Experiences of people going from Android to Apple IOS

zanemoseley

Senior member
Feb 27, 2011
530
23
81
I've been using a Samsung Galaxy Proclaim (low budget Straight Talk, Verizon) for 15 months and have been pretty happy with it for the price phone it its. I have the opportunity to go back to Verizon with 2gb of data for just $11 more a month and have been thinking about it so I can get a nicer phone. Next the dilemma is whether to go with another Android phone like the LG G2 or make the switch to a 5S phone (or wait for the 6). I'm curious about other people's experiences when they switched from Android based phones to Apple phones. This isn't intended to be a Android versus Apple flame war as I know they both have their advantage and disadvantages.
 

gmaster456

Golden Member
Sep 7, 2011
1,877
0
71
Both have their merits and weaknesses. Honestly if android is working for you just stay with that. On the other hand you do have the opportunity to try something new. Frankly any phone would be an upgrade over a proclaim. Even a 4S or Galaxy S2. With IOS you can get most of googles apps likes gmail, chrome, drive, play music (finally)etc. So the transition should be fairly easy. That being said, iOS does have it's limitations such as not being able to do exactly what you want with it.

If I were you I personally would get something like a Moto X which would give you an extremely smooth, iPhone like experience with Android. It would also be a HUGE upgrade. It's also a different experience than the skinned one you got with the proclaim. The 5S is a great phone too however as is the 5C if you like colored options,
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
Apple VS Android is easy now. It comes down to one question:

Can you live with a 4 inch screen?

If no, Android. If yes, well then you actually have to consider what is best for you.
 

ponyo

Lifer
Feb 14, 2002
19,689
2,811
126
I recently switched from i9250 Galaxy Nexus to iPhone 5S. I still prefer Android but I've learned to tolerate and appreciate iPhone 5S. Reasons I didn't return the iPhone 5S:

1) FaceTime and iMessage. My family and friends are all using iPhones and iOS devices. My daughter contacts me via FaceTime and iMessage when I'm at work. FaceTime is the best videochat app.

2) Excellent camera. It's fast and takes good pictures. No more blurry shots.

3) Excellent battery life and amazing standby battery. There's virtually no standby battery drain with the 5S.

4) AirPlay. There's no competition. It's the best.

5) All the major Google apps and first party Apple apps. With the iPhone, you get the best of both worlds. The very best of Google and Apple. You have a choice to use Google Maps or Apple Maps. Apple Maps uses TomTom which is better in certain places. Siri and Google Search which is basically Google Now. FaceTime/iMessage or Google Hangout. Safari or Chrome. etc. With Android, you just get Google apps with zero access to Apple stuff. iPhone and iOS users can have their cake and eat it too.
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,414
1,574
126
Apple VS Android is easy now. It comes down to one question:

Can you live with a 4 inch screen?

If no, Android. If yes, well then you actually have to consider what is best for you.

I agree with this. Pretty good rundown by Ponyo too
 

pm

Elite Member Mobile Devices
Jan 25, 2000
7,419
22
81
For all the passion generated in these forums regarding the two main OS's, I like them both and find it easy enough to switch back and forth - as I often do.

When I'm on my iPhone, I miss Swype more than anything else, although the fully integrated Google Now is a close second (yes, iOS has Google Now, but it's an app and stops when you leave it), and I miss built-in maps not being Google Maps because I'll pull up Urbanspoon, will need directions and next thing I know Apple Maps will have me in a vacant lot (ok, only happened once).

On Android, I don't miss much about iOS... although the backup system works so well that I never notice it. And I've never found an Android phone with battery life as good as an iPhone. But nowadays they are "good enough".

But I find both OS's to be pretty equivalent. All the apps that I want are on both, they work approximately the same. I find it easy enough to switch back and forth, although I've yet to find a good way to transfer all text messages including MMS.
 

zaydq

Senior member
Jul 8, 2012
782
0
0
I enjoy both operating systems ONLY if the iOS version has a jailbreak available. Otherwise, i prefer Android.

The only thing i'm having a hard time coping with is that I always understood Android as the tinkerer's device. But theres nothing to tinker with in comparison to my previous jailbroken iphone 5.

Unless i'm missing something. All the roms are pretty much the exact same.

If you don't tinker and just use it as it comes out of the box, then i'd stick with Android. Its more productive imo than iOS.
 

Ravynmagi

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2007
3,102
24
81
I've been using Nexus phones and iPad tablets for a while now. I love Android as my phone because it's so easy to get my own content on it and it's just very flexible. But I like the iPads because the apps are so great and I'm typically only use tablets on wifi, so I can stream all my content (don't need to copy music or videos to the tablet).

