Ten reasons why the iPhone is better than Android phones

As someone who used Android phones for several years before switching to the iPhone, I have pretty strong opinions on these arch-rivals. There are many reasons I love Android phones, such as the plethora of customization options and a truckload of features on a budget. But when it comes to sustained reliability and performance, I have to say that the iPhone wins on almost every count.

It’s not surprising then that according to Statista, iPhone users in the United States have been consistently increasing since 2014. There are currently over 113 million iPhone users in the United States, who make up about 47 percent of all smartphone users.

I’m sure this will continue to rise as more and more people opt for Apple devices’ superior performance and long-term cost-effectiveness. Here are my top ten reasons why the iPhone is incomparably better than Android.

1. User experience

After owning three Android phones from different manufacturers, namely Samsung, Asus, and Huawei, I found it quite confusing how each interface was unique with varying settings and options.

This lack of consistency can be frustrating for most users and requires a learning curve each time you get a new phone. It can be particularly tricky for the non technically inclined people out there.

The iPhone, on the other hand, simplifies things and is incredibly intuitive. Most of us want a phone that works well and is easy to use — that’s exactly what an iPhone offers. It might come at a premium price, but it pays off in the long term.

This is reflected in the results of the Cell Phone Brand Loyalty 2021 survey conducted by SellCell, which revealed that the brand loyalty for Apple is at an all-time high of nearly 92% (up from 90.5% in 2019). Meanwhile, Samsung, which is the leader in the Android market, has seen an 11.7% drop from 85.7% in 2019 to 74% in 2021.

An Android might have more customization, but that doesn’t help in your everyday life. Moreover, after owning one iOS device, switching to another is a breeze, and you’ll find all the same settings and options you’re used to.

2. Apple ecosystem

One of the primary reasons why an iPhone is better than Android is its ecosystem. The excellent user experience extends across Apple’s product lineup. Before owning an iPhone, I owned a MacBook and the value it added to my life compelled me to get an iOS device. I love how my apps and data sync seamlessly, thanks to iCloud.

Whether it’s Messages, FaceTime, or Photos, I can effortlessly access anything I need on either device. Previously, with my Android phone, I would have to manually transfer data to my computer, which consumed considerable time and just wasn’t feasible.

Even though Google has gotten better at integrating its services across devices in recent years, it doesn’t offer the same ease of use and convenience that the Apple ecosystem does.

One of my favorite features is the Universal Clipboard. It lets me copy content such as text, images, photos, and videos on one Apple device and paste it on another Apple device. Further, I can even take a picture on my iPhone and have it appear instantly on my Mac. So helpful when working on documents or image editing!

Moreover, when I’m working on more intricate projects like video editing, I can use my iPad as a second display that extends or mirrors my Mac display.

I can go on and on about its ecosystem. The long and short of it is that it’s pretty nifty and challenging to mimic the same using Android phones.

3. Hardware-software integration (performance and speed)

iPhones have the upper hand in hardware and software functioning optimally together to provide a superior user experience. This can be attributed to Apple’s control over both the hardware and software aspects. Most Android phones are built by varied manufacturers, while the software comes from Google. So, it becomes tricky to achieve certain advanced feats.

For instance, Face ID on iPhone uses a sophisticated 3D scan of your face via the TrueDepth camera. Android phones have tried to replicate this function but have not achieved the same speed, smoothness, and reliability.

Other examples of what superior hardware-software integration can achieve are Apple’s Animoji and Memoji. Samsung’s AR Emoji, which is supposed to be an equivalent, doesn’t quite manage to replicate the magic. Therefore, to make the most of unique features like this, the iPhone is unbeatable.

Moreover, iPhones tend to perform better and faster over a longer period. While Android phones are notorious for lagging with heavy usage, iPhones seldom face this issue thanks to optimized software and hardware that work well together.

4. Timely updates

Another thing I love about the iPhone is the frequency and consistency of software updates. If your iOS device is eligible for the latest update, you can download it immediately upon launch.

The updating process isn’t as seamless with Google’s Android. Google only gives direct updates to its products, like the Pixel lineup. Other manufacturers like Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, etc., have to optimize updates for their devices which causes delays and inconsistencies.

