It’s doable to make use of a smartphone operating an working system apart from Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android (Tizen, LineageOS, /e/ anybody?), however the chance that you just’re doing so is infinitesimal. Prefer it or not, we’re presently locked in a duopoly in terms of cell working system selection. That is not essentially a foul factor: This two-way competitors has pushed what can solely be described as polished, feature-packed, and technologically potent software program. Each working methods are extremely tuned and decked out with options.
Nonetheless, your selection of smartphone OS in all probability would not concern the software program’s technical capabilities or consumer options. It is possible that you just use what your social and household circles are utilizing. If everybody you understand makes use of Apple’s FaceTime for video calling, you do not need to be omitted of the occasion, and also you would not need your messages to have inexperienced bubbles as a substitute of the usual blue ones. After all, there are cross-platform choices for many features—you may set up Google Hangouts or Skype on Android or iPhone—however built-in performance and consistency often trump third-party choices.
Beneath, we step via the varied points by which smartphone OSes might be judged, selecting a winner or declaring a tie for every class. On the finish, we tally up the ultimate rating. Understand that each are mature works of software program at this level, and also you’re unlikely to be disillusioned nonetheless you go.
Android vs. iOS: {Hardware} Decisions
Your selection of gadgets is much like the choices between macOS and Home windows computer systems. With Apple’s ecosystem, you have got a selection of only one {hardware} vendor, albeit a top-tier one. With Android and Home windows, you may select from dozens of {hardware} makers with a wide range of value, high quality, and efficiency ranges. Android is open-source (in contrast with iOS’s closed system), so any cellphone maker can use it. The result’s a profusion of Android handsets.
You will get a usable Android cellphone for as little as $149. Our Editors’ Selection winner for reasonably priced telephones, the Motorola Moto e is a fantastic selection. Distinction that with the most affordable new iPhone you should buy, the iPhone SE, which prices $429. On the opposite finish of the spectrum, you may truly pay considerably extra for an Android cellphone than for any iPhone: Some configurations of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (itself a terrific instance of the range out there with the Android platform) promote for north of $1,800, and a 1TB Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely will set you again $1,599. The most costly Apple handset, the iPhone 14 Plus, prices $1,299 with 512GB storage.
One remaining Android-exclusive {hardware} characteristic: You may add storage on some Android telephones with a microSD card; with iPhones, you are caught with the storage you initially purchased.
Winner: AndroidWinner: Android
Android vs. iOS: Interface and Usability
It is honest to say that Android tends to current extra complexity—extra burrowing down menus to get to the setting you want, a number of residence screens, and extra variation amongst completely different cellphone mannequin interfaces. With iOS, due to Apple’s famed love of limiting customers to its manner or the freeway, interface format and settings are extra constant and uncomplicated.
Due to iOS 16, although, now you can customise your iPhone display greater than ever, with spectacular, multi-layered backgrounds and shade schemes, massive, well-designed widgets, an App Library that mechanically teams and organizes icons, and customizable icons. Admittedly, Android has been no slouch on this division both. Materials You customization radically updates Google’s OS with overhauled shade and syncing choices, giving your wallpapers and backgrounds a satisfyingly unified appear and feel.
Contemplating that Android is made by Google, it appears unusual that the search operate on iOS is superior. It is particularly noticeable when looking for apps put in on the system. Apple properly teams outcomes into apps, emails, contacts, and even exhibits apps not put in, with hyperlinks to the App Retailer. In all, iOS presents a extra polished, constant expertise.
Winner:Winner: iOSiOS
Android vs. iOS: Know-how Help
New wi-fi tech requirements seem yearly. In the previous couple of years, Android has been the primary to welcome these new specs, virtually all the time previous their iOS help. Android was the primary with 5G community help; beforehand it beat Apple with help for wi-fi charging, 4G LTE, and touchless voice instructions. That mentioned, Apple tends to attend till the brand new expertise is beneficial and dependable: As 5G service has turn out to be extra ubiquitous, iPhones 12 and up have supported the service.
