Top 4 Reasons Why Android Beats iPhone

The unending “war” between Google’s Android and Apple’s iPhone in the smartphone world has been ongoing since 2007 after the introduction of both smartphone operating systems; Android and iOS.

According to Statista, Android and Apple iOS jointly control the mobile OS market with almost 99% of the global market share. Android has been leading Apple in global market share since 2012. Android dominates the market with 74.6% of the global market share, with Apple controlling 24.82%. As of last September, 51.8 of American smartphone users were Android users while 47.4 were Apple users.

Considering the myraid of smartphone manufacturers that use Android OS in their devices, Android’s lead in market share isn’t a coincidence, unlike iOS which isn’t open source and therefore only controlled by Apple. There are more obvious reasons which include, accessibility, pricing and, of course, battery life.

What are the top 4 reasons we feel that Android is the champion over iPhone? Let’s jump in and take a look

1. Versatility

Are you a gamer looking for a beast to handle your insatiable thirst for PUBG or gaming on ultra settings? Android has got you covered; are you someone who’s never off your phone for a minute and you need a bigger battery to handle your heavy usage without you having to charge your phone every hour? Android has got you covered; are you someone who’s not willing to spend $1000 on a smartphone? And you just need something to call and text with… Well, again, Android has got you covered.

There’s literally hundreds (if not thousands) of Android devices released every year compared to Apple’s limited iPhone lineup. Different manufacturers release hundreds of Android devices every year. There’s just too much to choose from, depending on what you want.

With Android, you have a wide range of processors to grace your device, numerous camera setups, different screen sizes and quality, bigger batteries e.t.c.

The choices are just endless.

2. Better value

This naturally flows on from the first point I stated above. When you’re talking about smartphones being budget friendly, Android comes to mind. Affordability is a key factor for Android’s dominance world-wide. Almost everyone can afford an Android device. Like, there’s a device for literally everyone!

Android has a massive range of devices from a wide swathe of manufacturers with a wild variety of prices and budget options. If you want a mid-range flagship or a budget device that doesn’t lose out on all the basic functionalities it’s expensive flagship counterparts include, be rest assured that you’ll find one that’ll suit your needs. The sheer variety of Android smartphones from manufacturers like Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, One Plus, ZTE, LG, and others is staggering. You get different models from different lineups depending on how much you’re willing to spend. In contrast, iPhones are prohibitively expensive for many. If you’re looking for an expensive device that matches or surpasses the iPhone, you can get them, but if you’re on a budget, then Android is pretty much your only option. For an average person, everything is slightly expensive when iPhones or Apple is involved; accessories, battery replacements, cloud storage… basically everything!

3. Customization

This has always been one of the strong points Android has over iPhone, the level of customization Android allows. Even if it’s never admitted, every iPhone user wish they could alter something on their device’s UI, be it the “minimal” looking home screen with plain icons all over, or they prefer Google Chrome’s UI over Apple’s default browser, Safari browser.

Okay, we get it, Apple isn’t all about being fancy with launchers or widgets. Apple’s aim is to provide something simple that just does what you want it to, while still having full control over your entire user experience. Still, it doesn’t hurt to add some customizations and flexibility for users.

While Apple fans may claim that only hardcore geeks are concerned with all the customization options Android has to offer, we all know this isn’t true. For example, most iOS users loved it when Apple started allowing third party keyboards and widgets. That on its own is a proof that flexibility is what people want, not just a plain UI that is looks the same across every device.

With Android, you can customize almost every aspect of your user interface. You get the choice of different third party launchers, widgets to spice up your home screen, live wallpapers, third party keyboards, down to the option to change your device’s default apps and even your custom ROM if you wanted. These are just a few things Apple will never give you the freedom of exploring.

4. Expandable storage

An average Android device comes with 64gb of hard drive, what do you do then if you need more storage space? Well, with iPhone, your only option is to get a new device with higher storage capacity, while on Android, all you just need to do is get a micro SD card to expand your storage. While this isn’t a hugely predominant feature, it’s still a noteworthy option.

Another advantage Android has over Apple is the inclusion of a true working file system. On an iPhone, there’s little flexibility to what you can explore on your device’s storage because iOS’ permissions are very restricted. On Android, you can navigate through every folder on your device, even your device’s root folder can be explored with special Apps like ES File Explorer.

Apple also tried introducing a similar file exploring system in its iOS 12 update, but it’s nowhere near Android’s level of control. Apple is now getting inspired by many Android features and is trying its best to implement them in its iOS system. Apple isn’t oblivious to the fact that users need a certain level of flexibility with their devices, hence the replication of Android features, features that Android has had for years.

Honourable mentions of other features that give Android an edge over iPhone

• USB Type-C charging ports: There’s a broad universe of ports and peripherals to work with on Android. You can use a USB cable on a wide array of devices. Almost every laptop, television, or digital device works with a USB port, making it easy to pair or use your Android device seamlessly with them. On the other hand, iPhones only use Apple’s proprietary lightening port which is limited to only iPhones and iPads. Ironically, even Apple’s MacBook uses USB-C.

• Google integration: Google is considered “King of The Web,” and most of Android’s core apps, its app gallery; Google playstore, cloud storage and a whole array of Android’s features are controlled by Google. Google services are available for iPhones too, but it can never be as integrated as it is on Android. That’s a clear win for Android, considering that most internet users can’t do without Google.

• More free app and games: This has its disadvantages and as well, advantages. iOS gets most apps way before it gets ported to Android because of iOS’ limited lineup, therefore, iOS apps are always stable and bug free. iOS app developers just have to make their apps compatible with very few devices, but over on Android, developers have to fine tune apps to work with thousands of Android devices out there. Still, it isn’t much of a downside, considering most apps on Android work without any issues. Another advantage for Android is; some paid apps on Apple’s App store are free on Android. You can’t escape the fact that there are more free games and apps on Android than there are on iOS. Developers overlook the price tag part on iOS for ad-supported ports on Android.

The smartphone world is evolving, and so is Android

Android has come a long way since 2007 and it’s here to stay. Android continues to improve at a faster rate. The big user base and the wide range of manufacturers producing Android devices continue to evolve at a faster pace than the competition. Think about it, Android devices were the first to feature fingerprint readers, retina scanners, high-resolution displays and edge-to-edge screens. The list goes on and on.

We’d love to hear your opinion

So why do you think Android is better than iPhone, are there any other features that attracted you to Android? Or why do you think otherwise that iPhone is better than Android? Are there specific features that’s keeping you from porting to Android? Post a comment below and let us know.

Guest article written by: Adekoya Adedire is a freelance writer and content strategist. He helps businesses to generate massive value with compelling content so they can expand their reach, grow their audiences, and boost their profits. When he doesn’t write, Adedire loves to read and learn about technology. Connect with him on Facebook or LinkedIn.