Cell phone OS

[AutoMechanic]

As someone that has both I’ll say that I much prefer the iPhone. I’ll try to be as unbiased as possible in my thoughts. For someone like me who doesn’t really know a lot about technology the iPhone is user friendly and overall I like the operating system a lot better. When I first began getting Android it was only because my parents are anti Apple so I had to settle. Till I convinced them to get me an iPhone lol. Since switching 5 years ago I’ve been so much happier. You can just feel the difference in quality and user interface it’s just so much better. Also I’ve found the support to be better overall as well. One con is the battery life overall like it last awhile but the battery health goes down rather quickly especially if you FaceTime or are on the phone a lot or are a heavy user I’ve noticed. That’s really the only con.

My sister and brother in law have the Google Pixel. My brother in law’s is the Pixel 7 Pro and sister just got the 8 Pro. They like them but I was holding them and they just feel like the quality isn’t there. Personally I purchased the iPhone 15 Pro at release day last year and I love it. It’s very light because of the titanium body. The one thing I hate is the lack of colors on the pro models but I can kinda understand it. For someone like me color is a big factor if I’m spending big money on it but as long as their is blue I’m fine lol. But trying to be as unbiased as possible I think the iPhone is money well spent. Heck even if you purchased a last years refurbished model it would still be worth it. The iPhone is also supported longer than any other phone as well which is nice. Personally I like to buy a new one every 2-3 years though but it could last much longer than that. If you don’t need a pro model or pro max (bigger, better camera) model the regular base model or the plus (if you like bigger phones) would work just fine for you. One thing I really like about the newest iPhone series is they done away with the notch at the top and you get the whole screen now. That was a huge improvement.

My parents have been looking at the Galaxy S24 Ultra series but they said they are actually wanting to give Apple a try so I’m hoping they will because they were never happy with their Galaxy S21 Ultras from the beginning so they want to try something different. One thing I absolutely hate that you will probably like is that Apple switched to USB-C with the recent iPhone model too. I despise their decision because Apple is supposed to be viewed as premium and different but it’s one of the things I have to sacrifice for quality.

Also heads up too if you want to get an iPhone come September when the new model releases you can probably get the 15 series for a good bit cheaper or if you want the newest one presumably called the 16 it will be available in September too.

 

[alarmguy]

Android's advantage is the variety of phones and manufactures to choose from. Sub $100. to $1000+. There isn't a cheap iPhone. The high-end Android and iPhone's are very similar in capability.

This is true, if you dont want to spend $400 on an Apple cell phone get a cheaper Android.
Higher end phones from all companies are the same price range.

 

[alarmguy]

... The one thing I hate is the lack of colors on the pro models but I can kinda understand it. For someone like me color is a big factor if I’m spending big money on it but as long as their is blue I’m fine lol. ..

Agree, colors are boring, Blue is ok, but been there and done that. I was hoping for another yellow or lime green
A pro might be my next iPhone, really getting bored with all cell phones. Only phone I find interesting isnt really sold here, you can buy them but not covered under warranty in the USA, plus it's an Android, another hurdle in my all Apple World but doable. hmmm.. but have no desire to go to the Android world, been there and done that for a decade.

XIAOMI 14 Ultra looks awesome and available in the EU and the rest of the world, even on Amazon here but no USA warranty as they are not officially in the USA.

 

[Hall]

is that Apple switched to USB-C with the recent iPhone model too

Apple using their own, proprietary connection was a scam and their excuses or reasons why USB-C wouldn't work obviously were lies. We're all Apple in our house too (except my wife's Windows laptop) and I've been meaning to round up the probably dozens of Lightning cables that we've got that we have no use for now since we've all got iPhone 15 variants now.

 

[IveBeenRued]

If you value information security and device longevity, stick with Apple, Google, or Samsung. All advertise 3+ years of OS and security updates on their phones. The same cannot be said for a vast majority of the other Android manufacturers. That said, Apple is the only manufacturer that sticks to 5+ years of updates and usually gives 6 years. So if you like to buy a phone and “drive it into the ground”, stick with Apple. Samsung and Google are getting better with their flagships but they are spotty on their lower end devices.

 

[350Rocket]

Those are pretty much the best you can get. Who else makes quality Androids, LG ? We use Verizon and filtering their current phones by Android, they have Pixels, Samsung, then Kyocera (???) and TCL (???).

Lg is gone now. I have a 4 year old lg v60. They shut down their mobile phone division in 2021. I'm delaying upgrading as long as possible because I'll lose my headphone jack and micro SD card.

Still no real lag or issues from it so far.
My friend has a galaxy s9 he bought 5 years ago. He thought it was on its way out last week but he figured out the auto brightness was failing so he turned they off and no more problems so he can wait a little longer. He's had no other issues with it and it's the 2018 model.