Android additionally added help for foldable and dual-screen telephones. Because the OS is open supply, third events like Microsoft can add performance to gadgets just like the Floor Duo, an Android system that options two screens that show tailor-made content material (relatively than simply being a single display that spans the 2). These applied sciences have not all the time been game-changing affairs, however there is not any doubt that Android handsets are pioneering them.
Winner: AndroidWinner: Android
Android vs. iOS: Included Apps
Apple and Google supply many inventory apps that seem in your cellphone from the second you first energy it up. For instance, you will see apps for electronic mail, net looking, photograph viewing and modifying, audio taking part in and recording, video taking part in, and doc and spreadsheet modifying. Each embrace apps that you just can not uninstall even should you needed to, however in addition they allow you to change inventory apps with third-party choices. One oversight on the Android facet is the dearth of a job or to-do app—iOS’s Reminders app is slick as might be for this. Google does get partial credit score, nonetheless, for the reason that Hold app is obtainable as an additional obtain at preliminary setup and does a very good job with to-do lists.
Messaging apps are value calling out, since that is a high smartphone exercise. Apple edges forward of Android right here, with its dazzling Memoji, Animoji, funds, video games, and entire iMessage app retailer. You may even shortly flip a messaging session right into a name or video chat with FaceTime. Nonetheless, Android isn’t far behind. Android Messages have been overhauled to Wealthy Communication Providers (RCS), offering a lot better privateness options together with end-to-end encryption for 1-1 conversations. The power to make use of it in an online browser paired through QR code is good. However, iPhone customers who need to ship messages on their laptop computer or desktop laptop should keep fully throughout the Apple ecosystem to take action.
One other essential included app for any cell OS is mapping. Google has lengthy been acknowledged because the number-one map service, however Apple has minimize that lead down considerably in the previous couple of years with the inclusion of multi-stop routing and transit card integration with the Pockets app. Google continues to be extra thorough and up-to-date with native data, and it affords full Avenue View. One private fave is that it affords biking instructions, together with driving, strolling, and public transportation. Apple has made strides to maintain up with the addition of its personal biking navigation throughout all 50 states.
Each supply glorious health-monitoring, information, and podcast apps, however iPhone is best in terms of video modifying with the good iMovie and music creation with GarageBand.
Apple options its personal Translate app to go in opposition to the market-dominating Google Translate. The search big’s app affords way more languages than Apple, together with instruments for locating textual content in photographs—significantly essential for languages with an alphabet with which you are not acquainted.
Apple has radically enhanced the performance of its Reside Textual content characteristic for photographs, giving iOS its personal text-recognition capabilities for photos and video. This expertise acknowledges the photograph topics, letting you spotlight, copy, or search textual content, in addition to isolate and save parts from a photograph.
Winner:Winner: iOS (by a hair)iOS (by a hair)
Android vs. iOS: Availability and Fragmentation
In case you purchase an iPhone, you might be assured that it’ll obtain the newest iOS updates for at the least a number of years. Android is getting higher by way of updates turning into extra widespread, however it’s nonetheless behind iOS on this rely.
Neither firm’s developer web site reveals the market share of the recently-released variations—Android 13 and iOS 16—however Android 13 runs on roughly 12% of gadgets. However, iOS 16 has been adopted on 81% of iPhones, making iOS adoption an order of magnitude larger than that of Android.
Winner: iOSWinner: iOS
Android vs. iOS: Safety and Privateness
Each cell working methods have first rate data and safeguards in terms of safety, however Android, being extra open, has extra vectors for malware to enter your cellphone. Particularly, apps are extra susceptible to convey bother in Android, particularly should you set up them from another app retailer.
