The introduction of the iPhone in 2007 marked the beginning of the smartphone era. Note that there was no other device similar to an iPhone around this time until Google launched the Android operating system in 2008 and HTC Corporation introduced the first Android phone, the HTC Dream, during the same year.
Both iPhones and Android phones have been embroiled in intense competition since then. Over the years however, iPhone has remained one of the most sought after players in the market. The public has witnessed its evolution—with each iteration bringing in a slew of hardware, software, and design improvements.
This article discusses the advantages of owning and using an iPhone, thus listing down the reasons why iPhone is better than Android phones.
iPhone vs. Android phones: The advantages of iPhone
1. After sales support: One of the notable advantages of iPhone over Android phones is a solid after sales support. Emerging Android phone manufacturers such as Vivo and Xiaomi have limited reach. On the other hand, although companies such as Sony and Samsung have their respective customer service and after sales arms, similar services from Apple remains unparalleled due to their better reachability or accessibility.
Through AppleCare for example, iPhone owners can post inquiries or receive technical support through online chat and phone calls. AppleCare also has several value-added warranty and insurance programs to include the AppleCare Protect Plan.
Apple also maintains a large network of authorized service providers from different parts of the globe. For example, Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia and the Philippines, South American countries such as Brazil, and European countries such as Spain and Germany have established chains of authorized resellers that also provide after sales services.
Essentially, iPhone users can receive customer support and after sales services from countries where Apple has an established market presence. Remember that Apple has an expansive global market reach. This is one of the primary reasons why iPhone is better than Android phone. After all, it is only practical for customers to have easy access to support and after sales services, especially if they bought a product with a premium price tag.
2. Updates and upgrades: Similar to after sales support, regular firmware and operating system updates or upgrades is another advantage of iPhone over Android phones. Although the Android operating system gets regular overhauls and iterations, these updates and upgrades do not reach all Android phones due to constraints from manufacturers and network carriers.
Android phones from small and emergent manufacturers usually do not receive any updates and upgrades at all. Meanwhile, phones from manufacturers such as Samsung and Sony usually receive late updates and upgrades. Companies need to tweak the newly released Android OS for software and hardware optimization purposes. Some carriers also add their tweaks before releasing the final update to their network subscribers. But even phones from prominent manufacturers are only eligible for updates and upgrades for a maximum of two years. Older generation phones are often disregarded.
On the other hand, iOS updates and upgrades from Apple are not only regular but also universal in terms of applicability. Older generation iPhones still receive consistent overhauls and iterations granted that their hardware specifications are still compatible with the revamped iOS. A particular iPhone from a specific generation will usually receive regular updates and upgrades up to four to five years from the date of its official market launch.
Longevity or longer product life through regular and almost universal updates and upgrades is another prime reason why iPhone is better than Android phones. This advantage also translates to value for money.
Although some may argue that Android phones can enjoy new OS upgrades and updates by rooting and installing custom ROMs, this procedure is too technical for average users. Furthermore, aside from voiding warranty, some rooting process and custom ROMs can damage a device. Of course, Android phones such as the Nexus and Pixel brands from Google have better updatability and upgradability than their counterparts.
3. The advantages of iOS: An iPhone vs. Android phones debate will not suffice without bringing the iOS vs. Android OS debate into the fold. Loyal Android phone users have banked on Android OS because of the high degree of openness and freedom it gives. This freedom comes with complexity however.
The customizability of the Android OS creates more options and routes for user-software interaction. Furthermore, the user experience across different android phones can vary because most manufacturers use their respective proprietary UI and OS on top of the Android OS.
Meanwhile, staunch supporters of Apple have regarded the simplicity of iOS as another reason why iPhone is better than Android phones. One of the upsides of iOS is its user interface. The entire look and feel are cleaner and more straightforward out of the box than Android OS. These make the iPhone more intuitive to use than Android phones.
