Ah, the everlasting query – iPhone vs. Android: which is healthier? That is not at all a simple battle to find out a transparent winner. Each supply many advantages for sure individuals, whereas there are drawbacks to each, too. So, we’re right here to interrupt down all the things that can assist you make the fitting determination in your subsequent smartphone, whether or not it’s top-end software program options or gaming providers to make any cell recreation a breeze.
Right here at Pocket Techniques, we now have years of expertise testing each Android and iOS units, from the costliest flagships from Samsung, Xiaomi, and Apple, to the price range contenders from Redmi and Tecno. We even have expertise with area of interest gaming-focused smartphones from the likes of Asus. We’ve actually tried all of them.
So, we’re effectively ready that can assist you uncover the perfect handset for you. When you’ve chosen your working system, you possibly can take a peek at the perfect gaming telephones, realizing extra about what the different sorts supply. Should you’re set on Android, the perfect Samsung cellphone could also be for you, whereas any Apple die-hards will need to try the perfect gaming iPhone to make the fitting alternative.
iPhone vs. Android: which is healthier?
There are lots of totally different classes during which we are able to examine iPhone vs. Android, so if there’s a selected facet you’re excited by, you’ll find it under.
{Hardware}
{Hardware} is a basic a part of making a buying determination relating to a brand new smartphone. For all of the totally different apps and OS variations, if the {hardware} isn’t adequate, you gained’t have the ability to do all the things you should. Whereas Apple and Android telephones are sometimes carefully matched in {hardware}, there are some key variations in particular areas.
Flagships
In relation to the highest-end smartphones in the marketplace, Apple and Android compete carefully. The most costly iPhone has glorious efficiency, a aggressive digital camera, and a stunning display screen, one thing the perfect from Samsung and Xiaomi even have. Selecting between the 2 on the $1,000+ finish is hard.
From Apple, there are solely two handsets to select from; the iPhone 14 Professional and the iPhone 14 Professional Max (although the iPhone 15 launch date is true across the nook, so hold that in thoughts). There’s no distinction between the Professional and the Professional Max aside from the dimensions of the handset, which may make all of the distinction for you.
From Android, Samsung is the clear chief, although there are extra choices than Apple. There’s the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely, the perfect flagship Android in our opinion. Nevertheless, for those who fancy one thing totally different, there’s the vivo X90 Professional+ and the Xiaomi 13 Professional, too. Take a look at our Xiaomi 13 Professional assessment to be taught much more concerning the considerably hard-to-find handset.
The professional vary of iPhones provides Apple’s A16 Bionic chip, essentially the most highly effective chip in its smartphones. By way of efficiency, it beats the top-end Android chip in most benchmarks, although that’s not crucial factor – the top-end iPhones have greater than sufficient energy for essentially the most demanding customers, and that’s all that issues.
This additionally applies to Android, nonetheless, with the Samsung S23 Extremely providing glorious energy for all of your wants, in addition to aggressive energy effectivity, too. Whereas one could also be higher than the opposite on paper, the distinction between the top-end Android and iPhone chips is nominal. In on a regular basis use, neither misses a beat.
By way of display screen expertise, the Asus ROG Cellphone 7 Final is the perfect in the marketplace, although that’s a gaming-specific Android, not an all-around flagship. Take a look at our Asus ROG Cellphone 7 Final assessment for those who’re , although, for all different flagships, the display screen tech is once more very comparable. Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi all supply 120Hz OLED screens with comparable brightness and pixel density. There are slight variations, however once more they’re nominal.
Lastly, on the high-end, it’s all about cameras. And that is the place issues get a little bit trickier. The Samsung S23 Extremely arguably has the perfect cameras you will get in a smartphone, although the upper-mid-range Google Pixel 7 Professional is also thought-about greatest – and it’s a whole lot of {dollars} cheaper. In the meantime, the iPhone 14 Professional is the perfect cellphone for video, and the Xiaomi 13 Professional’s digital camera is not any slouch both. If all you need is a good digital camera, it is likely to be value our Google Pixel 7 Professional assessment and saving your self some cash, although the flagships are additionally glorious snappers.
