Android vs. iPhone

It is a complicated question about which is better Android or iPhone for you. Because both operating systems cover so much area and many features to explore. Android and iOS perform most of the same task anyway, and mostly in the same way too.

Android vs. iPhone: basic

Google developed android. It provides its own Pixel tasteful version on its Pixel phones, and others such as Samsung, Huawei, LG, etc. have added their own skins on top of their own hardware.

iOS is Apple's mobile operating system for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. It has evolved in association with hardware, so Apple does not have to worry about making the code fit for hundreds of different devices from a dozen different manufacturers.

In summary, both are very similar. Both let you take photos, send messages, make calls, and run hundreds of apps to chat with friends, watch movies, manage your calendar, read up on the news, and so on.

There are lots of other issues which are used to differentiate Android from iPhone, like widgets or notifications. There are still some other key differences, though, which we will see here.

Android vs. iPhone: hardware

One of the biggest advantages of Android in terms of hardware is that you will get so many different phones to pick. The Pixel 3, the Samsung Galaxy series, the Huawei P30 Pro. If you go for Android, then you will get a lot of manufacturers and models for your business.

With the iPhone and iOS, you will get a range which can be split into two. On the one hand, there are iPhone 7 and 8 with the traditional home button. On the other hand, you will get more expensive iPhone XR, X, XS, XS Max, 11, 11 pro, and 11 max pro.

Android vs. iPhone: features

As we discussed earlier, most of the features are the same between Android and iOS. Broadly speaking, there are a few key differences between them.

Android is more customizable; for example, if you do not like the default web browser, SMS app, you can change it. You can leave gaps in the rows of icons. You can absolutely transform Android with a launcher app which you cannot do any of that with Apple's iPhone.

The iOS and iPhone provide a more polished and secure experience. They don't have any security issues as Android can have sometimes (not always).

Android vs. iPhone: apps

You can found the most popular apps on both Android and the iPhone nowadays. There are not many major parts of software that runs on one platform and not the other.

Many new apps (or app updates) often arrive on iOS first, especially games. A recent example of it is Alto's Odyssey. You might have to wait a little longer for Android.

Android vs. iPhone: battery life

The early iPhone requires recharging their batteries every day. The recent models can go a day without a charge through new versions of the operating system, which tend to cut battery life.

The battery life is more complex in Android due to the larger hardware manufacturers options. Some Android model has a 7-inch display and other features which burns more battery life.

Thanks to the wide range of Android models, there are also other features like ultra-high capacity batteries. So, if we talk about batteries life, Android can deliver a device which works much longer than an iPhone on a single charge.

Android vs. iPhone: intelligent assistant

The next features and functionality will be driven by artificial intelligence and voice interfaces. In this context, Android has a clear lead.

Google Assistant is the most outstanding artificial intelligence assistant on Android, is extremely powerful. Google Assistant uses everything Google knows about you, and it makes your life easier. For example, if your Google Calendar knows that your meeting is scheduled at 10:00 and the traffic is terrible, Google Assistant can send a notification telling you to leave early.

Siri is Apple's artificial intelligence, and it is improving continuously with each new iOS release. Siri is still limited to fairly simple tasks and does not provide an advance smart of Google Assistant. Google Assistant is also available for the iPhone.

Android vs. iOS: comparison chart

	Android	iOS
Developer	Google, Open handset Alliance	Apple Inc.
Initial release	September 23, 2008	July 29, 2007
First version	It has Android 1.0, Alpha	It has iPhone OS 1, before named iOS
Latest stable release and updates	Android 10 (September 3, 2019)	iOS 13.2.3 and iPAd 13.2.3 (November 18,2019)
Working status	Current	Current
Source model	Android has Open source	It has Closed, with open source components.
File transfer	Using the USB port and Android File Transfer desktop app. The photo can also be transferred via USB without apps. Easier than iOS.	Media files are transferred using the iTunes desktop app. Photos can be transferred via USB without apps. It is difficult as compared to Android.
\Widgets	Yes, except on lock-screen	No, except in Notification Center
Internet browsing	Google Chrome (other browsers are also available).	Safari as default (Other browsers are available but not as default)
Maps	Google Maps	Apple Maps
Available language	100+ languages	34 languages
Video chat	Google Duo and other 3rd party apps	FaceTime (Apple device) and other 3^rd party apps
Voice commands	Google Assistant	Siri
Available on	Many phones and tablets. Major manufacturers such as Samsung, Honor, Vivo, Oppo, OnePlus, and Xiaomi. Android One devices are pure Android.	iPhone, iPad, iPod Tuch, Apple TV (2^nd and 3^rd generation)
Calls and messaging	Google Messages. 3^rd party apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Duo, and Skype all work on Android and iOS.	FaceTime, iMessage. 3^rd party apps like Google Hangouts, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Duo, Skype all work on Android and iOS both.
App store, affordability, and interface	Google Play Store - contains 1,00,000+ apps. Other app stores like Apptoid and Amazon also distribute Android apps.	Apple App Store - contains 1,00,000+ apps, Apps containing viruses very rare on inexistent.
Alternative app stores and side loading	Several alternative app stores (e.g., Apptoide, Galaxy Apps)other than the official Google Play Store	Apple blocks 3^rd party app stores.
Battery life	Many Android phone manufacturers provide their devices with large batteries with longer life.	Apple batteries are generally not as bid as compared to Android batteries. However, Apple also provides a decent battery life via hardware/software optimizations.
Open-source	Kernel, UI, and some standard apps	The iOS kernel is not open source, but it is based on the open-source Darwin OS.
Photos and videos backup	Apps are available for an automatic backup of photos and videos. Google Photos allows unlimited backup of photos. Amazon Photos, OneDrive, and Dropbox are other alternatives.	Up to 5 GB of photos and videos are automatically backed up with iCloud. Other venders like Google, Dropbox, Amazon, and Microsoft have auto-backup apps for both Android and iOS.
Security	Monthly security updates	Occasional security updates
Cloud services	Native integration with Google Drive storage. 15GB free, 100GB for $2/month, 1TB for $10.	Native integration with iCloud. 5GB free, 50GB for $1/month, 200GB for $3/month.
Interface	Touch Screen	Touch Screen
Biometric Authentication	Fingerprint and/or Face Authentication are available, depend on hardware manufacturers.	Fingerprint or Face Authentication available on iPad (Air 2 and later) and iPhone (5s and later).