Better app ecosystem and availability of better apps are another collective advantage of iOS over Android OS. While the app ecosystem for Android OS is bigger, iOS has a larger pool of high quality developers that produce high quality apps. Spams and useless apps are persistent in the Google Play Store. Some developers also prioritize developing exclusively for iOS or prefer releasing apps first on the Apple App Store because of the active user base of iOS and iPhone.
Although both iPhones and Android phones are vulnerable to security attacks and exploits or malware, the Android OS is significantly more vulnerable. This stems from the presence of unofficial app stores and other venues for downloading malicious apps on Android phones. Meanwhile, apps in iOS can only be downloaded and installed via the App Store and iTunes.
4. Software and hardware performance: Possibly, one of the best arguments or reasons why iPhone is better than Android phones centers on superior software and hardware integration and optimization. Take note that iPhones are not only assembled with the most recent hardware technology but also designed and built with seamless software and hardware integration in mind.
Hardware specifications and innovations have always been part of the great iPhone vs. Android phone debate. The recent years have witnessed the emergence of Android phones with faster processing clock speed and multiple number of cores, higher RAM, better GPU, and better camera, among others. On the other hand, while there are Android phones that run under a higher multiple-core processor and higher RAM, the most recent iPhone counterpart would often have lesser cores and lower RAM. Some Apple naysayers would take these facts against iPhones.
Nonetheless, despite having lower number of cores and lower RAM, iPhones perform on par and even better than Android phones. Both the iOS and apps are optimized to fully exploit the hardware capabilities of iPhone. Simply put, high-end Android phones seem more powerful on paper but the performance of the most recent iPhone will always remain more stable and consistent because of better hardware and software integration.
Individual cores in an iPhone CPU are faster than the individual cores found in Android phones. Remember that few faster cores are better than slower ones. With regard to RAM, Android phones are less efficient in memory management when compared against iPhones. Android OS relies on Java that is dependent on junk collection scheme and periodic memory clean ups. The entire process consumes more RAM.
5. Complementary Apple products: It is practical and sensible for owners and users of Apple products such as the MacBook Pro or the iPad to own and use an iPhone instead of an Android phone. Thus, owning an iPhone brings forth several benefits if an individual already owns another Apple product.
One of these benefits involves the convenience from using a single Apple ID. An all-access account allows a user to manage his or her digital identity, files and applications, and device preferences across different devices. This means seamless transition between Apple devices.
File and data synchronization is another benefit of using iPhone alongside other complimentary Apple products. For example, the iMessage in an iPhone syncs with the messaging apps found in the iPad and macOS computers such as the MacBook Pro. This means that messages and contacts are synchronized across different Apple devices. The same is true for other productivity apps from Apple such as the Safari browser and Mail email client. User preferences remain synchronized across Apple devices.
It is also worth mentioning that both iOS and macOS have several similarities when it comes to the design language of their respective user interface. Facets of the user experience such as navigation, customization, and app management are considerably similar across an iPhone, an iPad, and a Mac computer, thus promoting ease of use due to familiarity.
Conclusion: Why iPhone is better than Android phones
Should you buy an iPhone instead of an Android phone? The aforementioned advantages of iPhone collectively correspond to the reasons why iPhone is better than Android phones. From the list and discussions, after sales support and long-term updates and upgrades are notable primary reasons why iPhone is a better option than Android phones.
Note that iPhones are considerably more expansive than the average Android phones. Low-end to mid-range Android phones cost 50 percent less than the newest iPhone. However, iPhone is a more practical option. Both strong and accessible after sales support and long-term software updates and upgrades give iPhone longer product lifespan than an average Android phones.
Even high-end or flagship Android phones will only last for about two years before they start to feel outdated due to the dwindling tech support and infrequency of software updates and upgrades.
Unparalleled hardware and software integration and optimization is another primary reason why iPhone is better than Android phones. Apps usually run better on an iPhone than on average Android phones or on par or even better on high-end Android phones.
The advantages of the iOS, in addition to the advantages of owing and using complementary Apple products are secondary reasons why iPhones are better than Android phones. Thus, coupled with solid and long-term support, iPhones give consumers a true value for money.