iOS vs Android

Let’s start with an extreme summary and walk into the details.

iOS wins if you…

• …have other Apple products
• …want stability & security and don’t mind being a bit locked down
• …simplicity is a priority
• …want to follow the latest software available

Android wins if you…

• …live in the Google ecosystem
• …want freedom & openness and don’t mind a certain level of stability / security concerns
• …are on a budget or targeting a certain screen size
• …need customizable dashboards

Strengths of iOS

If you have or will buy other Apple products, iOS is the sensible choice. You will be amazed how well they work together.

If you require absolute stability (example: live stage usage), iOS is the better choice – it is simply more stable than Android. Besides; Apple reviews & validates each and every app on the market and disables them from accessing core phone functions. This limits their functionality, but ensures quality.

If you require absolute simplicity because you will buy it for an inexperienced user (elder / kid / cat) or simply want a no-hassle and intuitive device for yourself, you can’t go wrong with iOS.

Unlike most Android devices, iOS devices can be upgraded to the latest OS as long as the hardware supports it (means: a very long time). If having the latest software features is important to you, iOS is a better choice. This also applies to apps – because iOS is much older and more mature, many “official” apps are still iOS-only.

Strengths of Android

If you live in the Google ecosystem, Android is the sensible choice – all Google services are blended into the OS nice and deeply.

If you prefer freedom over stability, Android is the better choice. Android is open source. Its API enables developers access core phone functions, and apps on the market are not checked / limited by a 3rd party. Leaving security and stability concerns aside, the result is an increased variety & freedom level of apps. Android also gives you freedom over the device itself – you can directly access the file system, change the fonts system-wide and whatnot.

Android devices have a larger variety of prices and screen sizes. If you are on a tight budget or want an XL / XS screen, you will find more alternatives in Android world.

Android devices let you build dashboards on the desktop to fill up with unread mails, RSS feeds, social media, weather forecast and whatnot. Apple gave us the notification center; but if you dream about building your own dashboard to keep an eye on important things, Android has the edge.

Conclusion

Comparing iOS to Android is like comparing McDonalds to Burger King. Basically, both do the same thing but have strengths and weaknesses. I am an IPhone user due to my own needs – you have to find out what you really need and evaluate the alternatives accordingly.

In this entry, a non-jailbroken IPhone is assumed. If you have plans of jailbreaking your IPhone, you might be better off purchasing an Android phone.

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