I bought a Nexus 5 (upgraded from Nexus 4) and I got an iPhone 5S from work. So I'm playing with both phones.

My biggest issue with iOS in general is iTunes. I really never got the hang of sync files from iTunes to devices. These days even with my phone I can stream most stuff. I use Google All Access now, so no longer worry about the impossible task of copying my MP3 files to the phone. And I have Netflix and Amazon Prime and I think Amazon will soon let me watch TV and movies offline.

Though just yesterday I spent an hour trying to copy an audiobook to my iPhone. That was seriously annoying.

iTunes got a big update earlier this year, but it really seems as bad as ever. It's still confusing and it's still very slow. It would be nice if this thing wasn't so terrible and it's a barrier to my ability to fully embrace iOS. But fortunately for most of what I do I can live without using it.

The screen size isn't too bad really. I love the big 5 inch screen on my Nexus 5. However the smaller 4 inch screen on the iPhone is much easier to put in the pocket. And I have my Nexus 7 and iPad Mini, so I could always go to a small tablet if I need a bigger screen.

If I had to pick between these two devices though, the Nexus 5 is a no brainer for me.

To me the iOS advantage is it's beautiful tablet apps. But on the phone, I find most Android apps to be as good as iPhone apps. And the iOS just had too many restrictions like not being able to drag/drop files, easily root/jailbreak and install adblocking software, and just a lack of customizability that I've gotten used to on Android. I don't do widgets, but I love having an app drawer to find apps easily and being able to arrange my desktop icons my own way.
 

Fingolfin269

Lifer
Feb 28, 2003
17,948
31
91
I've gone back and forth a couple of times. Still have my N7 but am now using a 5S. I made myself write a letter so that I'd read it a year from now before inevitably going back to Android. The letter basically reads "The grass is not greener."
 
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RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
78,794
266
116
For those of you who dabble in both Android and iOS, in your opinion which has better apps?
 

zaydq

Senior member
Jul 8, 2012
782
0
0
For those of you who dabble in both Android and iOS, in your opinion which has better apps?

I'd say iOS. Both of them have very good apps and robust app stores. They both also share the exact same apps.

iOS though, has many great quality exclusives that just edge it ahead.
 

Fingolfin269

Lifer
Feb 28, 2003
17,948
31
91
I'd say iOS. Both of them have very good apps and robust app stores. They both also share the exact same apps.

iOS though, has many great quality exclusives that just edge it ahead.

I feel the same. Everything just seems more smooth. Polished. Maybe it's smoke and mirrors but that is how I perceive it. The Google experience is obviously better on the Android phones so if that is something important to you it is worth considering. I don't consider it to be a tipping point factor though.

To be honest my main gripe with iOS is the iPhone screen size. And because of the screen size the next gripe is the keyboard. iOS needs swype.
 

zerogear

Diamond Member
Jun 4, 2000
5,611
9
81
For those of you who dabble in both Android and iOS, in your opinion which has better apps?

I find it's a wash. There are extremely good quality apps on both sides, but there are extremely crap apps on both sides as well.
 

lopri

Elite Member
Jul 27, 2002
13,211
597
126
I disagree with poofyhairguy. At this point in time and onwards, I don't see myself using iPhones when they get bigger, which is given IMO. I think plenty of people will have coherent and sound reasons to choose one platform over another, and I would not belittle anyone for their choice of devices. (except for some bloggers who are completely brainwashed in one way or another - they deserve to be picked apart)

Having said that, if I were in the OP's shoes I would try out an iPhone. It sounds like the OP has not used an iPhone yet. I know I would have to see for myself in such a circumstance. Granted it can be an expensive experiment so I would plan ahead.

Edit: I might have misunderstood poofyhairguy. Yes, I know plenty of non-techie people chose Android this year for larger screens. I am expressing my views on my needs/wants.
 

pm

Elite Member Mobile Devices
Jan 25, 2000
7,419
22
81
For those of you who dabble in both Android and iOS, in your opinion which has better apps?

It's mostly a tie - although a bit in favor of iOS. Some apps seem better on Android than iOS, but the majority are the same on both. But there are more educational apps (good for the kids) and some of the better games seem to come out for iOS first and Android second. But I mostly call it a tie... everything that I want is available on both and works about the same on both.
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
For those of you who dabble in both Android and iOS, in your opinion which has better apps?

Depends on what you mean by "better."

Do you mean better looking apps, or better designed apps in basic categories? Then iOS easily. Many times the "same" major app is better in iOS.

