Experiences of people going from Android to Apple IOS

[Ns1]

Is that the beginning of a thesis on the subject? Holy shit. Tl;dr;add

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Is that the beginning of a thesis on the subject? Holy shit. Tl;dr;add

Lmao.

Not software but my screen scratched on my 5s where with my galaxy nexus it was perfect for two years until I dropped it drunkenly.

 

[poofyhairguy]

To me the main reason iOS is still a major player is because it was first.

I wonder about that.

I think we will know if iOS to Android is OSX to Windows when a 5 inch iPhone ships.

 

[dawheat]

This is only referring to mid/high end phones - Apple chooses not to play in the low end space, so this is irrelevant to that market.

IMO the average American wants a computer that just works - doesn't require finding and downloading replacement programs for standard functions, is smooth, and doesn't take much to figure out. iOS, at least prior to iOS7, was the perfect complement to this large demographic. Turn it on for the first time, choose a few settings, and pretty much you can do immediately close to what a "power" user can do. Meeting this desire is what Apple had done a much better job at than Android.

For the group that doesn't mind (or even enjoys) spending a couple hours setting up their phone, often with sideloaded apps or modules, you can customize your Android phone the way you want. Out of the box, I wasn't a big fan of the S3/Note2/Note3 I've used the last couple years - basically everything stock on the homescreens were deleted and it took changing dpis, finding replacement apps for default apps, and sideloading some stuff to get it looking and acting EXACTLY the way I want. There's no way to do a bunch of my tweaks to iOS devices (maybe via jailbreaking which I'm not familiar with), but 80% of my friends who have Android phones use most of the default apps/settings and don't even know how to do more.

 

[blairharrington]

I think your main consideration should be screen size. Using a 4" screen is a vastly different experience than anything 4.7" and up.

As for the OS's, personally I find it to be really close. Enough so where you should make your decision based on the hardware. I think the 5S has the best overall camera and only the S4, Note 3, and G2 can come close to it. May also want to consider if Touch ID is something you'll want.

95% of the time I find the same apps on both platforms to be essentially equal in quality. But I feel that 5% sometimes. The Xfinity app for Comcast simply blows on Android. Facebook Messenger has a glitch where it will revert to the last message if you are trying to scroll up to find a past photo or message in a convo.

As for music, I'll just say that iTunes is great *if* you want to locally manage your music. But if you have access to an SD card than AirDroid is a God send. And if you don't then I strongly recommend uploading your music to Google Music and pinning what you want to not count against your data cap.

You'll have to wait until next fall for a large screen iPhone, so that fact is irrelevant because you want to switch now. Personally I find the larger screen of the S4 to be a huge upgrade. Others will prefer something smaller.

 

[cronos]

I was carefully planning my conversion from android to iOS earlier this year using my 5th gen iPod Touch and installed apps on it as if it's my main phone and I didn't feel like it's a huge problem. I listed all my favorite apps on a spreadsheet and either find their counterparts for iOS or I was able to find a different app that does the same thing that I'm okay with. My calendar and contacts (the things most important to me on my phone) synced super smoothly to Google through CardDav/CalDav without a problem. Even the small 4" screen I found I was fine with, after 2.5 years carrying an android phone with 5" screen.

Surprisingly, my one and only problem with iOS is the keyboard. It's just absolutely terrible for me. I just could not type with this horrible keyboard and kept flubbing the letters all over the place, even with my tiny fingers (there's a joke there somewhere). The worst part is that I'm stuck with it and have no way of replacing this keyboard whatsoever. On Android I could choose from a dozen different keyboards, all of them having different strengths and weaknesses, and pick one that I like the most.

The conversion never happened when I ended up getting the HTC One, and if I did end up getting an iPhone, I could probably force myself to live with it. But nevertheless, I'll always remember how terrible my experience was typing on that iOS keyboard.

Edit: Forgot to mention about music. My library is either already on iTunes on my Macbook Pro (I converted my CD collections using iTunes-lame myself) or bought from Amazon (which I could easily download and import to iTunes if I need to), so I knew that this wasn't going to be a problem.

 

[desura]

The only reason to go with Android is low price.

If price is about the same (and that's what it sounds like for you), then Apple is a no-brainer.

Apple's smaller screen is a huge virtue. Makes it pocketable.

