Ah, the everlasting query – iPhone vs. Android: which is healthier? That is not at all a straightforward struggle to find out a transparent winner. Each supply many advantages for sure folks, whereas there are drawbacks to each, too. So, we’re right here to interrupt down every thing that will help you make the appropriate choice to your subsequent smartphone, whether or not it’s top-end software program options or gaming companies to make any cellular sport a breeze.
Right here at Pocket Ways, now we 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 will help you uncover the very best handset for you. When you’ve chosen your working system, you possibly can take a peek at the very best gaming telephones, figuring out extra about what the differing types supply. Should you’re set on Android, the very best Samsung cellphone could also be for you, whereas any Apple die-hards will wish to take a look at the very best gaming iPhone to make the appropriate alternative.
iPhone vs. Android: which is healthier?
There are a lot of completely different classes wherein we are able to examine iPhone vs. Android, so if there’s a particular side you’re all for, you could find it beneath.
{Hardware}
{Hardware} is a elementary a part of making a buying choice in relation to a brand new smartphone. For all of the completely different apps and OS variations, if the {hardware} isn’t adequate, you received’t be capable of do every thing it’s essential. Whereas Apple and Android telephones are sometimes intently matched in {hardware}, there are some key variations in particular areas.
Flagships
In terms of the highest-end smartphones in the marketplace, Apple and Android compete intently. The costliest iPhone has wonderful efficiency, a aggressive digicam, and a stunning display screen, one thing the very best 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 correct across the nook, so hold that in thoughts). There’s no distinction between the Professional and the Professional Max aside from the scale of the handset, which might 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 very best flagship Android in our opinion. Nonetheless, in the event you fancy one thing completely different, there’s the vivo X90 Professional+ and the Xiaomi 13 Professional, too. Try our Xiaomi 13 Professional overview to be taught much more in regards to the considerably hard-to-find handset.
The professional vary of iPhones presents 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 an important 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 wonderful 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 know-how, the Asus ROG Cellphone 7 Final is the very best in the marketplace, although that’s a gaming-specific Android, not an all-around flagship. Try our Asus ROG Cellphone 7 Final overview in the event you’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 somewhat trickier. The Samsung S23 Extremely arguably has the very best cameras you will get in a smartphone, although the upper-mid-range Google Pixel 7 Professional may be thought of greatest – and it’s a whole lot of {dollars} cheaper. In the meantime, the iPhone 14 Professional is the very best cellphone for video, and the Xiaomi 13 Professional’s digicam isn’t any slouch both. If all you need is a good digicam, it could be value our Google Pixel 7 Professional overview and saving your self some cash, although the flagships are additionally wonderful 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, you must go for Android, and Samsung is at present your greatest wager (although the competitors is getting fiercer for certain).
Mid-range
The mid-range market is somewhat muddy, and it spans fairly a large value vary. On the higher fringe of the value 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 greater value level, the Google Pixel 7 Professional presents the very best cameras, the Samsung S23 is a good all-rounder, and the iPhone 14 presents 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 beneath.
The right mid-range telephones in the marketplace are the place issues get a bit extra attention-grabbing. Right here, telephones price between $350 and $600, and there are some actual bargains accessible from all kinds of producers. The OnePlus Nord 2T is our choose of the bunch, with wonderful options for its low value, whereas Samsung’s A54 and the Redmi Observe 12 Professional supply nice worth from dependable manufacturers. You may take a look at our Redmi Observe 12 Professional 5G overview 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 a superb digicam and wonderful efficiency, although its outdated design and lack of a 120Hz refresh price imply it’s not the simplest advice – until you completely should go for Apple, then you don’t have any different alternative. It’s nonetheless an awesome handset, although different telephones supply extra to your cash in our opinion.