Do you mean a greater range of apps with more capability (file management, media playback, camera replacement, GUI replacement via launchers, torrent apps, application backup apps, etc.)? Then Android easily. Android is quickly becoming as capable as desktop OSes in overall functionality.
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
At this point in time and onwards, I don't see myself using iPhones when they get bigger, which is given IMO.

Me too. I love all Android allows me to do. In retrospect I hated my time in the iOS sandbox because it was too locked down to be fun for me.

But as far as recommending to others, the "normal" people that will never play a mkv or emulate a PSX game? Well it will be hard to not recommend a 5 inch iPhone.
 

Tsaar

Guest
Apr 15, 2010
228
0
76
I have the opposite experience. I used an iPhone 4 for 2 years then I bought an iPhone 5 and used it for 6 months.

Due to a glitch in the AT&T system that no person could figure out, I was eligible for an upgrade immediately with my iPhone. I then traded my iPhone 5 in and got a Note 2. I had bought a Nexus 7 2012 and had already been in the Play Store. At first, I was fairly unimpressed with the Play Store, but now I actually compare the App Store on my wife's iPhone with my current phone / tablet and feel it is very comparable.

I hands down would choose Android, even with its shortcomings.

Pros:

- Widgets, Widgets, Widgets. I have 5 home screens. 4 of the 5 only have widgets. I barely ever need to open an app other than maps or a web browser because of how much useful information is there at my fingertips.

- Swype-style keyboard. Every time I try to use my wife's iPhone 5 I find the keyboard barely usable (it is SO TINY...and I have small fingers).

- Default apps.

Cons:

- No Siri: I miss lock screen Siri. I also miss the fact that Siri would interrupt my car bluetooth the same as a phone call to do hands-free driving functionality. I love Google Now, but it is a slightly different use case.

- I don't like having a public directory where EVERYTHING personal is stored. Things like my downloads, photos, documents, etc. Sometimes I download personal or potentially proprietary files that any app has complete access to then upload to the web if it is malicious. I have to TRUST that the apps I am using don't do this.

This is how I WISH Android worked: I have music in /sdcard/music. I downloaded PowerAmp (EXCELLENT music player if you love powerful bass). PowerAmp should attempt to access /sdcard/music and Android should prompt me allowing access to this SPECIFIC directory. There is no reason that it needs to be able to see any other directory. Currently in Android, no permissions are needed to read any file and utilize the web browser to steal everything on your phone in this public directory.

- No lock screen functionality. I use a PIN. I wish certain harmless task (such as Google Now information and camera [no access to photos]) were allowed while the phone is locked...I got real used to this with iOS.

I could keep going on, but in the end I much prefer Android. Mainly due to widgets, great apps that can be set as default (such as Power Amp), and SSO Google. Everytime I use my wife's iPhone (she makes me manage it), I get so fed up with needing a password for EVERY single app upgrade or free app download. I use long and unique passwords, so I always have to go dredge up my password manager just to upgrade her phone software / apps.

With Android, you type in your password once, and all Google apps seamlessly log in.

Oh...one more feature I love on iOS. Hardware encryption. Because of this, all iOS has to do it purge the encryption key and the entire flash drive is unrecoverable mess (insert NSA joke here). With Android this is not the case. Encryption has to be managed by the OS and there can be a slight performance impact.
 
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RockinZ28

Platinum Member
Mar 5, 2008
2,173
49
101
Go to the Verizon store, play with them...

Did the Proclaim even get past gingerbread? Android is a whole other beast these days, phenomenally better than before. Only used iOS on my former companies issued ip4. Not a fan.
 

gmaster456

Golden Member
Sep 7, 2011
1,877
0
71
For those of you who dabble in both Android and iOS, in your opinion which has better apps?

They're both even when it comes right down to it. Android apps generally do more due to the nature of the OS while iOS apps are slightly more polished but both are usable.
 

Joe1987

Senior member
Jul 20, 2013
482
0
0
I use both ecosystems on tablets and smartphones near daily, I still have to give the nod to iOS apps, particularly the tablet apps.

Personally, I prefer an Android phone, and use a Note 3, I've had every version of the G Note phone, I have an iP5 I rarely use, but use an iPod Touch 5th gen daily, iOS apps are better, they're updated more frequently, the interface is better and they have more features.

I also recommend going to the store and trying each phone to make up your own mind, phone choices depend on a ton of variables, you'l find one you like, buy it, it's honestly hard to make a bad choice with the flagship phones.
 