But...in my neck of the woods, the iphone is effectively twice the price of android, so android is good enough.

 

[Zaap]

But...in my neck of the woods, the iphone is effectively twice the price of android

Sorry, but the price argument is completely moot.

iPhones being twice the price of Android phones can't be talking about comparable flagships which generally cost the same and often more than iPhones. If it's twice the price, then the Android models you're comparing have to be among the low-end. (And this isn't even factoring in subsidized prices.)

This whole subject is a lot like Mac vs. PC.

Hardware wise: on one side, do I prefer more choices of shapes, sizes, colors, features, stats, etc... or on the other side, just one or two choices?

I think the iPhones are nice phones, but I always balk at the idea of having such limited choice. If Apple expanded their line to include larger screens (even an iPhablet) it would steal a lot of Android's thunder. They love to maintain their "take it or leave it" approach to their product line, but I personally think they could still stand to expand quite a bit and not lose any of the premium brand rep they like to foster.

OS wise: IMO, I don't feel iOS vs. Android is comparable to OSX vs. Windows, mainly since I don't feel iOS itself is comparable to OSX. People accuse Apple of making OSX overly-simplified, but in reality it's not; it offers plenty of power-user features and allows for very good third party development. iOS on the other hand, is just too locked down IMO. I personally just couldn't go from Android's freedom and abundance of features to iOS's locked down nature.

I enjoy mixing things up a bit and playing around with my wife's iPhone 5, but I just can't use it for too long before I start to feel stifled and long to return to Android. I just couldn't do any current iPhone full time.

 

[dawheat]

Apple's smaller screen is a huge virtue. Makes it pocketable.

If your priorities are music, camera, texting, Facebook, using optimized apps I can see that.

If your priorities are heavy content (doc, xls, ppt, etc) consumption, productivity, composing substantial emails, watching videos then Android. I'm actually capable of being decently productive anywhere (normally the train) with just my phone. When I had an iPhone, all I could do work wise was check email and write short responses. Anything more was brutal.

 

[zanemoseley]

Well I ended up going with the LG G2 through Verizon. I just couldn't pass up the deal on Amazon for just $50 even though the purchasing of it was a royal PITA. I just couldn't justify paying 4x that amount for something that currently has a 4.2 average on Verizon's site versus the G2 which has a 4.6. I'm going to have to listen the the BS from my coworkers who are die hard koolaid drinkers, one used to work for Verizon and is pretty hard core on Apple. I can take a step back and see the advantages and disadvantages of both Apple and Android phone but these guys can't. Oh well I'm not going to go with a 5S just to make them happy.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Congrats and enjoy the new phone.

 

[desura]

If your priorities are music, camera, texting, Facebook, using optimized apps I can see that.

If your priorities are heavy content (doc, xls, ppt, etc) consumption, productivity, composing substantial emails, watching videos then Android. I'm actually capable of being decently productive anywhere (normally the train) with just my phone. When I had an iPhone, all I could do work wise was check email and write short responses. Anything more was brutal.

Um, being productive isn't really possible on the larger phones either.

The iphone is great for being useful while being unintrusive. Its main purpose IMO is helping you navigate a city while keeping in touch with friends. If you want to edit excel, there's always a laptop or large tablet you can carry around.

I'm considering picking up a Moto X because it is $300 and then $10/mo for service.

An iPhone from the next cheapest option would be from Virgin Mobile, which is going to be around $550 + $35/mo for service.

Having used both, I personally prefer the iPhone by a large margin. But the cost savings make it so...

 

[dawheat]

Um, being productive isn't really possible on the larger phones either.

The iphone is great for being useful while being unintrusive. Its main purpose IMO is helping you navigate a city while keeping in touch with friends. If you want to edit excel, there's always a laptop or large tablet you can carry around.

I'm considering picking up a Moto X because it is $300 and then $10/mo for service.

An iPhone from the next cheapest option would be from Virgin Mobile, which is going to be around $550 + $35/mo for service.

Having used both, I personally prefer the iPhone by a large margin. But the cost savings make it so...

Strongly disagree - I'm quite productive on my Note 3, about as much as I am on my Nexus 7. Sure it's not a laptop replacement but I'm actually useful anywhere I am. Carrying a second device 24/7 is what I find hard to understand.