Price range
Apple doesn’t supply a really price range handset, which means that in the event you don’t have a lot cash to spend, you can’t go for an Apple cellphone. That makes your choice fairly a bit simpler, after all, although there are fairly just a few telephones to select from within the price range market. You may purchase an outdated iPhone from a special retailer, however the most cost-effective 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 wonderful all-around efficiency for its low value. In the meantime, as you possibly can see in our Poco X5 overview, Xiaomi’s gaming subbrand certain presents bang to your buck.
In the meantime, Tecno – a very fashionable model in rising markets – presents some very spectacular price range handsets. Our Tecno CAMON 20 Premier 5G overview might not be a full-on love story, however the cellphone is a strong all-rounder. In the meantime, our Tecno POVA 5 Free Fireplace Particular Version overview has all the small print for anybody attempting to find a price range gaming cellphone.
In fact, there are wonderful price range choices from the larger manufacturers too, and these might supply higher safety updates and longer-term help, as we go into extra element about beneath. The Galaxy A collection presents a variety of telephones at completely different value factors to suit your price range, with that Samsung trustworthiness tied in, whereas the Pixel 6a remains to be accessible from Google at a reduced value that makes it a very tempting alternative.
So, there’s clearly a really big selection of telephones to select from, whether or not you wish to spend $100 or $1,000. Whereas the {hardware} is commonly the main target for any potential patrons, 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 most important distinction between the 2 rivals, although it’s not as grand a divide as you could suppose. There are some key variations, however basically, each iPhone and Android can do most of what you want, they could simply do it in numerous methods.
iOS
What’s iOS? Effectively, it’s Apple’s working system for iPhone, which implies it’s the best way you work together with the system and the completely different options it presents therein. Identical to Android, it presents all kinds of built-in apps, an enormous App Retailer to search out extra, and a slick interface to get issues performed merely.
There are some key variations, nonetheless. First off, iOS is similar throughout all iPhones. Irrespective of which handset you choose up, you will have the identical model of iOS (assuming it’s new sufficient to obtain the newest updates). That is useful in the event you’re used to iOS, otherwise you need a constant OS as you improve telephones through the years.
iOS additionally doesn’t include any random stuff pre-installed, a.okay.a. bloatware. Not all Android telephones do that – many of the massive manufacturers ask first earlier than including any junk – however iPhone by no means does something like this which is good. 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 completely different firms – the completely different variations are referred to as “skins”, type of like an overlay on high of the bottom Android OS – there are nonetheless plenty of similarities throughout Android telephones.
The first good thing about Android is customizability. Android isn’t a walled backyard, which means you should utilize completely different app shops, obtain stuff like ROMs and emulators, and entry all kinds of third-party techniques to get issues performed. This can be a profit for the extra tech literate on the market; the individuals who know the way to benefit from it. Should you don’t know the way to do it, it’s probably not a profit.
In the meantime, Android additionally permits you to cater the working system to your wants extra minutely. For some folks, this alternative might be overwhelming, whereas others like to have the ability to customise their expertise. Apple presents some customization, however solely a small quantity – in the event you’re a little bit of a tinkerer, Android is probably going for you.
However, whereas the working techniques supply various kinds of customization and accessibility, one other key space to concentrate on is the options these techniques have. That is the place issues get a bit extra variable throughout completely different manufacturers, so the choice may turn into a tad simpler.
Key options
There are numerous options provided throughout iPhone and Android, lots 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 performed and the place to do it.
Apple
iOS presents many options that you would be able to 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 take heed to music with a pal whereas on a name, that, whereas area of interest, are additionally solely accessible on Apple units.
In the meantime, the ecosystem integration with Apple is unmatched on the time of writing. You may 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 advocate going for iPhone.
Android
Android additionally presents options that Apple doesn’t. You may arrange a number of customers on a tool in the event you’re sharing it with household or have completely 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 modify all method of settings for a bespoke expertise.