 

[350Rocket]

If you value information security and device longevity, stick with Apple, Google, or Samsung. All advertise 3+ years of OS and security updates on their phones. The same cannot be said for a vast majority of the other Android manufacturers. That said, Apple is the only manufacturer that sticks to 5+ years of updates and usually gives 6 years. So if you like to buy a phone and “drive it into the ground”, stick with Apple. Samsung and Google are getting better with their flagships but they are spotty on their lower end devices.

Samsung and google are both doing 7 years now. At least on the galaxy series.

 

[Pew]

I'm an android guy and I love my pixel phone. However, my recommendation is to stay in one ecosystem if you're already down that rabbit hole. Android vs iPhone, they all do the same thing, just different.

If your looking for a new experience, I'd definitely say try out the apple ecosystem. If you're looking for something android that just works get a pixel.

 

[Nukeman7]

I'm an android guy and I love my pixel phone. However, my recommendation is to stay in one ecosystem if you're already down that rabbit hole. Android vs iPhone, they all do the same thing, just different.

If your looking for a new experience, I'd definitely say try out the apple ecosystem. If you're looking for something android that just works get a pixel.

This is really the final word on cell phones as truer words have never been said. The whole Android vs. iPhone debate is no different than: Ford vs. Chevy trucks, Thick vs. Thin oil, Euro vs. Asian cars, Coke or Pepsi, and Ginger or Mary Ann. Purely a matter of individual preferences between features, pricing and technology. There is NEVER going to be a clear-cut winner unless one technology opts out of the marketplace.

I, for one, am grateful that we live in a country and at a time where we have the luxury of such options and the freedom to change our opinions.

 

[Hall]

Lg is gone now.

News to me ! I don't keep up with Android anymore but I have nothing against it either. If I switched, I'd almost certainly go with a Google Pixel. They're still "pure" Android, I presume, without carrier bloat or can at least be wiped and started over with a truly clean slate ? I did use Android for just under a decade, rooting every phone I had and running custom ROMs, until it became much, much harder to do.... Since the unlimited customization ability was gone, I might as well be using an iPhone, so I switched.

They're just tools to me. I'm no fan-boy and won't debate people with which is better, nor will I convince people to go one way or the other. If I suggest anything, it would be keep using whatever you're used to.

 

[IveBeenRued]

Samsung and google are both doing 7 years now. At least on the galaxy series.

They only recently started promising that, and it’s only on certain models. Definitely trending in the right direction. Apple has been giving their smart phones a minimum of 5 years (usually 6+) of updates from day one.

As of now though, you can’t go wrong with Apple, Samsung, or Google phones when it comes to longevity of updates. This is important in the world of scammers and information theft leading to massive monetary losses. Avoid other brands unless you are prepared to buy a new phone every 2 years or so.

 

[97prizm]

Genuine question not looking for a bash fest or that.
I currently own a Samsung s24+ it's a decent phone but I feel like it has short comings. Sometimes camera focus is slow. The screen sometimes is unresponsive and battery life is average.
I watch reviewers that say the iPhone is more reliable and stable and has better battery life. Is it worth it to go iPhone even though somethings are more restricted and less customizable? I haven't had one in awhile but I remember some web pages like Mitchell 1 pro demand didnt work well at all on safari. Also the iPhone doesn't allow for certain apps like alfa OBD. What's a guy to do? There aren't many android flagship options anymore in the states. We are with T-Mobile so the options are Samsung, pixel or apple pretty much. I wish there were more options but here we are. What is your honest thoughts?

What about Ubuntu os or one of the others? They've come a long way. While not perfect I've been reading that their security and privacy is ahead of Apple and Android.

 

[350Rocket]

News to me ! I don't keep up with Android anymore but I have nothing against it either. If I switched, I'd almost certainly go with a Google Pixel. They're still "pure" Android, I presume, without carrier bloat or can at least be wiped and started over with a truly clean slate ? I did use Android for just under a decade, rooting every phone I had and running custom ROMs, until it became much, much harder to do.... Since the unlimited customization ability was gone, I might as well be using an iPhone, so I switched.

They're just tools to me. I'm no fan-boy and won't debate people with which is better, nor will I convince people to go one way or the other. If I suggest anything, it would be keep using whatever you're used to.

Yeah the pixel is still the most clean operating system. Samsung is more feature packed. Some people will like one more than the other.
I used to root all my phones too but eventually I realized they no longer needed it to work the way I wanted and like you said it's a tool, I need it for work for exchange email, work schedule app, timesheet app, excel spreadsheet for mileage and job tracking for head office, camera, notepad..etc. I need it to work for 8+ hours a day. It's my personal phone but it used for probably 70% work related stuff. At least Monday to Friday.
My wife uses an iPhone and that will never likely change. Her whole family including our niece uses them. Not an ecosystem really because none of them have any other apple products except a couple have apple watches.

