When it comes to getting your next smartphone, one of the biggest and sometimes the most challenging choices that you will face is whether to invest in an Android handset or an Apple iPhone. In this article we look at iPhone Vs Android – Which One Is Best for You?
It’s not always a simple decision since both offer a range of excellent features and in some cases, it might seem that they’re basically doing the same thing.
However, a closer look into these two popular choices of smartphones may reveal some key differences that will help you make the best decision for you.
Read on to learn more about the main differences between iPhone and Android smartphones to help you decide which one will be the best for you.
Table of Contents
Network Locking
If you want to purchase a smartphone second-hand or refurbished, it’s worth bearing in mind that Apple iPhones will usually be unlocked at first, but then locked to the first network that they are used on.
This means that if you’re purchasing an iPhone that has already been used by somebody else, you may be limited to only using the same network as them, or paying to have the handset unlocked.
On the other hand, unlocked Android handsets will typically remain unlocked no matter what network they have been used with. This can make it easier if you want to get a second-hand phone to save money by opting for one of the SIM only deals offered by Lebara.
Unlike traditional contracts where you’ll be tied in for a certain amount of time, Lebara’s SIM only deals offer a much higher degree of flexibility and the ability to save money.
There’s no credit check required to sign up, you’re never tied into a contract, and you’re in control of how much you want to spend each month.
Hardware
Hardware is one of the main places where it’s easy to see the main differences between Apple and Android phone handsets. Since iPhones are only made by Apple, the company has a lot of control over how the hardware and software are designed to work together.
On the other hand, the Android OS is offered by Google to a wide range of handset manufacturers including Google phones, LG, Huawei, Samsung and more.
Because of this, there is often a much bigger variety when it comes to hardware choices in Android phones, while Apple iPhones tend to be more limited.
Premium Android handsets tend to be comparable to iPhones in terms of quality and longevity, while on the other hand, cheaper Android handsets are more likely to be prone to issues.
If you are buying an iPhone, the hardware choosing process can be a lot easier since all you need to do is pick the model that you like and suits your budget best.
Operating System
An iPhone might be the best choice for you if you want to make sure that you always have access to the best and most up to date version of your smartphone’s operating system.
This is because while iPhones have access to the latest OS as soon as it’s available, some Android handset manufacturers may be slow to provide access to users of some handsets to the latest Android OS version, while some don’t even provide access to updates at all.
And while it’s no surprise to many that older handsets typically lose support for newer OS versions, Apple offers a much better OS support for older handsets compared to Android phones.
For example, iOS 11, which was released in 2017, fully supported the iPhone 5S, which was released in 2013, and over 60% of compatible handsets were running the latest iOS version within six weeks.
On the other hand, Android 8 was running on less than 1% of Android devices over eight weeks after it was released.
Mobile Gaming and Entertainment
While mobile gaming used to be dominated by handheld consoles, the iPhone has brought about massive changes to how we get our entertainment on the go.
The iPhone and iPod are some of the biggest players in the market when it comes to mobile video games, with thousands of excellent games to choose from and millions of active players.
Even game developers like Nintendo have begun releasing games for the iPhone, such as Super Mario Run.
On the other hand, the expectation for Android apps to be free of charge has led many game developers to stop creating games for this platform altogether.
So, if playing mobile games in your spare time is an important hobby for you, the iPhone is often the best choice.
Apps Available
While the Apple App Store does offer more apps compared to the Google Play Store, you may be glad to hear that selection isn’t actually the most important factor.
In fact, you often get the same types of apps available on both, while Google Play will typically have more apps available in the same category.
And while Apple is quite strict about the types of apps that are available on its platform, while Google’s standards are much more relaxed.
While this can lead to a slightly lower choice for iPhone users, it can also help prevent problems such as when a fake version of the WhatsApp app was downloaded a million times from Google Play.
Since most users value security over having tons of the same type of app to choose from, it’s not usually a major problem when deciding which phone handset to go for.
Security
Moving on from the last point, security is an increasingly important factor that users are considering when deciding which mobile handset to choose.
If you are concerned about the security of your smartphone, Apple is always the best choice. Studies have found that in cases of malware, viruses, and other security breaches, Android handsets were attacked by 97%, while Apple was not attacked at all.
Unlike Apple’s handsets, Android handsets are not designed with security in mind. While this does not mean that Apple’s products are completely immune to security problems, they are undoubtedly much less likely to be attacked compared to Android handsets.
Integration
Another key factor to consider when choosing between an Apple and an Android handset is integration with your other devices.
If you already use Apple tech products such as a MacBook or iPad, it makes sense to choose an iPhone that you can seamlessly integrate with these products and sync them together.
For example, your notes on your iPhone will be automatically available on your computer, and passwords that you’ve saved will also transfer across easily.
That being said, more and more services are offering integration that is available no matter what device you are accessing them on.
For example, if you use Google Chrome on an Apple MacBook and an Android handset, your saved passwords or automatic login preferences will be transferred across both platforms.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to consider how much integration you would like and whether you can deal with the limited integration that comes from using two different products with different operating systems.
Whether to choose an Apple or Android phone is often one of the biggest questions to consider when getting a new smartphone.
Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and it’s ultimately up to you to consider what’s important to you and which OS meets your needs best.
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