The opposite massive good thing about Android is that it’s open – you possibly can obtain particular ROMs or APKs, that are principally set up recordsdata, reasonably than going by way of an app retailer. This comes with its personal dangers, certain, however in order for you the newest software program for a cellphone left behind by the producer, an outdated PS1 sport, or all method of different distinctive apps, Android is the easiest way 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 cellular area, and each Apple and Android supply completely different advantages that come from two fairly completely different angles. In fact, the broad {hardware} within the Android market means there are many gaming-focused telephones, however Apple’s cross-device integration and rising companies 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 wonderful cellular video games. There’s Google’s Play Move on Android, however when it comes to the standard of the video games on the service, it may’t actually match Apple.
Apple Arcade additionally has unique video games, so if there’s one thing that’s caught your eye, be sure that it’s not an iOS unique. We’ve obtained a listing of the very best Apple Arcade video games so you possibly can see what’s on the service, however for our cash, it’s the very best cellular gaming service accessible for the time being.
Apple additionally has nice integration throughout all its units. You can begin enjoying one thing in your iPhone, choose 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 Move, and whereas it has way more apps included, the standard can be way more variable. It’s good, however take a look at a listing of video games accessible on the service to ensure you’re proud of the choice.
The place Android is the clear winner, nonetheless, is with gaming-specific {hardware}. Whether or not it’s the very best gaming telephones from Asus or Redmagic, Android is the one place you will get telephones particularly designed to be wonderful at enjoying cellular 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 safety features, completely different producers have completely different safeguards on high of it, making the Android facet fairly laborious to parse. Corporations like Samsung and Google have top-notch options to assist safety, and lots of promise at the least three years of software program and safety updates to maintain you safe as your system will get outdated.
There are different firms, nonetheless, that don’t supply such prolonged help, so it’s essential to examine how lengthy the corporate guarantees to maintain you safe. Being conscious of safety dangers is extremely essential, so make sure you 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 high billing in its advertising, nevertheless it’s not only a promoting level – the walled backyard of iOS means it’s simpler to maintain safe. iOS additionally permits you to ask apps to not observe you, which means you possibly can hold every thing personal even when downloading a brand new app.
Apple has not too long ago began pushing speedy safety response updates, too, that are fast fixes to minor points. Whereas we’d by no means say you’re 100% safe utilizing any system, Apple is our go-to – although Samsung additionally has a concentrate on 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 might, although it’s somewhat fiddly and irritating, so it could be simpler to go to an Apple Retailer or knowledgeable to get it sorted for you. That is unlikely to alter, too.
In the meantime, many Android producers satisfaction themselves on their repairability. Nokia is a pacesetter on this regard, with wonderful instruments that will help you hold your cellphone operating for longer with your personal two palms, serving to you keep inexperienced and hold your prices down whereas staying within the smartphone market. As at all times, repairability differs enormously throughout the Android market, so make sure you look into a person handset earlier than buying if repairability issues rather a lot to you.
iPhone vs. Android: which one must you select?
Selecting between iPhone and Android is hard, although it turns into rather a lot 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 the easiest way to go. In the meantime, you probably have particular {hardware} wants not catered to by Apple, or fancy tinkering a bit together with your cellphone by including distinctive software program and customizing the expertise, that’s what Android can do for you.
Any informal person can count on a superb expertise from each side of the tech coin – in the event you’re not going to delve deep into both, you’ll probably not see the numerous advantages and disadvantages that lie beneath. So, in the event you simply want a cellphone for primary cellphone issues, discover a handset that appears good at a superb value and you have to be proud of both Android or iOS.
For a straightforward metaphor, Apple’s iOS is like essentially the most luxurious kindergarten you’ve ever been to – every thing is tremendous easy, straightforward, and actually fairly beautiful, although there’s padding on all of the desk corners so that you don’t harm your self; your freedom is restricted. In the meantime, Android is like going to college for the primary time; it’s someplace you may make dozens of various errors as you attempt to work your manner by way of 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?