March 17, 2025
Find out if Apple or Android is the mobile for you.
What’s best is often decided by what you are mainly going to use a phone for. Both work pretty much the same – a home screen with your most popular apps, including games, utilities, a Phone app to make calls, a camera app for pictures, and a messaging one to send texts.
An advantage of Android is there is greater choice of manufacturers – Samsung, Google and Microsoft to name but a few. However, if you have other Apple products such as an iPad or Mac, then there’s the convenience of similarity.
We are going to have a look at the differences between the two systems.
iPhone
A premium product and priced accordingly. Apple has tight control over how the software and hardware work together. This has advantages and disadvantages.
One of the advantages is the iPhone is more secure than Android and that’s for a couple of reasons.
Apple supports end-to-end encryption in its apps. “End-to-end” means that a text message, for example, is scrambled on its entire journey between the sending device and the recipient. Android, generally, encrypts “in transit,” which means that information is secure while it’s moving but may be vulnerable on “stops,” like through Google servers.
Secondly, Apple controls downloads. One of the most common ways to compromise digital security is by downloading malware – software designed to steal information or affect how a device works. Apple works to prevent malware from appearing on its App Store, and that’s the only place you can get iPhone apps. In this way, Android’s openness and flexibility can become a liability. That doesn’t mean that Apple aren’t immune to threats, just Google “Apple hacked” and you’ll see a trail of issues. That’s why you should always update software when notified.
A disadvantage with an iPhone is that there are fewer apps available, approximately two thirds of those available on Google Play because Apple is strict about what apps it allows. Apple’s not averse to making some apps that were available to both systems, exclusive to Apple, so some premium apps may no longer be available if you are an Android user.
There is a seamless Apple interaction with Macs, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and other devices. For example, you can use your iPhone as a remote for your Apple TV. Or you can unlock your iPhone or MacBook with an Apple Watch. AirDrop lets you instantly transfer files and links between an iPhone, Mac, or iPad without creating an email. Other continuity features let you start a YouTube video on Apple TV and pick it up where you left off on the iPhone. AirPlay can let you share your Mac’s screen to an Apple TV or use an iPad as a second monitor.
Whilst Google services will work across all devices, unless you have a Samsung you won’t have the same compatibility across watch, tablet, phone, and computer. That is improving though as you can replicate apps like Whats App between computer and phone.
Android
As mentioned, there is more choice with Android phones as manufactures other than Apple, have to use the Android system and thus there is a greater variety in price.
High-end Samsung devices can cost as much or even more than an iPhone. At this end of the range, there’s little difference in quality between Android and iPhone. If you don’t need a high-tech camera or other features, however, a cheaper Android may be fine for you.
The greater choice of apps is a consideration, especially as apps become more sophisticated and useful. Android also has a clear advantage with Intelligent Assistants. Google Assistant the most prominent intelligent assistant on Android, is very powerful. It uses everything Google knows about you and the world to make life easier. For instance, if your Google Calendar knows that you’re meeting someone at 5:30 and that traffic is terrible, Assistant can notify you to leave early.
Apple’s Assistant, Siri, is improving but it’s still limited to relatively simple tasks and doesn’t offer the advanced smarts of Google Assistant. However, iPhone users who don’t like Siri can also use Google Assistant.
Conclusion
If you have other Apple devices, then it’s probably best to stick with an iPhone. You don’t have to go for the latest release (see our post on whether you should upgrade) and many find an iPhone more intuitive to use than an Android.
Android does have the advantage of more Apps and it’s worth investigating whether there are apps only available on Android that you would find useful.https://silverskys.com/tech/iphone-should-i-upgrade-or-can-i-improve-performance/
If you have a smartphone, you may find these apps useful.
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