Chrono

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2001
4,959
0
71
I'm using a Note 2 but had a 5s for 2 weeks on Tmobile... was ok. Screens a bit small for my liking but the OS was alright. All the additions in iOS7 makes it seem more Android like now. Stand by battery was great for a device with a small battery. Camera was good too.
I just couldn't stand surfing the internet on it... pinch and zooming repeatedly sucks. Games were alright too... but again... just goes back to the screen size and how it would be great if apple adopted at least a 4.5" screen..
 

antef

Senior member
Dec 29, 2010
337
0
71
I think it's easy to switch between the two nowadays - they both have quick settings access, a notification area, great app selection, and access to the essential Google services. Despite how far Android has come, iOS is still superior in a number of ways - granular privacy controls, rogue apps can't run down your battery, etc. That said, iOS still really bugs me - don't show me Twitter and Facebook as sharing options when I don't even use either of those, for example. Or let me share to Hangouts or Gmail instead of only Messages and Mail. And of course the small screen. I think you can be relatively happy with either, it just comes down to some of your own specific preferences.
 

Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
23,720
1,501
136
I would have no problem acclimating to iOS since I've used it plenty even though I've never owned an iPhone, my problem is I just don't like it all that much.

To me it feels a bit like the OS X and iTunes from 5 years ago squished into a mobile interface but with 50% of it candy coated thanks to the latest version of the OS. It's not even the smallish screens that bother me - I have a Lumia 521 and ZTE Open (Firefox OS) that are just fine for me to operate, and I used to have a Kin One - it's the interface itself and smallish touch targets of everything within the OS. I know accessibility options and fonts can scale on iOS, it just seems to me that it really wasn't designed to be a mobile OS from the ground up, more like it was shoehorned into that role.

Which is ironic because the OS developer that takes the most flak for putting it's desktop OS into mobile devices - Microsoft - has actually made an OS, Windows Phone, that feels refreshingly simple and easy to use even on ~ 4 inch phones. I find iOS frustrating to use sometimes, and I don't have particularly "fat" fingers. From the home screen to the full screen apps, Windows Phone just feels more consistent in UI design and ease of use, and frankly I think other elements of the OS like the keyboard are better, too.

I like some of the iOS 7 changes (more so on the 5s and to some extent the 5c than on older hardware, where it's still buggy in my experience and from what I've heard), but some of the consistency is gone as a result. They learned from Microsoft's flat design with less skeumorphism, but they injected a far too bright color scheme and transparencies reminiscent of Vista which add nothing to the usability of their devices. The new physics and animations have also done nothing to improve iOS, they are just a new way to make it different and prettier simply because they can - which is kind of the opposite of what modern, clean, flat design is bringing to the table.

I think it's acceptable this round, but I think next generation Apple is going to have the same problem Microsoft did (but to a much lesser extent) with Windows Mobile a few years ago: updating a mobile OS works for about 7 years before users are ready for an entirely new operating system that isn't bogged down by legacy. iOS 7 solves much of the "staleness" of iOS, but I think Apple should be working on something truly new, and not just fingerprint readers and integration with their own future products.

The beauty of Android I think is the flexibility of it, and I'm very much happy with Sense 5.5 on my HTC One. But if I wasn't I could easily flash GPe onto it (had GPe running alongside Sense using a dual boot ROM), or Nova Launcher, or Smart Launcher (which I really like), or any number of other launchers, home screen replacement apps, etc. I even have Giganticon installed, which allows me to scale the home screen icons from normal size all the way up to full screen. Which sounds useless, but having 6 icons on a page Windows Phone style makes it a much more useable interface mounted in my car.

iOS on the other hand both lacks the kind of out-of-box, designed-for-mobile interface that Windows Phone has and the kind of flexibility that Android has. iOS had three big selling points over Android in the past: the lead in apps, but that's dissolving faster and faster with market share; the fluidity or smoothness of the UI, but that advantage is shrinking from Project Butter, Svelte, and ART; and the ease of use, which I think is also disappearing with improvements to Android via both Google and third-party manufacturer "skins" or even forks. Mostly what's keeping users coming back to iOS is ecosystem lock-in, but that's going to slow down as younger users and new users in other countries begin to use and love the other mobile operating systems.

To me the main reason iOS is still a major player is because it was first. If the three major mobile operating systems were released today and branding wasn't a factor it would hardly be the one I would choose. It still has some things going for it like being relatively fast and smooth on the newest of Apple hardware (which they are good at) and the camera is fairly good, but their ecosystem advantage won't last forever. I just don't like the current state of iOS or the future from what I can see for me to be very much interested in it.

I know it sounds like I dislike Apple, but I'm entirely open to switching if I liked the OS. I just don't, and I'm more than happy with Android on my HTC One and Windows Phone even on a low-end model like the Lumia 521. Something like the Lumia 1520 interests me more than going to a smaller screened device like the 5s, even though the 5s has good hardware and the most apps.
 
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