The final key distinction on the excessive finish is the truth that there are foldable telephones that run Android. Apple doesn’t make a foldable cellphone, and it doesn’t look probably that the Cupertino firm will make one anytime quickly. If you need a foldable cellphone, it’s important to go for Android, and Samsung is at the moment your greatest wager (although the competitors is getting fiercer for certain).
Mid-range
The mid-range market is a little bit muddy, and it spans fairly a large worth vary. On the higher fringe of the worth vary (round $800), there’s the Google Pixel 7 Professional, iPhone 14, and Samsung S23 (the latter two are available in plus sizes as effectively). These aren’t fairly flagships, although they’re pushing the definition of mid-range.
At this increased worth level, the Google Pixel 7 Professional provides the perfect cameras, the Samsung S23 is a good all-rounder, and the iPhone 14 provides nice integration into Apple’s ecosystem and a stellar chipset, too. All in all, there aren’t many key variations between the bunch, so selecting between them is all the way down to the additional comparisons under.
The right mid-range telephones in the marketplace are the place issues get a bit extra fascinating. Right here, telephones value between $350 and $600, and there are some actual bargains out there from all kinds of producers. The OnePlus Nord 2T is our decide of the bunch, with glorious options for its low worth, whereas Samsung’s A54 and the Redmi Observe 12 Professional supply nice worth from dependable manufacturers. You possibly can try our Redmi Observe 12 Professional 5G assessment to be taught extra.
From Apple, there’s just one mid-range handset: the iPhone SE. It nonetheless has the identical outdated design because the iPhone 8 (a cellphone from 2017), although its innards are up to date to maintain its efficiency aggressive. It has digital camera and glorious efficiency, although its outdated design and lack of a 120Hz refresh fee imply it’s not the simplest suggestion – until you completely should go for Apple, then you don’t have any different alternative. It’s nonetheless an incredible handset, although different telephones supply extra in your cash in our opinion.
Funds
Apple doesn’t supply a really price range handset, which means that for those who don’t have a lot cash to spend, you can not go for an Apple cellphone. That makes your determination fairly a bit simpler, after all, although there are fairly a number of telephones to select from within the price range market. You may purchase an outdated iPhone from a unique retailer, however the least expensive on supply from Apple itself remains to be the iPhone SE.
By way of Android, there are many nice price range choices to select from. Xiaomi has two price range subbrands, with the Redmi Observe 11 providing glorious all-around efficiency for its low worth. In the meantime, as you possibly can see in our Poco X5 assessment, Xiaomi’s gaming subbrand certain provides bang in your buck.
In the meantime, Tecno – a extremely popular model in rising markets – provides some very spectacular price range handsets. Our Tecno CAMON 20 Premier 5G assessment is probably not a full-on love story, however the cellphone is a stable all-rounder. In the meantime, our Tecno POVA 5 Free Hearth Particular Version assessment has all the small print for anybody trying to find a price range gaming cellphone.
After all, there are glorious price range choices from the larger manufacturers too, and these could supply higher safety updates and longer-term assist, as we go into extra element about under. The Galaxy A collection provides a variety of telephones at totally different worth factors to suit your price range, with that Samsung trustworthiness tied in, whereas the Pixel 6a remains to be out there from Google at a reduced worth that makes it a very tempting alternative.
So, there’s clearly a really big selection of telephones to select from, whether or not you need to spend $100 or $1,000. Whereas the {hardware} is commonly the main focus for any potential consumers, there are some key variations between iPhone and Android past what’s on the floor. So, let’s get caught in.
Working system
Selecting between Android and iOS is the largest distinction between the 2 rivals, although it’s not as grand a divide as you could assume. There are some key variations, however basically, each iPhone and Android can do most of what you want, they could simply do it in several methods.
iOS
What’s iOS? Nicely, it’s Apple’s working system for iPhone, which implies it’s the way in which you work together with the gadget and the totally different options it provides therein. Identical to Android, it provides all kinds of built-in apps, an enormous App Retailer to search out extra, and a slick interface to get issues accomplished merely.
