Considering jumping from Apple to Android - Who's done it?

StalkingIbis on 03/11/2015 - 19:04
Last edited 03/11/2015 - 19:05

Its time to upgrade my 5c. Ive had iphones for the last 6 years, i like they way they feel, i like the way they look, i like the support you get for them and all the accesories available. I seem to be part of a minority that actually likes itunes (all i use it for is to organise music and sync my phone). I like the simple operating system on the phones….But the battery life is starting to suck, i want a bigger screen…. and the 6S is $1200!!!!!

im heavily considering getting the nexus 6p for 744.

I dont use any apple specific apps. What can i expect going from apple to android? whos done it? what surprised you? what did you miss? what do you like better about android?

please no fanboys, they are all good phones and people arent stupid for picking one or the other.

Mobile

Comments

    • onggie on 04/11/2015 - 10:38
      +4

      Actually you also make a good point, I still use iTunes/iSyncr to handle my library. iTunes does things badly, but also does a lot of things really well. If you are used to being able to plug your phone into your computer and have iTunes back it up in addition to handling your music, photos, movies, etc, then you are going to have a bad time in Android. Apple just does this really well!

      • Mobe1969 on 04/11/2015 - 10:51

        Yeah I use isyncr also.

        Regarding photo backup not so much anymore. There is the google photo backup. It doesn't backup to PC, granted. It was simpler in itunes, but I found it didn't handle volume very well. Syncs just ended up taking too long.

  • Doggiie on 03/11/2015 - 21:08
    +1

    I've used iPhone 4 for about 5 years then moved to Android for about a year. Now I've moved back to iPhone 6s and I feel so happy that I'm back to Apple. Android is really good though, I don't disagree with a lot of people, but it's just a preference thing. Even though Android is customisable, it was missing the simplicity of what a phone should be, since its a phone, not a workhorse. Now on my iPhone I jailbreak to get the flexibility of customisation, but making sure that is only in the back-end of my phone and doesn't affect my use.

  • inherentchoice on 03/11/2015 - 23:51
    +2

    I think these videos provide a good unbiased comparison of Android and iOS. They are well researched by a guy who is very knowledgeable on the subject:

    https://youtu.be/0YApLJWmRDM
    https://youtu.be/JngJLamLI1s

  • Steve on 04/11/2015 - 07:18
    +1

    I did it about a year ago, read about it here:

    http://syriant.com/iphone-4-to-motorola-moto-g2/

    As an update I just got a Moto G 3rd gen and I'm pretty impressed, 4G is great and the OS seems much more stable with 2GB RAM, and the battery life if MUCH better than the 2nd gen, it does all I want for about a third of the price of an iPhone (outright).

  • DARK KHAOS on 04/11/2015 - 08:24

    I did it when an s4 came on sale at dse here https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/174761
    Overall it took a bit of getting use to but be prepared to not get regular updates.
    Mine updated to kitkat when I first got it but nothing else in 11 months.

    • DARK KHAOS on 10/11/2015 - 13:59

      Ok I updated my Samsung S4 i9505 to lollypop on the weekend. Very happy with the result.
      Should keep me going for a while longer now.

  • Kcsmiley on 04/11/2015 - 08:24
    +3

    I have two sons. One is an apple fan and one is an android fan. Our Apple fan stays up to date with all that is apple and is usually first in line to,purchase anything new to Apple. The debates are always interesting. Our family of five was divided fairly equally Apple versus android. With two family members always havoc Apple products and three having Android products. Our daughter has just switched from Apple to the Samsung Edge phone which has huge memory and she is very pleased. android is winning here. I love my Samsung Galaxy 3 and am upgrading shortly. Have not had any issues with Samsung. My husband had the google nexus whic is a great phone but just had his replaced with a refurb under the warranty.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/11/2015 - 10:15
    -5

    I have had a few friends and colleagues who have done it but almost all came back to Apple, mainly because of the versatility and availability of apps and connectivity.

    • StickMan on 04/11/2015 - 10:54
      +15

      In 2015 (and even in 2012) your comment makes no sense.

