constantly. Besides that, some manufacturers have also been adding safety features by bundling antivirus apps. Android phones, like Apple iPhones, include a built-in tracking capability. It’s called Android Device Manager. In the event of losing your phone, you can log on to the Android Device Manager website using the same Google account and track your device. The option for displaying a message with your contact information and even erasing data remotely is present here.
Updates
iOS
One of the nicest things about iOS is that you get an OS upgrade shortly after it is released. Every year, a new version of iOS is released, and within a few days, it is available on nearly every iPhone. The majority of iPhone models have received the update. All the user has to do is download and install it on the phone. Throughout the year, Apple sends out software patches for bug fixes and minor improvements. It’s all fast, easy, and simple.
Android
Because of the fragmented market, Android upgrades are slow. At the moment only two percent of Android phones are running the latest Android 7 (Nougat). Most phones continue to run the earlier Android Marshmallow version, some even older. Only a few select phones, such as the Google Pixel and Nexus phones, get the update immediately, for the first few years. Other manufacturers focus on issuing OS upgrades for their flagship phones, and the frequency of those updates isn’t assured. Android is steadily working to address this, however due to the market's fragmentation, it may take some time.
So there you have it: an overview of two prominent operating systems for you. As far as I know, there are no wrong decisions here. No matter what you choose, you’re still going to enjoy the experience, whether it’s Android Phones' flexibility or iOS’ simplicity you choose. It comes down to your preference.