There are some key variations, nonetheless. First off, iOS is identical throughout all iPhones. Regardless of which handset you decide up, you will have the identical model of iOS (assuming it’s new sufficient to obtain the newest updates). That is useful for those who’re used to iOS, otherwise you desire a constant OS as you improve telephones over time.
iOS additionally doesn’t include any random stuff pre-installed, a.ok.a. bloatware. Not all Android telephones do that – a lot of the massive manufacturers ask first earlier than including any junk – however iPhone by no means does something like this which is sweet. That is once more a bonus for simplicity, which means you solely have precisely what you want.
Android
Android is the working system utilized by Samsung, Google, and numerous different cellphone producers. Whereas the working system can differ between totally different corporations – the totally different variations are known as “skins”, kind of like an overlay on prime of the bottom Android OS – there are nonetheless a number of similarities throughout Android telephones.
The first advantage of Android is customizability. Android isn’t a walled backyard, which means you should use totally different app shops, obtain stuff like ROMs and emulators, and entry all kinds of third-party programs to get issues accomplished. This can be a profit for the extra tech literate on the market; the individuals who know the best way to benefit from it. Should you don’t know the best way to do it, it’s probably not a profit.
In the meantime, Android additionally helps you to cater the working system to your wants extra minutely. For some individuals, this alternative could be overwhelming, whereas others like to have the ability to customise their expertise. Apple provides some customization, however solely a small quantity – for those who’re a little bit of a tinkerer, Android is probably going for you.
However, whereas the working programs supply various kinds of customization and accessibility, one other key space to deal with is the options these programs have. That is the place issues get a bit extra variable throughout totally different manufacturers, so the choice may turn into a tad simpler.
Key options
There are numerous options supplied throughout iPhone and Android, a lot of which can be found on each. Right here, we break down key options distinctive to particular smartphones, so you possibly can see what can solely be accomplished and the place to do it.
Apple
iOS provides many options you could get nowhere else. iMessage, the blue-bubbled messaging service solely works between iOS units, whereas FaceTime solely not too long ago allowed non-Apple units to hitch a name, although it’s not built-in as easily as on Apple units, after all. Then there are options like SharePlay, which helps you to watch a movie or hearken to music with a pal whereas on a name, that, whereas area of interest, are additionally solely out there on Apple units.
In the meantime, the ecosystem integration with Apple is unmatched on the time of writing. You possibly can copy one thing in your cellphone and paste it onto a Mac or iPad seamlessly, use your iPhone as a webcam or microphone, and arrange new units out of your outdated units simply. There are a bunch of different options like this, all of which make utilizing an Apple Watch, Mac, or HomePod far simpler. If you need any of these units or already personal them, we extremely suggest going for iPhone.
Android
Android additionally provides options that Apple doesn’t. You possibly can arrange a number of customers on a tool for those who’re sharing it with household or have totally different wants for work and leisure, which is tremendous useful (particularly on a pill!). Then there’s the added customizability as we talked about earlier, letting you alter all method of settings for a bespoke expertise.
The opposite massive advantage of Android is that it’s open – you possibly can obtain particular ROMs or APKs, that are principally set up recordsdata, reasonably than going via an app retailer. This comes with its personal dangers, certain, however if you’d like the newest software program for a cellphone left behind by the producer, an outdated PS1 recreation, or all method of different distinctive apps, Android is one of the best ways to go (assuming you’re techy sufficient to do it safely; by no means obtain from unknown sources until you already know they’re protected).
Gaming
Gaming is an enormous a part of the cell house, and each Apple and Android supply totally different advantages that come from two fairly totally different angles. After all, the broad {hardware} within the Android market means there are many gaming-focused telephones, however Apple’s cross-device integration and rising providers push assistance on the opposite facet of the battle.
Apple
The primary bonus to getting an iPhone for gaming is Apple Arcade, the corporate’s subscription service with a pile of fantastic cell video games. There’s Google’s Play Cross on Android, however by way of the standard of the video games on the service, it will probably’t actually match Apple.