      Android supports a boatload of protocols, including NFC, wireless charging, Miracast, media server, etc. iOS has AirPlay as unique and none of the rest.

      App versatility? It's probably less than 5% of 'decent' apps that come to iOS first, e.g. EB Games etc. As for everything else, Android has an app for anything - SMS replacement, dialler replacement, everything.

      To conclude, your friends didn't go over "mainly because of .." those reasons, it was something else.

      • SlickMick on 05/11/2015 - 14:15
        +6

        This has been my experience. I've never had a problem finding a free app to do what I want on Google Play, but when I went to Apple I had to pay to sync my Google Contact Groups, pay to send text to Group. 0/2, so I've gone back to Android.

  • iridiumstem on 04/11/2015 - 10:20
    +2

    Do you have a friend or someone close who knows how Android devices (well, the phone you want to get to be exact) function? You might need someone for troubleshooting for the problems that are simply from them being different OSs (i.e. different layout for settings (which might sound small, but sometimes can cause confusions), different ways to do certain things etc).

    I had someone (who've moved to Android) asking me about problems she had which were simply caused by the settings being laid out differently; She just didn't know where the item she was looking for was at.

  • StickMan on 04/11/2015 - 10:55
    +2

    Just make the jump. It's something new to try.

    I'm android all the way, and even to the day I still think they are better. But I just got a Macbook and made a random decision to also get an iPhone 6S. I've had it for a couple days now, and I'm living OK.

    • Ramrunner on 07/11/2015 - 10:48

      That's it isn't it? I mean I've had both, and to this day prefer Android, just because I'm the guy who likes setting up his phone home screen how he wants with live widgets telling me how long it will take me to get home from where I am, whether it's going to rain and my current data usage without opening apps to do this, amongst others. I do like live wallpapers and the extended features Android affords me.

      But if I had an iPhone with icons instead, that I have to click on to get that information, sure I'd find it more inconvenient, but no-one is getting killed and I could certainly live with it.

      I wouldn't buy one personally, but if I won a competition or something and gained a 6S or whatever, I would use it, especially because my current S4 is starting to feel old, and no updates are coming to it any more (in fact I think I really want a Nexus 6P next if I'm buying).

      They both essentially do the same thing. iCloud on Apple, Google Photos, GMail and contacts on Android (plus the ability to drag and drop of course).

      I prefer Android's way of the simple drag and drop, others prefer iTunes.

      Yes, it's a LITTLE bit painful to switch from one to another, but honestly, if you research, and hour or two is all it should take. Small fry in the context of 2 year contracts for example.

      To the OP: Take the leap. If you don't like it swap back later. It REALLY depends on what kind of person you are whether you are in the Apple camp or Android camp. For me, my immediate family, and Mum, Dad, Brother's family that happens to be Android. Others it's Apple. No harm no foul.

      But don't be afraid to try it.

  • User167511 on 04/11/2015 - 12:13
    -4

    For me its a few fundamentals:

    1) Security. Apple has full control of their ecosystem: They control the hardware, operating system, apps all audited for tight compliance to their strict security policies. iPhone is unhackable which is not the case for Android.
    2) Hardware. The Apple hardware is very reliable. I have had a few Android devices and nothing but trouble. Jumping devices on Android can be a learning experience.
    3) Inter-operability across Mac/ipad/ipod/iphone platforms: Synching /backing up/ transferring files / iMessage / FaceTime / Continuity. Android is not as clean and does not have many of these features.
    4) Value retention. Buy a new Apple device and even a fewyears later it is still worth a high percentage of the original paid price. Resale and upgrading costs are therefore not high.

    Unless Apple loses many of these features and benefits, I personally will not move away from them and I'm not a fanboy.

    • TailsK on 04/11/2015 - 13:53
      +13

      I don't think you're being fair/accurate with your comments…

      1) iPhones are not "unhackable". Even if they were, it doesn't stop the apps you install from stealing data, even with all the audits. See: http://www.macworld.com/article/2994509/security/apple-pulls… as an example.

      Marshmallow has implemented a new way of managing permissions, where you can explicitly define what permissions your app has. For example, you can switch off access to the microphone for an app, if you never intend to use the microphone when using that app.