 

[350Rocket]

They only recently started promising that, and it’s only on certain models. Definitely trending in the right direction. Apple has been giving their smart phones a minimum of 5 years (usually 6+) of updates from day one.

As of now though, you can’t go wrong with Apple, Samsung, or Google phones when it comes to longevity of updates. This is important in the world of scammers and information theft leading to massive monetary losses. Avoid other brands unless you are prepared to buy a new phone every 2 years or so.

Yes they just changed in the last year or two. But it does include all S series, not just the plus or ultra (most people will probably just get the basic s24) and pixel includes the 8a budget model.
Samsung budget models are apparently 4 years updates and 5 years security patches. Still not bad.
I wouldn't recommend the A series unless it's just for basic use. Not that they're bad, it's just that there is such a huge difference between them and the flagship model that it makes sense to buy the previous year model like an s23 over an A series. Or buy used.

 

[350Rocket]

They only recently started promising that, and it’s only on certain models. Definitely trending in the right direction. Apple has been giving their smart phones a minimum of 5 years (usually 6+) of updates from day one.

As of now though, you can’t go wrong with Apple, Samsung, or Google phones when it comes to longevity of updates. This is important in the world of scammers and information theft leading to massive monetary losses. Avoid other brands unless you are prepared to buy a new phone every 2 years or so.

Forgot OnePlus is 4 years of updates and 5 of security patches. If you're okay with a Chinese manufacturer. They have a lot of bang for the buck when compared to Samsung but customer support is likely still lacking compared to Samsung.
But yeah other than those all the other manufacturers are only 2-3 years of updates. Or 1 year on a budget Motorola.

 

[alarmguy]

…
My wife uses an iPhone and that will never likely change. Her whole family including our niece uses them. Not an ecosystem really because none of them have any other apple products except a couple have apple watches.

well, maybe not for them an ecosystem but in a way it is among all family members and as you mentioned the watches.
The messaging app on Apple is nice. It’s easy to AirDrop between my wife and I and of course the Apple watches, but we also have two Mac mini desktops and one MacBook Air.
It’s nice the way everything seamlessly communicates with each other.
Yes, and all our family members have iPhones except for one so it’s easy and seamless sending videos to each other and the only one that really can’t watch is the one with the Samsung S 24 (pretty sure of the model)

If I was in the android world, I would seriously consider the XIAOMI 14 Ultra And most likely would be the only one that would possibly be worth leaving Apple for. Even though it’s not officially in the USA and will not carry a warranty in the USA this is a killer phone that I think I would take a chance on. don’t know why but everybody in Europe can buy one and everybody in Asia but not here well you can buy it right on Amazon, but it won’t be supported with a warranty and you have to be on the GSM network that T-Mobile uses which is the standard overseas

 

[350Rocket]

well, maybe not for them an ecosystem but in a way it is among all family members and as you mentioned the watches.
The messaging app on Apple is nice. It’s easy to AirDrop between my wife and I and of course the Apple watches, but we also have two Mac mini desktops and one MacBook Air.
It’s nice the way everything seamlessly communicates with each other.
Yes, and all our family members have iPhones except for one so it’s easy and seamless sending videos to each other and the only one that really can’t watch is the one with the Samsung S 24 (pretty sure of the model)

If I was in the android world, I would seriously consider the XIAOMI 14 Ultra And most likely would be the only one that would possibly be worth leaving Apple for. Even though it’s not officially in the USA and will not carry a warranty in the USA this is a killer phone that I think I would take a chance on. don’t know why but everybody in Europe can buy one and everybody in Asia but not here well you can buy it right on Amazon, but it won’t be supported with a warranty and you have to be on the GSM network that T-Mobile uses which is the standard overseas

I have my own personal reasons for choosing android so we just use WhatsApp for video messaging and pictures as she doesn't have FB.
But hopefully text messaging will get better this fall when apple gets RCS.
Right now several people I regularly text message with have RCS and it's basically like having iMessage but on android. Pictures and videos send no problem and typing indicators and received/read indicators. Hopefully it works the same way with my wife once her iPhone 13 pro gets it.

 

[andrew_j]

I have been saddled with Android a few times with work phone.

It does its job however feel like some cool features should have ever been implemented. Way too slow or buggy.

Apple does not implement something unless it works their way(key thing some hate) to absolute perfection.

