Jumping Ship: 5 iPhone features I would consider leaving Android for

[Premium1]

So everyone has their preferences but some of these seem pretty accurate. 5 iPhone Features I Would Consider Leaving Android For

1. Imessage
2. Airdrop
3. Handoff
4. Apple Pay
5. Timely and consistent updates.

 

[SpookDroid]

iMessage I get (and yes, that's a very compelling reason to 'jump ship' for many just because it's so ubiquitous, although better alternative services exist). Handoff is nice, but also with Android alternatives (although not as effective and 'clean' as Apple's and how tied they are to their own ecosystem).

Airdrop is definitely NOT a feature I'd jump for, especially since you have SO MANY MORE options (including Airdrop-like features) to do that and more in Android. Not sure what the author of the original article has been doing, but it's super easy to do on Android, and it works across way more devices than it does on the very closed iWorld.

Apple Pay, come on! Are you kidding me? Samsung Pay is so much better, Android Pay is just about the same (with even more card support) as Apple Pay. The first works nearly everywhere and the latter will work wherever Apple Pay works, so nope, Apple Pay is NOT a feature I'd jump for. AT ALL. If you haven't yet, try Samsung Pay. THAT'S a payment system worth jumping for (but make sure you try it in 'normal' terminals, then you'll see).

Updates are getting better on Android, but yeah, they're not as 'good' as Apple's, but only because how tight Apple keeps their OS. Also, you get the same OS (for better or worse) no matter what device you're using... which means your iPhone looks and feels the same (let's be honest, it does) as it did 10 years ago. Android gets customization galore, but at a cost of update delays from tinkering. No free lunch.

A BIG feature, however, that always has me on the edge of 'switching' is precisely that: Switching...devices. On Android you don't get nearly as good as Apple. iPhones do that so well, hands down. Back up old device, fire up new one, restore...done. Files, apps, saves, settings. Everything is there. No 15 different apps and services needed. Android does have A LOT of work to do there. If Google wants to be cloud-centric, then they need to force all apps to keep cloud saves.

 

[Premium1]

iMessage I get (and yes, that's a very compelling reason to 'jump ship' for many just because it's so ubiquitous, although better alternative services exist). Handoff is nice, but also with Android alternatives (although not as effective and 'clean' as Apple's and how tied they are to their own ecosystem).

Airdrop is definitely NOT a feature I'd jump for, especially since you have SO MANY MORE options (including Airdrop-like features) to do that and more in Android. Not sure what the author of the original article has been doing, but it's super easy to do on Android, and it works across way more devices than it does on the very closed iWorld.

Apple Pay, come on! Are you kidding me? Samsung Pay is so much better, Android Pay is just about the same (with even more card support) as Apple Pay. The first works nearly everywhere and the latter will work wherever Apple Pay works, so nope, Apple Pay is NOT a feature I'd jump for. AT ALL. If you haven't yet, try Samsung Pay. THAT'S a payment system worth jumping for (but make sure you try it in 'normal' terminals, then you'll see).

Updates are getting better on Android, but yeah, they're not as 'good' as Apple's, but only because how tight Apple keeps their OS. Also, you get the same OS (for better or worse) no matter what device you're using... which means your iPhone looks and feels the same (let's be honest, it does) as it did 10 years ago. Android gets customization galore, but at a cost of update delays from tinkering. No free lunch.

A BIG feature, however, that always has me on the edge of 'switching' is precisely that: Switching...devices. On Android you don't get nearly as good as Apple. iPhones do that so well, hands down. Back up old device, fire up new one, restore...done. Files, apps, saves, settings. Everything is there. No 15 different apps and services needed. Android does have A LOT of work to do there. If Google wants to be cloud-centric, then they need to force all apps to keep cloud saves.

Agree on switching Apple makes it so easy

 

[L0n3N1nja]

The first 4 things I get similar from Samsung/Verizon, they just have different names and slightly different functionality.

Updates, honestly after working at Verizon for 4 years i feel Apple pushes updates without testing them, they fix bugs and add new ones. I've never cared I don't have the latest Version of Android right away, Samsung has more features than stock anyway and I get regular security updates.

 

[L0n3N1nja]

Single best thing about iPhone is when you back up and restore from iCloud, it's so complete you can't even tell the phone was reset. However being a computer geek that's formatted dozens of computers doing little for back up I get by without it, but it is really convenient.

 

[SpookDroid]

Samsung has more features than stock anyway and I get regular security updates.

Now... but a couple years ago this wasn't the case. And truth be told, even Sammy phones fall out of the regular security update schedule as soon as the next Galaxy is released.

 

[belodion]

Here's my list of reasons:

1) A high-quality small phone.

 

[Premium1]

Here's my list of reasons:

1) A high-quality small phone.

Android has pretty much abandoned the small phone (flagship) segment anymore.

 

[cal60]

Android has pretty much abandoned the small phone (flagship) segment anymore.

Really can't understand why android has done this - sure I can see that many people want a larger phone but surely there is still a sizeable grouping who prefer smaller

 

[hallux]

Apple Pay, come on! Are you kidding me? Samsung Pay is so much better, Android Pay is just about the same (with even more card support) as Apple Pay. The first works nearly everywhere and the latter will work wherever Apple Pay works, so nope, Apple Pay is NOT a feature I'd jump for. AT ALL. If you haven't yet, try Samsung Pay. THAT'S a payment system worth jumping for (but make sure you try it in 'normal' terminals, then you'll see).