      2) I've had iPhones and had to return them for being faulty. I've had a MacBook that Apple didn't fix for 2.5 years (they ended up having to replace it). Geniuses are not geniuses at Apple stores. Let's not forget "Antennagate" either. As for the learning experience, that applies to anything.

      3) A bunch of people I know have trouble setting up things like iMessage or FaceTime on multiple devices. Backing up is a chore too (just try to work out how it works with Apple and Photos).

      4) This one is probably true, until they release an OS so slow your old hardware won't run anymore…

      • ilikeradiohead on 05/11/2015 - 14:57
        +2

        I think with 4) you can't upgrade to an OS that will kill your phone. My gf has an iPhone 4 and can't upgrade past iOS 7 (it's up to 9 now).
        Also with 3), I have no idea how to back up my photos to iCloud on my mac haha, I just use dropbox which my phone auto back ups to when in wifi range (but use time machine on my mac which is excellent, not cloudy though haha).

        • KBZ on 05/11/2015 - 15:20
          +1

          Your gf is lucky, not worth going to ios9 on that old hardware heck I regret upgrading my 4S to ios9 its slow as shit.

        • try2bhelpful on 08/11/2015 - 00:35
          -1

          @kangaberries: The iPhone 4 is now 6 generations of phone ago. You really expect to be able to run the latest IOS on it?

        • KBZ on 08/11/2015 - 10:51

          @try2bhelpful:

          Do you even comprehension.

        • try2bhelpful on 08/11/2015 - 12:46

          @kangaberries: Do you know how to construct a sentence?

      • Mobe1969 on 06/11/2015 - 07:21
        -1

        Very true. I've personally experienced most of these.

        Their support really is crap, unless you get lucky. My wife spilled water on her ipad, killed it. OK, I say, I'll dry it out, see if I can get it working. I never even envisioned taking it to apple to get them to replace or repair it. I looked at repair costs and figured at a minimum I'd be looking at half the replacement cost. Not worth it on an old unit. Anyhow I dried it out, very well, even hair dryered it, and vacuumed out so there was no trace of water. The screen was still dead though. Anyhow, I just got her a new one. I gave the old one to my sister, telling her what happened, and if she wanted to try fixing it (she'd done some iphone repairs) go ahead. Anyhow she went to apple, told them about it, including my wife spilled water on it. Anyhow they gave her a new one. The put on the form that there was no trace of water damage (even though she told them) just a faulty screen. And the model she got was twice the memory… Anyhow that is them being both good and bad. Good in that "free ipad". Bad in that "they didn't listen even tough she was honest about the water damage". My personal initial experience with hardware goes back to an earlier ipod, the 2nd or 3rd gen. It had a really bad audio fault, where at cetain frequencies sound would just distort to hell. Googling showed I wasn't alone. I ended up figuring it was to do with headphone impedance - it had bad distortion with low impedance headphones. I even posted back to them my discoveeries, but never ever sawa a response from apple, either personally, or an official response. That to me epitomizes their support, hardware and software. Software support is idiotic. ITunes is the biggest piece of legacy rubbish. OK for music management, but they keep changing everything and so hard to find stuff after each upgrade.

        But the itunes store? Why the FXXK is that NOT a wweb site? WHY??? Their itunes store on iTunes is the biggest piece of buggy, old fashioned sXXt imaginable. Single tab only. Add to wishlist is something that is patchy at best. Some stuff I can't add to my wishlist (the option just isn't fxxking there) so I have to borrow my wife's ipad to add it to the wishlist there. And a month ago, add to wishlist was broken entirely. There was a thread o two on their support site, with about 500 people suffering from it, and not ONE response from apple. I contacted them about it too and nothing. I also recently had the issue where I couldn't even buy stuff anymore. It'd go through all the screens and popup saying "download now" "not enough credit, you will be charged" etc, and then nothing. I contacted support, and after the usual sh## that didn't work (reboot PC, uninstall, reboot, reinstall{, they got me to try on my apple TV, and I could purchase through there, and they said "oh well that is good enough, you have a workaround". FXXX them. Of course the appleTV can't actually FXXXing access my wishlist. The wishlist on the apple TV for me isn't linked to my itunes wishlist.