Privateness has been a spotlight in latest Android variations, with a lot of new protections in opposition to third-party app abuses. With Android 13, apps ask for permission earlier than they’ll ship you notifications. Android permits you to grant one-time entry to location and different non-public information, however iOS permits you to inform apps your approximate relatively than precise location. Since Google’s total enterprise mannequin revolves round gathering details about every consumer, it is arduous for the search advert firm to compete with Apple, whose revenue mannequin would not contain surveillance or profiling. All this isn’t to say that privacy-compromising apps cannot seem on iPhones, too.
Winner: iOSWinner: iOS
Android vs. iOS: Integration With Different Units
Apple’s Continuity options are arduous to beat, however due to Home windows’ Telephone Hyperlink app and Android 13’s cross-device connectivity, you may join with PCs simply as successfully as iPhones join with Macs. That even consists of making calls. These capabilities rely in your cellphone mannequin, with Samsung items getting choice. After all, possibly we should not give Android full factors for Microsoft’s work, however one handy Google characteristic that Android permits is SMS messaging through the net.
Apple’s system ecosystem consists of way over simply laptops and telephones, although: iOS ties in neatly with Apple Watch, Apple TV, the HomePod sensible speaker, and iPads (which now run their very own iPadOS working system). Google has the Put on Watch OS that is far much less prevalent than the Apple Watch, and Android tablets path iPads considerably. The Google Nest household of sensible audio system and screens, nonetheless, typically exceed Apple’s Siri-powered gadgets in PCMag’s scores, and third-party Google Assistant audio system can be found from the likes of Bose and Sonos.
Winner: iOSWinner: iOS
Android vs. iOS: Digicam and Pictures
Smartphone cameras—and possibly simply as importantly, the photo-processing apps that include the cellphone OSes—have not too long ago been a spotlight for brand spanking new smartphone and cell OS releases. In both system, you’ll find glorious digicam choices (together with multiple-camera methods). Do not get slowed down in megapixels, nonetheless: Regardless that you’ll find Android telephones with super-high megapixel numbers—the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely can shoot at a whopping 200 megapixels—that quantity is much less essential that the design of the digicam sensor. For an in depth evaluation, learn PCMag.com’s comparability of the finest smartphone cameras.
Each OSes even have spectacular photograph enhancement software program to make your footage look even higher than the sensor and lenses are able to by themselves. Each can add bokeh (background blur) to a portrait, and each supply gradual movement, panorama, low-light, and time-lapse taking pictures. Android has the benefit of letting customers create photograph sphere 360-degree photographs, whereas iOS customers want a secondary app for this operate. In any other case, Android and iOS are neck and neck in regard to photograph performance.
Android 13 makes use of Google Lens performance to allow you to seek for close by buying, in addition to translate textual content and scan paperwork. iOS 16 makes use of its expanded Reside Textual content operate to the identical finish, and even permits you to use the characteristic in movies as nicely. Impressively, iOS 16 expands this to acknowledge picture topics. Referred to as Visible Look Up, iOS 16 can establish objects and topics in {a photograph}, letting you isolate them from their background to make use of as a separate picture. It may even present further details about the topic, should you had been photographing a landmark, for instance.
Each OSes allow you to save uncooked digicam information, which photographers will little doubt admire, so that you not want third-party apps like the wonderful Adobe Lightroom Traditional app (which is offered on each platforms).
Winner: TiedWinner: Tied
Android vs. iOS: App Ecosystem
It was the case that apps got here to iOS first, after which finally made their solution to Android. That is nonetheless the case with some main suppliers like Adobe, which has launched the Photoshop pill model solely to iOS (now iPadOS); that makes eminent sense, since Android is pretty moribund within the pill area, which Apple mainly owns. However some main apps now come to Android first.