 

[alarmguy]

I have my own personal reasons for choosing android so we just use WhatsApp for video messaging and pictures as she doesn't have FB.
But hopefully text messaging will get better this fall when apple gets RCS.
Right now several people I regularly text message with have RCS and it's basically like having iMessage but on android. Pictures and videos send no problem and typing indicators and received/read indicators. Hopefully it works the same way with my wife once her iPhone 13 pro gets it.

Viber is also good, many people use it overseas internationally as well

 

[Carmudgeon]

Apple using their own, proprietary connection was a scam and their excuses or reasons why USB-C wouldn't work obviously were lies. We're all Apple in our house too (except my wife's Windows laptop) and I've been meaning to round up the probably dozens of Lightning cables that we've got that we have no use for now since we've all got iPhone 15 variants now.

Apple has long favored developing its own connection standards that would better suit its needs, well before portable devices or iPhones, or the MFi program was ever a thing.

The 30-pin Dock connector, predecessor to Lightning, first appeared in 2003 on the iPod 3G. It supported FireWire and USB data, control channels, line level audio, and eventually video, as well as power, and the ability to serve as a physical fixture to support devices upright in docked placements.

By comparison, its contemporary at the time, and most compact version of USB, was the Mini connector, which had four pins and supported data and power; basically just a smaller form factor for standard USB. It was supplanted in 2007 by Micro USB, which shrank the form factor, and increased durability. Micro allowed for smaller, thinner devices, but brought little else to the table, and couldn't better what Apple's Dock connector already did, except in size.

Apple designers' obsession with smaller, thinner devices, and maximizing the available space for componentry (which also extended to its push for nanoSIM cards, and later eSIM) meant that they needed to develop a next-generation connector to meets its goals, and in 2012, the Lightning connector was introduced in the iPhone 5. It was not only small, but capable, and freed users from having to worry about orientation, because it was reversible as well.

Lightning was met with a mixed reaction from end users, who would have to abandon all the 30-pin cables and dock devices they had acquired over its roughtly 9 year existence, and start over, but the benefits were plain, and Apple pledged that it would serve for the next decade, so the next wholesale change was in the distant future.

This inspired the USB IF, which had also recognized the need to develop a modern, and versatile standard, including high-power delivery. USB was conceived for data transfer, and officially only supported low levels of power delivery, while only unofficial kludges made it suitable for what evolved to becoming its de facto purpose among users, charging.

That need, and proposal the IF was considering crystallized into the Type-C standard, which was first finalized in 2014, two years after Lighting had shipped.

Type-C was to be the one standard to rule them all, capable of the "kitchen sink" full of functions, and save users from having to decipher what cable would fit what, or squint to see that which way was up when that USB cable, large or small, needed to be plugged in. (A feeling old GM owners were probably vaguely familiar with when locking/unlocking their cars).

One Apple blogger wrote a contentious column suggesting that Apple had basically invented Type-C, which was counted by arguments that it was not involved at all. Both would be false, as Apple was an IF member, and participated in the project, with a number of its engineers on the record in the development docs.

Though finalized in 2014, it wasn't until 2015 that the first Type-C products shipped, and among them was the 12" MacBook, with (stupidly,) a single Type-C port. Like the iMac in 1998, which fully embraced Type-A, and didn't support anything else. Both introduced when the standards were nascent, not widely adopted, nor assured of success. The MacBooks Pro followed in 2016. The third gen iPad Pro was the first Apple device to adopt Type-C, in 2018.

Samsung, to its credit, gave the S8 a Type-C port in 2017, though ground was first broken by a Chinese brand. Still, Type-C didn't gain much momentum until more recent years, and though the effort to reduce complexity for users was noble, in practice what the One Connector To Rule Them All did accomplish was to shift it to the cables, with the lack of proper labeling hindering the ability to decipher which of the eight cable types a user hold in their hands, with a dollop of laughably poor USB 3.x standards marketing from the USB IF as the cream on top. When Type-C cables aren't even required to support 3.x.

The MFi program is no doubt a tidy revenue stream for Apple, and understandably, it is one which they were reluctant to give up, until it felt Lighting had served its term as pledged, and the switch to Type-C dovetailing nicely with the shove from the EU bureaucrats (who also read, and react, to Apple rumor sites, leading to foolish statements about MFi restrictions on Type-C based on speculation that proved to be false).

But, none of this should be any surprise to anyone who has paid attention to Apple's history creating its own connectors when it felt the off-the-shelf solutions were lacking, and the glacial pace of USB's development-by-commitee model, which has produced such "gems" as the USB 3 Micro-B connector.

Even those who didn't should be grateful that Apple never saddled its devices with that, or the unloved Mini and Micro connectors.

There was nothing better availble when Apple needed to replace the Dock connector with something smaller, so it rolled its own, like it had always done, and some would call finding ways to make money from that smart business, whether it was the original intent. Or not.