        So FXXX apple. They have done some things right. But as a company, their service is rubbish. Their customer care is rubbish, and people who keep saying how great and user friendly all their stuff is, I think I must be on a different planet.

        • TailsK on 06/11/2015 - 08:15
          +5

          Let it out, son!

        • salbee28 on 06/11/2015 - 12:13
          +1

          Is it bad that they didn't listen even though she told them it was water damaged? I would count that as a win & it sounds like they were being overly helpful, as if they know it has liquid damage, they have grounds to completely turn down the repair.

        • Mobe1969 on 06/11/2015 - 12:39

          @salbee28:

          Yeah a definite win for her. But she was just asking how much to get it repaired, and was honest with them.

        • airzone on 06/11/2015 - 13:41

          @salbee28: That's because a mere user could not possibly know what they have done… It takes a genius to be able to tell the user what they did.

    • dazweeja on 05/11/2015 - 17:48
      +1
      1. That's pretty funny when the latest iOS was remotely hacked just yesterday and there's been two separate incidents of malware in the App Store this year and none in the Play Store. Of course, there's Android malware outside the Play Store but that's only applicable it you choose to turn off the security setting that prevents you from installing apps outside the store. In fact, the two malware incidents - involving multiple apps - prove that this idea of tight compliance is more an impression than an actual reality.
    • DrStinge on 05/11/2015 - 23:01

      Security is never stronger on a closed source ecosystem.

      • iridiumstem on 06/11/2015 - 03:37
        +1

        I think iOS gives off false sense of security to its users. No system is unhackable. There are a lot of creative people out there who'd exploit anything that they can find if it is profitable. That said, I personally think the approaches to security have moved on from just trying to block the breaches to being able to counteract and react quickly to the breach (i.e. encryption of data, security patches etc). I think iOS has advantage over many Android manufacturers in that they can release security patches as soon as possible.

  • angelkulit025 on 04/11/2015 - 13:15

    Been there done that since I moved on from my iPhone 3gs

  • SlickMick on 04/11/2015 - 13:26
    +2

    I've just gone back to Android, but I had been in the past before moving to Apple so I guess I knew where I was going.

    I never liked the iPhone's 1 button. I love the latest Android's 3: Back, Home and "Show Everything Running".

    But the main clincher for me is that I'm a google guy. Apple doesn't understand google, and I had to pay for apps to sync my Google Contact Groups and send texts to Groups of contacts.

    I'm never spent a cent on Google Play - I've found free apps for everything I want to do.

    On the other hand, Android seems to have dropped the ball with Silent mode. My old Samsung devices had a pull down menu option for it, and Apple had a physical switch. My new Z5 requires me to hold Volume Down until 0, then click once more for silent mode settings. Once you get there, the options seem great though.

    • BartholemewH on 05/11/2015 - 21:33

      Pull down twice in Lollipop and phone can be changed to silent, vibrate, priority, etc with one icon. Maybe Marshmallow is different?

      • SlickMick on 06/11/2015 - 10:13

        I'm on lollipop I think?? (5.1.1) Sony prob tweaked the double pull down - it has everything except that!!??

        • Ramrunner on 07/11/2015 - 10:54

          Two finger swipe down? Not sure about Sony but both Nexus and Samsung support two finger swipe down and give a BUCKETLOAD of settings at your fingertips including muting, instant tethering, airplane mode etc. I think there's like 16 instant settings on the Samsung.

          It's annoying there's not even a quick starting guide for teaching things like this though. Even my Nexus 9 doesn't have a quick guide for this kind of stuff in the packaging. Trial and error.