Apple Arcade additionally has unique video games, so if there’s one thing that’s caught your eye, ensure that it’s not an iOS unique. We’ve acquired an inventory of the perfect Apple Arcade video games so you possibly can see what’s on the service, however for our cash, it’s the perfect cell gaming service out there in the mean time.
Apple additionally has nice integration throughout all its units. You can begin taking part in one thing in your iPhone, decide again up on Mac, hop on the couch and play it in your Apple TV, or lounge round with it in your iPad, with all of your saves transferred over. What’s extra, you are able to do this all with a Nintendo, Xbox, or PlayStation controller with none problem connecting them up. Beautiful.
Android
As above, Android does have a subscription service within the type of Google Play Cross, and whereas it has much more apps included, the standard can be much more variable. It’s good, however try an inventory of video games out there on the service to be sure to’re pleased with the choice.
The place Android is the clear winner, nonetheless, is with gaming-specific {hardware}. Whether or not it’s the perfect gaming telephones from Asus or Redmagic, Android is the one place you will get telephones particularly designed to be glorious at taking part in cell video games. If you need a cellphone like that, you already know the place to go.
Safety
Safety varies from model to model, and whereas Android has built-in security measures, totally different producers have totally different safeguards on prime of it, making the Android facet fairly arduous to parse. Corporations like Samsung and Google have top-notch options to help safety, and lots of promise at the least three years of software program and safety updates to maintain you safe as your gadget will get outdated.
There are different corporations, nonetheless, that don’t supply such prolonged assist, so it’s necessary to examine how lengthy the corporate guarantees to maintain you safe. Being conscious of safety dangers is extremely necessary, so you’ll want to analysis a person handset and its producer earlier than diving in.
On the Apple facet, nonetheless, issues are a bit much less fiddly. The corporate places privateness and safety at prime billing in its advertising and marketing, however it’s not only a promoting level – the walled backyard of iOS means it’s simpler to maintain safe. iOS additionally helps you to ask apps to not monitor you, which means you possibly can hold all the things non-public even when downloading a brand new app.
Apple has not too long ago began pushing fast safety response updates, too, that are fast fixes to minor points. Whereas we’d by no means say you’re 100% safe utilizing any gadget, Apple is our go-to – although Samsung additionally has a deal with safety that shouldn’t be ignored, too.
Repairability
iPhone repairability is minimal. If you wish to change your display screen or battery, you most likely may, although it’s a little bit fiddly and irritating, so it is likely to be simpler to go to an Apple Retailer or knowledgeable to get it sorted for you. That is unlikely to vary, too.
In the meantime, many Android producers delight themselves on their repairability. Nokia is a pacesetter on this regard, with glorious instruments that can assist you hold your cellphone operating for longer with your personal two fingers, serving to you keep inexperienced and hold your prices down whereas staying within the smartphone market. As at all times, repairability differs vastly throughout the Android market, so you’ll want to look into a person handset earlier than buying if repairability issues lots to you.
iPhone vs. Android: which one do you have to select?
Selecting between iPhone and Android is hard, although it turns into lots simpler as soon as you already know precisely what you want. If you wish to hold issues easy whereas utilizing your cellphone and don’t want a super-budget handset, Apple is probably going one of the best ways to go. In the meantime, when you have particular {hardware} wants not catered to by Apple, or fancy tinkering a bit along with your cellphone by including distinctive software program and customizing the expertise, that’s what Android can do for you.
Any informal person can anticipate a wonderful expertise from either side of the tech coin – for those who’re not going to delve deep into both, you’ll probably not see the numerous advantages and disadvantages that lie beneath. So, for those who simply want a cellphone for fundamental cellphone issues, discover a handset that appears good at worth and you have to be pleased with both Android or iOS.
For a simple metaphor, Apple’s iOS is like essentially the most luxurious kindergarten you’ve ever been to – all the things is tremendous easy, simple, and actually fairly pretty, although there’s padding on all of the desk corners so that you don’t harm your self; your freedom is proscribed. In the meantime, Android is like going to school for the primary time; it’s someplace you can also make dozens of various errors as you try to work your manner via all of it. However there’s additionally energy in that independence. For me, I’m sticking to pre-school security in iOS, however that’s not precisely adventurous, is it?