To my original post, we use our phones for different purposes. My wife loves her iPhone 5 and it does everything she needs it to do better than my Note 3 (texting, shopping on apps like Gilt, phone, facetime, facebook). I just happen to use my phone for things she never does.

<edit> And when I need a break during my 75 min commute each way on the train, watching a HD movie I copied and pasted to my sdcard or streaming Netflix or Twitch is great. I don't ever feel like I need to whip out a tablet.

 

[Zaap]

Um, being productive isn't really possible on the larger phones either.

You do love to declare your choices as sweeping tech facts. I couldn't begin to be as productive on a smaller screen as I am with a larger screen. Im sure we all remember when the same was touted as fact when it was 3.5" screens vs. >4".

And really the size difference is moot. The Note 3 is the largest screen device I've owned but feels to me lighter and better in my hand than any other phone I've owned. Its no more of a hardship to carry around than my other phones with smaller screens were. I realize a lot of that is due to the fact that many "smaller" phones just had horrible screen to bezel ratio. So great, a smaller 4.3" screen was sandwhiched into a nearly 5" frame. On top of that, many added a case bringing the bulk up approaching my N3 anyway.

 

[hanoverphist]

The only reason to go with Android is low price.

If price is about the same (and that's what it sounds like for you), then Apple is a no-brainer.

Apple's smaller screen is a huge virtue. Makes it pocketable.

But...in my neck of the woods, the iphone is effectively twice the price of android, so android is good enough.

my note 3 is pocketable for me, i have no issues with it so far. i have a 4s that ive toyed around with switching to, but i really dont like the screen size. the apps are fine, i know i can find what i need for my day-to-day needs, but i use my phone for tethering, as well as file transfer at work. so far android is the only one that will allow me to get an email with a file attachment, save that attachment and transfer it to my laptop. also, i like a blank screen with a few tools i need to use regularly, and thats not possible with the iphone that i know of. thats just a personal like tho, not a deal killer. i have widgets i use, just on side screens so i have quick access when i need them. screen size and lack of file control are the two biggest reasons i havent switched to iphone. file control is probably the only reason i havent tried the windows phones yet. i got the 4s for free, and it has been a toy the whole time ive had it. the only reason i HAD to use it for a while was because plants vs zombies 2 wasnt on android yet. now it is, so i havent used or charged the 4s since

 

[shortylickens]

I tried a couple years ago. Since I dont feel like repeating myself lemme go find the old thread.

 

[shortylickens]

DONT BUMP THIS!


http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2160284

 

[alangrift]

There isnt much difference now with the ios7 update they both have a similiar interface its mostly just the shape of the phone and the number of apps and phone storage size.

 

[number29ag]

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..

Here's a handy hint for you with iPhones; if you double tap content on a webpage, it will zoom to fit the screen. It reduces/eliminates the need to do any pinch zooming.

 

[desura]

I switch between the two a lot.

That said...I have a pretty good android device, the Moto X, and I like my iPod touch 5g more. UI is better, there's a subtle feeling that it's just that much more responsive, it is thinner/lighter and gets better battery life, and most importantly, the same apps are better on iOS than android. Like, the ebay app on iOS is far superior to the ebay app on android. Camera works better as well.

 

[MrSquished]

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.

if you go to Android try the nexus or the newer Moto phones that are essentially naked Android. Nekkid Android - It's better than all these carrier skinned phones.

 

[MrSquished]

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.

i used iTunes ages ago and i thought it sucked. when i started hearing apple fans speak about how iTunes kinda sucks i knew it must be kinda bad.

the amazing thing is Microsoft Zune interface is pretty nice. amazed that Microsoft made a better music playing app than Apple. that's not supposed to happen.

from what i read, iOS apps for tablets are just better with more of them than Android. it seems for phones, android apps are darn close to iOS apps.

 

[shortylickens]

no the zune sucks. You have to use sync software just to get your music on.
The whole reason for avoiding apple is to not need sync software.

 

[harobikes333]

Here's something to consider... Apple currently has the ability to let you manage permissions of apps... android does not.

Android App Permissions

Disclaimer: I currently have an android phone

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Here's something to consider... Apple currently has the ability to let you manage permissions of apps... android does not.

Android App Permissions

Disclaimer: I currently have an android phone

I'm going to say that 95% of the people who own an Android phone don't even read it when installing apps.

(Hell, I don't even read it, but I don't really install apps)