iOS Or Android – Which Operating System Is Right For You?

If you’re buying a new phone, then you’ll for the most part be faced with a choice of operating systems. There’s Android, and then there’s iOS. The former is a Google product which can be found installed onto phones by a wide range of manufacturers; the latter is an Apple product which comes exclusively on iPhones.

Which is best will depend on what you’re looking for. Brand loyalists might advocate for a particular model and make of phone, but for most people the decision is more practical. It is one which will have far-reaching implications, especially if you intend to own your phone for several years. Let’s look at the major points of difference.

Better quality control on iPhone

App developers need to satisfy far more stringent requirements in order to get their products onto the Apple store. Consequently, there are more third-party apps to choose from on the Google Play store, but those that make it onto the latter tend to be more functional and reliable.

Hardware Ecosystem

An iPhone is made to interact seamlessly with other Apple products, like Macintosh computers, Apple Watches, and iPads. If you’ve already made the investment in some of these, then it might make more sense to get an iPhone for the sake of compatibility. This partly explains why people become Apple-loyalists: they get tied into a certain set of products, and make it part of their identity.

Pricing

There are Android phones available at a whole range of price points – from the budget-friendly to the eye-watering. By contrast, if you want something affordable with an Apple logo on the back, then you’ll need to go second-hand. Just beware of the tricks that manufacturers use before you put your hand in your pocket.

Design choices

Apple famously excited outrage when it retired the headphone jack back in 2016 – and if you want to install additional storage into a new iPhone, then you can expect to pay a hefty fee to have it installed. With an Android, on the other hand, there’s often a Micro SD slot available. 

File system

If you know what you’re doing, then the Android file system is that much more approachable. If you’re using an iPhone, then you might find it difficult to establish exactly what’s stored on it – which can be a pain if you’re using the device as a portable storage drive.

Both iPhones and Android-based phones offer the ability to back the contents up to a cloud server. This will protect you against the loss or damage of the contents of the phone. Provided that you have appropriate iPhone insurance, you’ll be able to restore your phone to its previous state, whatever happens to it. Just remember to set frequent automatic backups to ensure that you don’t lose any of your valuable photos and messages.