The Operating system is a software that controls pretty much everything about how a phone functions. It powers the phone and determines what it looks like, how it is being used and which apps can run on it.
Most times, choice of which operating system to settle for can be a little bit confusing. With a lot of suggestions here and there and a bit of personal experience, one might decide to try something new.
But how do you know that you are about making the right decision? Choice of operating system greatly affects the whole interface of a mobile device and thus the user experience.
You certainly do not want to settle for something you eventually will not enjoy. In this article we will be making a comparison, showing the differences between the two main Operating systems dominating the world of smart phones and we let you decide which is best suited for you.
Below are the two most common Operating Systems for Mobile devices:
Android OS:
It is the most widely used Operating system, designed for touchscreen mobile devices like smartphones and tablets and is adopted by a wide range of mobile phone manufacturers such as Samsung, Oppo, OnePlus, HTC, Techno, Infinix etc.
The Android operating system looks and behaves a bit differently depending on the device it runs on but the basic features are the same. Currently, the latest version of the Android OS is Android 11.
iOS (Apple):
The name iOS is synonymous with Apple. The iOS formerly known as iPhone OS was designed and is owned by Apple Inc. It was launched on the 29th June, 2007.
It is the world’s second most used mobile operating system after Android, mainly written in C, C++, Objective-C, assembly language and Swift.
All iPhones and Apple touch screen devices use iOS and, unlike Android, the user experience of the operating system is broadly similar across all Apple devices.
Regular updates of the iOS are released each year, but there are limitations to the older iPhones as they might not be able to run newer versions of the iOS. This means you will miss out on new and latest features and security patches. The latest version of the iOS is the iOS 15.
Having known a little about the various operating systems, lets get right to it.
Here are the most basic things you need to know about the Android OS and the iOS:
1. Operating Speed of the System:
After years of using both platforms on a regular basis, I can state that the iPhone has far less problems and slowdowns.
The majority of the time, iOS outperforms Android in terms of performance. Given the internals of the iPhone, this seems absurd. Apple has a two-year advantage on the finest Android phones, which typically employ Qualcomm's Snapdragon series chips, thanks to the A-series chips that Apple produces in-house.
In Geekbench 5 and 3DMark's Wild Life stress tests, the iPhone 12 handily defeats both the Samsung Galaxy 20 and the Google Pixel 5. The most powerful of iPhones (The iPhone 13 pro max) currently uses just 6GB of RAM, this feature would be considered mid-range for android devices which feature up to 12GB of RAM.
2. User Interface / Ease of Use:
Despite the fact that most Android phone manufacturers do their best to create these devices, iPhones remain the most user-friendly phones to date. The appearance and feel of iOS have remained consistent throughout time.
One of the advantages of the iPhone versus Android phones is that it functions in much the same way as it did in 2008, and it is consistent across all iOS devices. If you've used an iOS device before, you'll be able to get right into another and understand how it works. Simply pick it up, turn it on, and tap the app you want to use. Despite Apple's enhancements over the years, such as Control Center, the iPhone remains a simple device to master.
Android, on the other hand, has a higher level of complexity, requiring more digging through menus to get the setting you require, several home screens, and more variety between phone model interfaces. With iOS, because of Apple's famed love of limiting users to its way or the highway, interface layout and settings There isn't much to iOS, which is part of its appeal.
Many iPhone users don't desire a phone that they can experiment with and personalize. They want a device that works effectively, is simple to operate, and gets them to their content with minimal effort. iOS has a user interface that is so intuitive that there is essentially no learning curve. They are more constant and straightforward.
Finally, in some key aspects, iOS is simpler and easier to use, but Android is slightly different on different manufacturers' devices. Inconsistency between phone makers creates a learning curve, as most Android phones look and feel different from one another.
3. Security and Safety of the OS:
According to surveys conducted by the software security giant Norton, Android phones are targeted by a higher percentage of malware than iOS phones. Because Apple only enables iPhone users to download iOS apps through the App Store, you can rest assured that any apps you download for your iPhone are safe.
The App Store will not allow a submitted app to be released if it contains malicious content. Apple pushes updates to all iOS devices directly, helping to contain any breaches as soon as they're discovered and disinfecting everyone's devices, regardless of carrier. Unless you have a Pixel or Nexus, Google won't be able to accomplish that for Android users.
In addition, the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) revealed to the world that even if you have physical possession of someone's iPhone, breaking into it and accessing the data requires the assistance of a highly trained hacker. They don't anticipate iPhones becoming infected.
iOS employs a technique known as "sandboxing," which prohibits any program you install from accessing data from other apps, thereby enhancing security and privacy. Google, on the other hand, owns the Android operating system and is constantly working to improve its security. If you have an Android smartphone, you may quickly change your privacy settings to make it safer.
4. Virtual Assistant and Voice command:
Siri, Apple's voice-activated virtual assistant, understands and responds to dictation and spoken commands. Many capabilities are included in Siri, like reading sports scores and standings, making restaurant reservations, and locating movie times at the local cinema. You may also use your voice to write texts and emails, set calendar appointments, and interact with your car's music and navigation system.
Google Now, an Android assistant, has comparable capabilities, as well as the ability to keep track of your calendar and deliver verbal reminders when it's time to leave. It has voice search and dictation capabilities.
However, in 2019, according to a study by Perficient in which 5,000 questions were asked of five assistants, Google had the most correct responses, and Siri didn't even try to answer half of the questions that Assistant answered correctly. Finally, while you may use Google Assistant or Google Home on an iPhone, Siri is exclusively available on Apple devices.
5. Second-hand Value:
Although this isn't one of the things iOS does better than Android, Apple does have a market advantage over the majority of its mobile competitors.
iPhones, iPads, and other Apple gadgets have a far higher resale value than Android devices.
When it's time to upgrade your devices, you'll be able to resell them for a higher price.
Furthermore, because Apple items are so popular, they tend to sell significantly more quickly.
6. Cloud storage services:
When it comes to online storage and automatic backups, Apple is still falling behind.
Google provides 15GB of free storage and supports multiple platforms. With iCloud, you only receive 5GB of storage and it only works on Windows, Mac, and iOS.
If you require a lot of extra storage, Google One costs $2 per month for 100GB ($20 per year), whereas Apple costs $1 for 50GB and $3 for 200GB. Apple's monthly fee for 2TB has increased to $10. Google will also give you 2TB for that amount, but if you pay for a year in advance, you'll save $100 ($8.33 per month).
7. Customization and Personalization:
One of Android's key advantages has always been its ability to be easily customized.
You can personalize your phone in a variety of ways, including changing the layout of your home screen, adding widgets and shortcuts, and even changing your entire user experience with launchers.
For iPhone users, iOS 14 was a game-changer, with significantly more support for widgets on the iOS home screen.
While this may appear to be more of a game at first, some users have used widget-customizing programs to drastically alter the appearance of their devices.
However, it still falls short of Android, which allows third-party launchers to transform your phone into something altogether different.
The disparity between iPhone and Android isn't as wide as it used to be. Both platforms have tremendous technology, and the software differences appear to be shrinking with each upgrade.
Of course, Android is Google-centric, which some users may dislike.
Apple is more expensive than Android, so if you're on a budget, you might want to check out what Android has to offer. This could be one of the reasons why Android is the most popular operating system on the planet.
So, have you made up your mind on which operating system is best for you? In case there are other reasons you would consider before making a choice of mobile phone, check this article on "How to make the best smartphone choices for purchase: Factors to consider".
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