I love threads like these.
I am a hardcore Apple fanatic. Own an iMac, iPad, Macbook Pro. Was an owner of every singe iPhone ever issued up until #4.
When Apple was ready to Announce iPhone 5, many of us thought the phone would be revolutionary. Many wanted a larger screen. When Apple revealed the same tired old phone, it pissed a lot of people off and I thing that is when the migration began for many Apple users over to Android.
I have been an Android user for the past year. I own the Note II and will be upgrading to the Note III on release day.
My thoughts...and I am being as honest as I can even if it pisses off hardcore Android owners who reside here....
As you guessed by now, the reason I came over to Android was because of screen size. As long as Apple keeps making tiny little phones that are hard to read I am never going back. Once you start using a phone with a larger screen you won't want to go back either. The extra screen real estate makes all the difference in the world. I enjoy the fact that I can actually read instead of squinting.
The amazing thing is, I use my iPad less and less because the Note II actually satisfies my need for a tablet.
I love the fact I can customize the hell out of my phone without having to jailbreak. Let's face it -- jailbreaking is cool, but every time Apple updates their operating system it can take months upon months until a new jailbreak is available.
Here's the bad news...
I still think, for Apple users, iOS is still better operating system. Now I say this again -- for Apple users it is the better operating system. That is because of the ecosystem that allows all Apple devices to sync together perfectly. Of course, the downside (as I described above) is that you are locked into that ecosystem unless you jailbreak.
With Android, you have to use quite a few third-party apps or slight setting workarounds for your Android device to communicate with your Apple device(s).
I don't think Android is as polished as iOS either. Certainly, apps generally look better on iOS than their Android counterparts. This has something to do with the different set of tools being used for each platform.
One thing I miss with iOS is the banner notifications that alert you of new email, text, missed phone calls, etc. Yes, there are apps on Android that mimic iOS notifications but they just aren't quite as good as the real thing.
Another annoyance is updates to the operating system. Whenever Apple updates iOS it is available to everyone on the same day. Not with Android. Updates are up to the individual carriers. Many Note II users have been waiting for months for the latest Jellybean update that has been available to others. So, don't always expect that you will have the newest version of Jellybean/Kit Kat the same day as everyone else.
Lastly, there has yet to be a single email app that matches the quality you find on iOS. Email apps are somewhat lacking when you compare them on Android. The best email app I have found is Aqua Mail. It is perhaps the most customizable email app of any available.
With all that said, you would think that I am putting down Android. Really, I love the Note II and the experience I have had with it. However, if rumors are true about Apple making a 6" iPhone next year, I would definitely go back in a heartbeat. Until then I think that you are going to really love the Note III.