Timely updates also ensure better privacy and security for iOS than Android, as explained below.

5. Privacy

Apple is known to care about privacy, and the latest iOS 14 highlights this. I love all the privacy enhancements it offers, such as the ability to share approximate location instead of precise location with apps, access to limited photos, and the green and orange indicators for when the mic or camera is turned on.

Further, Apple recently announced Privacy labels which enable the App Store to provide detailed insights into the data collected by each app and allow users to make informed choices of which apps they want to use.

Moreover, Apple does not rely on user data for revenue generation, while Google’s entire business model is centered on data. So, Android lags in providing privacy controls and is notorious for gathering your personal information.

6. Security

Google’s security updates have become more consistent in recent times, but I believe they still don’t match Apple. For starters, Apple’s closed source code makes it harder for hackers to find security flaws.

Further, Android’s open Play Store marketplace makes it easier to distribute malware apps. In fact, there have been instances when even famous, highly ranked apps like TikTok and WeChat have allegedly contained spyware. Then, there was the viral Face app challenge that also raised serious privacy concerns. One most recent example is that of a Clubhouse imposter app that can gain unauthorized access to login credentials from other apps.

The risk is even higher when users opt for apps from outside the Play Store. So, while there is a greater variety of Android apps, you can never be sure which can truly be trusted. I much rather prefer the assurance of the Apple App Store that offers a smaller selection of higher quality, safer, and more reliable apps.

7. Exclusive apps

Speaking of apps, Android might boast a wide variety of them, but iOS always gets the best ones first.

For instance, Instagram was initially launched for iOS in 2010 and later extended to Android in 2012. More recently, the audio social media sensation Clubhouse is exclusively available on iOS and may come to Android a little later.

This sort of exclusivity maybe because the iOS development environment is more favorable than its Android counterpart, with better access to audio, image, and video manipulation technology. Moreover, many iOS users use the latest version of iOS, meaning a developer can take advantage of new features without excluding a large portion of the market.

At the same time, from personal experience, I can vouch for how many apps offer a better interface and smoother experience on iOS than Android.

So, if you love apps as much as I do, iOS is the platform for you, and the iPhone certainly wins over Android devices.

8. No bloatware

I’ve always despised Android phones because of the plethora of unwanted apps they come preinstalled with. This bloatware not only takes up space but is often impossible to get rid of.

While Samsung and other Android phone makers have attempted to minimize this in recent years, it has not effectively eliminated unwanted bloatware.

There are no such problems on an iPhone, and the stock apps such as FaceTime, iMessage, etc., are beneficial and feature-rich. This makes for a great experience right from when you unbox and set up your iPhone.

9. Better resale value

Apple is an elite brand, and this offers its products the market advantage of holding on to their value much longer than their competitors. According to Business Insider, reports have shown that after a year, iPhones retain around 15% more value than Samsung phones. So, a used iPhone is likely to fetch a much better resale price than an Android phone of equivalent specifications.

Moreover, thanks to Apple’s popularity, it’s much easier and quicker to find buyers for used Apple devices than Android phones. This may also be because Apple supports older phones with the latest updates much better than Android, allowing even old devices to have some of the latest features and retain their value.

10. Great support

When you buy an iPhone, you have the assurance of excellent customer support directly from Apple. For Android, you have to go through your carrier or phone manufacturer, which complicates and lengthens the process. AppleCare is a bit pricey but worth it because of how it eases warranty and insurance claims.

Apple Stores, too, provide exceptional service with well-trained staff who get your issues resolved as quickly as possible.

So, when you have an iOS device, you never need to go through carrier services or look up obscure customer service numbers to get help with troubleshooting your issues.

The battle continues…

With all that said, I have to note that I have nothing against Android phones. They do offer their advantages, but iOS wins when it comes to the aspects described above.

I think this has played a significant role in the success and growing popularity of the iPhone globally. More than 1.5 billion iPhones have been sold since 2009, making this one of the world’s most used smartphones. It’ll be interesting to see how this figure evolves in the coming times.