The crusade between the world’s most loved Operating Systems Android (designed by Google) and iPhone Operating System (iOS designed by Apple) is by no means-ending soon. Android has 74% of the total market share and iOS has 26%.
If we ask the supporters, these numbers do not mean anything to them. Both the systems have such staunch and loyal supporters.
This battle baffles the newcomers who are new to this war. It leaves them in the dilemma about which Operating System should they go for.
Every individual is different and so are the requirements. We are going to have a look at all the necessary aspects of Operating Systems which should be reviewed before purchase.
1. Number of Available Applications
If we look at the sheer number of available applications in the market, undoubtedly Android (which gets the applications from Google Play) will win this war. There are
3.3 million applications available in the Android Market
2.2 million applications available for iOS
We believe that it is just not the number that should matter. There should be some other factors also responsible for the selection.
Firstly, Apple is a little stricter in terms of the apps it allows. Hence, they believe in providing quality apps. This part is sometimes neglected a bit by Google which may result in a security issue.
Secondly, Apple devices come with certain pre-installed apps and they are a bit vigilant about which apps should be downloaded. On the other hand, Android provides the freedom to users in this respect.
It will be your choice as to what do you prefer – a secure environment or freedom?
2. Battery Life
We need to understand that Android is an Operating system which is used to power a lot of companies to power their devices like
- Samsung
- LG
- Motorola
- Nokia
- MI and many more.
As it is used by varied companies they have different types of options available. There are some great Android devices available that offer ultra-high capacity batteries.
In comparison to that, devices that run on iOS were required to be charged more frequently initially but the scenario is changing.
Now the battery life has increased considerably even if we charge less frequently. There is no clear winner in this aspect.
3. Budget-Friendliness
In general, Apple products are expensive. Even the cost of one of the oldest versions iPhone 6S, which was released five years ago (at the time of writing), starts at $200 on Amazon.
In fact, the iPhone 11 Pro costs a whopping $1000. As compared to that, Android offers quite a lot of variety. There are some expensive versions available but at the same time, even affordable models are found.
If you are looking for a budget phone then Android is what you should go after. However, we need to keep in mind that Apple phones have a better resale value in comparison to Android.
4. Artificial intelligence (AI) and Voice Assistants
The usage of Artificial Intelligence is increasing by leaps and bounds in the modern world. Our digital devices have made this possible. Android offers Google Assistant and iOS has Siri to offer.
The former is well developed and it is quite mature. Siri in the initial stage was very basic, however, it has definitely improved. But, in sum, it is Android which has an edge over iOS here.
5. User-Friendliness
When iPhones were launched, they awed people because of the ease of use they used to offer. Nowadays, the scenario has changed.
The same amount of user-friendliness is offered by Android. One reason behind the same is the number of options available to select from.
There might be a few Android models that would be clumsy to use. But, all in all, the users praise Android devices for the simplicity of use it provides.
6. Compatibility
In today’s modern world, we are surrounded by gadgets. These gadgets can be connected to an Android device as it uses standard USB ports for connecting.
This is not the case with iPhones. You would require specialized gadgets that can be connected with its proprietary Lightning port.
On top of that, USB cables and devices are cheaper in comparison to Lightning ports which are required to connect to iOS.
7. Security
There are more than 2.5 billion active users of Android and 1.4 billion active users of Apple. The more the users, the more will be the circulation of the malware.
There is more malware designed for Android in comparison to iOS. We have to accept that Android users are not safe from such attacks from malware as Google is a little negligent in terms of security.
If security is your requirement, we suggest opting for iOS, as they are very rigid in terms of rules and provide robust security.
8. Versions Updates
The regular updates of the essential for incorporating the latest features in the phone. Along with that, it is also useful for security reasons as they would make the necessary changes to saving your phone from the latest cyber threats.
Apple is much ahead of Android in this aspect.
There are more than 50% of the total devices which run on the latest version of iOS which is iOS 13.
There have been only a few devices that have upgraded to the latest version of Android (Android 10). In fact, only 10.4% of the total users had upgraded to the penultimate version Android 9 Pie.
9. Integration
There are many devices used by modern users. Some of them are….
- Smartphones
- Tablets
- Laptops
- Virtual Assistants
- Smartwatches
- Music players
If they are able to integrate well with each other, the life of the user becomes easy. Both the operating systems have many devices offered by their manufacturers.
They synchronize seamlessly with one another so there is ideally no problems faced by the user. There is no clear winner in this area.
10. Games
Both Operating Systems provide gaming options. However, when we actually compare the experience provided by both of them, we find iOS to be much better than Android.
The domination of Nintendo and PSP is greatly reduced by Apple. iPod touch and iPhone plethora of superb games with amazing graphics and millions of players. iOS provides a much better gaming experience in comparison to Android.
Our Verdict
Every user is different with different requirements. For instance. if a budget is important to you, opt for Android and if security is crucial for you, opt for iOS. Hence, depending on your needs, you should make a decision based on our suggestions.
— Harikrishna Kundariya, co-founder, Director of eSparkBiz