One other essential differentiator is that Android truly lets you set up software program from non-Google app shops, and even to side-load them, bypassing the shop fully. This is without doubt one of the solely methods to obtain and play Fortnite on Android gadgets, amusingly sufficient. One other comfort you will not discover in Apple’s retailer is the power to remotely set up apps onto your cellphone through the net. Say you come throughout an app in an article you are studying in your laptop computer. If it is Android, you may merely go over to the Play Retailer’s web site and set up it proper then and there. With iOS, it is advisable to go to the system itself to get the app put in.
Winner: Android (by a nostril)Winner: Android (by a nostril)
Android vs. iOS: Voice Assistant
Apple’s Siri and Google Assistant allow you to carry out actions utilizing your voice. Each are straightforward to invoke and supply a wake phrase, all the time listening possibility (which we’re not a fan of on a cellphone that is all the time with you).
In our expertise, Siri usually offers an unhelpful reply or would not carry out an motion that you really want finished. She’s fantastic for calling somebody, however if you need to open an app, you may even see net search outcomes as a substitute. Apple claims its assistant improves with each iOS launch, however we’ll simply have to attend and see. Google Assistant shows extra intelligence, albeit with much less character. We discover Siri’s voice choices to be extra nice than Assistant’s.
Siri affords Shortcuts and Automations. Shortcuts are multistep motion recipes, and Automations launch actions based mostly on triggers like your location or the climate. Google Assistant claims over one million actions, together with issues like asking it to play a specific present on Netflix or order a thin latte at Starbucks. Each assistants tie into wealthy sensible residence ecosystems, Android with Google Dwelling and Siri with Apple HomeKit gadgets, so whichever you have got, you may relaxation assured that you’ll flip up the warmth, increase the shades, or open the storage door—assuming you have got all of the requisite sensible home equipment.
Google Assistant permits you to management a TV with a Chromecast, and the corporate simply launched a brand new mannequin with a Google TV interface based mostly on Android TV that additionally ties in with the voice assistant.
One remaining level is that you should utilize Google Assistant or Google Dwelling on an iPhone, however you should utilize Siri solely on Apple merchandise.
Winner: AndroidWinner: Android
Android vs. iOS: Parental Controls
Each OSes have sturdy parental controls, however the greatest distinction among the many two is that Android permits you to extra simply and utterly set up third-party parental management software program. That mentioned, iOS affords deeper built-in parental controls.
In accordance with Apple’s help pages, you should utilize its Display Time characteristic to “block or restrict particular apps and options in your kid’s system,” and “limit the settings in your iPhone, iPad, or iPod contact for express content material, purchases and downloads, and privateness.” As its identify suggests, you too can hold tabs on the period of time a toddler spends in apps and on the net. You too can view detailed stories on all exercise. Mother and father can configure limits for kids utilizing the Household Sharing characteristic, and lock them down with a passcode that solely the mother or father is aware of. They’ll additionally set communications limits, solely permitting calls, messages, and Facetimes with set contacts.
The very first thing you do if you arrange an Android cellphone is to decide on whether or not it is a mother or father or kid’s cellphone. As talked about, Android would not restrict you to its personal parental controls, permitting third-party choices like our Editors’ Selection decide, Norton Household. Google’s Household Hyperlink app lets dad and mom view youngsters’ exercise, approve app downloads, set display limits, lock their system, and see their location.
As a result of Apple affords stronger built-in parental options, and Android has the benefit of permitting third-party options, it is a wash.
Winner: TieWinner: Tie
Android vs. iOS: Gaming, VR, and AR
Apple and Google have put efforts into video games, and enabling VR and AR applied sciences of their cell working methods. Each supply massive libraries of informal and near-console-level video games. And each now allow you to subscribe to a number of video games versus having to purchase every individually. Apple’s Arcade and Android’s Google Play Cross each price an similar $4.99 monthly.
The subscriptions lack adverts. Play Cross consists of some non-game apps from less-known builders. Sadly, Google Stadia is now defunct. The streaming video games service could not have been reviewed nicely, however it was attention-grabbing conceptually, as a part of the Google ecosystem.