Yup, pretty much if Apple Pay works, Android Pay will as well. I don't see Apple Pay (in B&M stores anyway) to be a reason to switch if you have a device that supports Android Pay.

Updates are getting better on Android, but yeah, they're not as 'good' as Apple's, but only because how tight Apple keeps their OS. Also, you get the same OS (for better or worse) no matter what device you're using... which means your iPhone looks and feels the same (let's be honest, it does) as it did 10 years ago. Android gets customization galore, but at a cost of update delays from tinkering. No free lunch.

There's one point you missed. On iPhone you need to wait for a full OS update for updates to any of the core apps (contacts, calendar, notes, MAIL, etc). On Android, Google has broken all of those equivalent apps into the Play Store and can update them independently of the OS. So, while the core OS may remain the same, those apps are seeing security and feature updates all along.

Also - the OS updates are only lagging on non-Google devices and that is in no way Android or Google's fault, that lies ENTIRELY with the manufacturer. People need to do their research, if they want updates quickly - they should get a Google-branded device as those are essentially the iPhone equivalent when it comes to updates. People complaining about lack of Android updates after 2 years - just look at how many features of the new OS are NOT available on a 2+ year-old iPhone...

 

[Premium1]

Really can't understand why android has done this - sure I can see that many people want a larger phone but surely there is still a sizeable grouping who prefer smaller

I think Google should do something to address this. Maybe 1 device "large" and one "small" with their pixel offerings. And by small I mean sub 5"

 

[Premium1]

Yup, pretty much if Apple Pay works, Android Pay will as well. I don't see Apple Pay (in B&M stores anyway) to be a reason to switch if you have a device that supports Android Pay.



There's one point you missed. On iPhone you need to wait for a full OS update for updates to any of the core apps (contacts, calendar, notes, MAIL, etc). On Android, Google has broken all of those equivalent apps into the Play Store and can update them independently of the OS. So, while the core OS may remain the same, those apps are seeing security and feature updates all along.

Also - the OS updates are only lagging on non-Google devices and that is in no way Android or Google's fault, that lies ENTIRELY with the manufacturer. People need to do their research, if they want updates quickly - they should get a Google-branded device as those are essentially the iPhone equivalent when it comes to updates. People complaining about lack of Android updates after 2 years - just look at how many features of the new OS are NOT available on a 2+ year-old iPhone...

It is Google's OS so it is their problem. Not to mention after 2 years those iPhones are still getting the important security updates. The added "fluff" of the OS updates aren't nearly as important as security updates are as shown by what seems like daily hacks or security bugs being found

 

[hallux]

It is Google's OS so it is their problem. Not to mention after 2 years those iPhones are still getting the important security updates. The added "fluff" of the OS updates aren't nearly as important as security updates are as shown by what seems like daily hacks or security bugs being found

Yes and no... While much of the base code comes from Google (actually, the Android project) the device manufacturers do A LOT to muck with it (Samsung's TouchWiz) before installation on their devices. The updates could screw with something the manufacturer messed with so they need to test the updates against their changes before it can be released to the devices.

 

[citronbull]

It's similar to getting approved for a car financing but you can only get a stock Toyota. But your (Android) neighbor can get a Honda, Nissan, BMW, Mercedes, Tesla, Aston Martin, and can add bells and whistles as he pleases.

 

[Morty2264]

Admittedly, I love #1 and #5 . But I just know that Apple isn't enough to keep me satisfied customization-wise. But I respect Apple for their obvious tech prowess; and this list proves that they do have a lot going for them.

 

[Tim1954]

I don't like anything about them so no interest to me. The rest of the family all have iCrap here and I'm always having to sort their junky phones...
I'll keep my android ;-)

 

[chanchan05]

1. iMessage I understand. Samsung made a step in the right direction with Enhanced Messaging, but I don't understand why it's disabled by default and not advertised. That's why basically iMessage on an Android. The new SMS protocol will help though.

2. Meh. No. I don't use Macs for gaming/modding reasons among others, so Airdrop will be useless. I can always use NFC or WiFi direct for other Androids.

3. Switching devices from my Note 2 to my S7E was very easy with Samsung Smart Switch. So I'm covered.

4. Not available where I am so....

5. I don't really mind. As long as I get the security updates. Sometimes major updates are more trouble than it's worth.

 

[kramer5150]

What I like about iOS and iPhones...

>Physical robustness of the lightning connector, the little plug connector itself is what I am talking about.
>iMessage and how seamless it is across all Apple products... IMEI / cellular connectivity is not required.
>Accessory and 3rd party parts abundance.
>Clout, guts and balls of Apple to dictate to the carriers (in the USA) what their device and iOS will do. With Verizon mandating that MMS and voice mail downloading can be done over wifi is one example, there are probably others.

 

[LeoRex]

Software feature-wise, there's little about the iPhone that I find compelling or tempting... The bulk of my messaging is done in Hangouts, with a few SMS peeps here or there. I couldn't care less about the color of the bubble by me if I messaged a friend with an iPhone.

In terms of hardware, consistency of performance, etc... that's about the only tempting thing... but software, nah.

 

[SpookDroid]

What I like about iOS and iPhones...

>Physical robustness of the lightning connector, the little plug connector itself is what I am talking about.

First person I've seen that likes it haha. I always see iDevice charger cables be very beaten up with the protective cable encasing coming off (I know my work iPhone's chargers all did this after a while, and I always had them just at my desk, so no travel or putting them in a bag or anything).

I did like that it was reversible, so no need to fumble and trying to figure out the right side to plug it in. USB-C is probably a step in that direction, though.