The iOS App Retailer affords a wholesome number of VR apps and VR video games that you could discover on sure VR headsets. Apple continues to enhance its ARKit expertise to energy augmented actuality apps that convey 3D objects into your precise worldview. In reality, Apple is rumored to be releasing its personal VR headset, maybe even earlier than anybody anticipated. Apple-driven digital actuality tech could also be simply the push the style must hit the mainstream.
Google sadly deserted its promising Daydream VR and Tango AR initiatives, however work continues on ARCore augmented actuality expertise, and the corporate nonetheless has a dozen VR initiatives letting builders construct apps utilizing the expertise. The Digicam app’s Playground mode affords nifty 3D animations that match into the actual world, and its Google Lens makes use of AR to overlay close by buying and eating locations. You may nonetheless additionally bask in VR utilizing Google Cardboard.
Winner:Winner: TieTie
Android vs. iOS: Enterprise Options
Two of the earlier sections come into play right here: Safety and Updates/Fragmentation. Each are wins for iOS, however there are different essential concerns when selecting a smartphone platform for enterprise. For some companies, the open structure of Android is preferable, letting them create apps that go deeper and wider by way of accessing system options. For instance, Android lets third-party companies take over the cellphone for parental management, whereas Apple doesn’t.
Both cellphone performs nicely with each Microsoft Workplace and Google Docs, in order that’s not a differentiator. Android does combine higher with Home windows 10, nonetheless, significantly with the Telephone Hyperlink app mentioned above. Since most companies run on Home windows, that may very well be a motive to decide on Android.
Winner: TieWinner: Tie
Android vs. iOS: Accessibility
Each corporations have been engaged on including options that assist individuals with disabilities use their telephones. Android has a Reside Transcribe characteristic that lets deaf individuals learn what’s being mentioned on the spot. It additionally affords TalkBack to talk what’s on the display, Lookout to inform you what’s in view, and Voice Entry for controlling your cellphone. It additionally helps exterior switches (from AbleNet, Enabling Units, RJ Cooper, and Tecla), and allows you to reprogram cellphone buttons. It not too long ago added per-app language personalization, which is excellent for multilingual customers, even when the characteristic isn’t as app-ubiquitous as we’d have favored.
Apple has an extended listing of accessibility options, together with the VoiceOver display reader, zoom, dictation, Magnifier, Voice Management, Pointer Management, and extra. A Sound Recognition characteristic resembles the same Android functionality. One accessibility characteristic launched on iOS is Again Faucet, which anybody can use to set off an motion by tapping the again of the cellphone (and it really works on fashions all the way in which again to the iPhone 8)
There are Made for iPhone listening to aids, and the platform additionally helps exterior {hardware} change controllers, just like the AbleNet TrackerPro hands-free mouse that follows head actions. Each platforms can even make the most of third-party accessibility apps equivalent to Be My Eyes, AccessAble, and TapTapSee.
Winner:Winner: TieTie
The Remaining Tally: iOS 5, Android 4, Tie 5
As you may see, it is a shut race. Apple’s iOS in the end comes out on high—however by a slim margin. The close to parity is hardly shocking when you think about how the 2 platforms have been matching options and sprucing their interfaces for years.
Regardless of the shut race, our evaluate ranking has Android with a decrease rating as a result of such a small share of Android customers can truly run the newest model, and since Apple typically does a greater job of implementing the identical options. Not the entire classes above obtain equal weight, in different phrases. Each OSes can serve you remarkably nicely. In the long run, your choice will possible have as a lot to do along with your social and work circles as with the working system’s options.
Learn Extra: Apple macOS vs. Microsoft Home windows
The opposite large working system conflict is on the desktop stage. We examine Apple macOS with Microsoft Home windows level by level, simply as we have finished for Android and iOS. For extra recommendation on smartphones, learn PCMag’s roundup of the very best cell phones cash should purchase at present.