        • jzdhgkd on 08/11/2015 - 00:29
          +1

          It's probably not ideal since there's already a quick menu but there's an app called "power toggles " or something similar and it can give you that functionality back easily :D

        • SlickMick on 08/11/2015 - 00:49

          @Ramrunner:
          Sony has 2 finger swipe to give 9 options, plus an edit button to choose 9 more, plus a Link to settings, but none for silent mode :(

        • SlickMick on 08/11/2015 - 00:51

          @jzdhgkd:
          Thanks I'll try that

  • TailsK on 04/11/2015 - 13:44
    +2

    I started with an iPhone 3GS, moved up to an iPhone 4, tried a Windows Phone (HTC 8X) and then moved to a Android with a Nexus 5. In terms of ecosystem, I have/had a MacBook laptop and two Windows Desktops. Using a Gmail account, pretty much everything was synced with Google, so the transition was not so bad. Yes, some Apple apps have more polish, but I find that the Android apps have more functionality, and are on occasion easier to use (but not always).

    A few examples:

    • I like to use IRC on my phone. Colloquy (paid app) felt polished on the iPhone, but would kill battery when running in the background. After some iOS updates (major releases), something happened to the background timeout of apps in iOS, and wit wouldn't stay connected for more than a few minutes. As far as I'm aware, this hasn't been resolved. On Android, I got a free program that does not feel as polished, but works pretty great.
    • I can't stand anything iTunes. It's slow and clunky, so I'm not a fan. Spotify is a great alternative, if you haven't tried it. However, if you ride a motorbike, you can apparently use Siri to search for music on the iPhone (you might need an Apple Music subscription).
    • We used to use iMessage to send messages to each other, but eventually most people I know moved to WhatsApp so we could have our group convos. WhatsApp feels easier to use and seems to be more reliable overall. It's much easier to use on an Android too.

    Google has free photo backups now, which is great from what I have heard. Having a back button is also great.

    I don't think you will miss the ecosystem much, even if it's something you're used to.

    • onggie on 05/11/2015 - 13:01
      +7

      Back button is probably one of the most used features which would stop me going back to an iPhone.

  • phocus on 05/11/2015 - 10:34
    +5

    I did it and couldnt get used to the eco system. I had a Samsung S4. Also annoying that there were new OS updates however you had to wait till your provider adjusts that according to their preferences and then releases it, that meant I was 2 generations of OS behind.

    To me in the end, it was just a phone and i needed it to work. Apple does that really well and it just takes more effort on android and not worth my time.

    • onggie on 05/11/2015 - 13:00
      +1

      This is why you go Nexus, it does get complicated and does tend to suck that you need to go a specific device to get the latest version on time. In saying that I remember what a debacle it was when Apple sent through iOS 5 or 6 to the iPhone 4 and the device just couldn't handle it.

      • phocus on 05/11/2015 - 13:04

        Part of the reason you go android is for more options right? So nexus would just do the same as apple and plonk me into the same situation of being locked into the 1 line of products.

        Agreed on the iOS update, but since then they have seemed to released wash down versions of the iOS updates for older models so they can handle the iOS.

        • PTSD on 05/11/2015 - 17:55
          +1

          No, the stock Android OS is still more open than iOS. Essentially other companies apply their own customisations to it for look-and-feel purposes.

        • dazweeja on 05/11/2015 - 17:56
          +1

          I don't understand your comment about being locked in? All Android phones are built on top of stock Android and the Nexus runs stock Android. If you went to another Android phone, you could still use all your apps because none of them are locked to any manufacturer. When a new Android OS is released, it's released on Nexus phones first because the whole point of the Nexus line is to provide the hardware to run the latest OS. My last two phones have been Nexus' and my next phone will be the Nexus 6P.

        • Ramrunner on 07/11/2015 - 10:58

          @dazweeja: With you but want a SAFE place to buy a 6P. I'd really like to buy from a local store as I've had some issues with my Nexus 9 I can't get fixed as I inadvertently got an overseas model. Don't want that to happen again. I'm with Telstra and have no other option where my house is, so if you find a nice local retailer let me know.

          I'm even willing to shell up front for the Optus deal and switch back after a month if I have to.

  • [Deactivated] on 05/11/2015 - 13:32
    +4

    I had done it but it's been a while. I would stick with the apple eco-system. It is more refined and I am a simple user who doesn't have time to fiddle with gadgets, I want them to just work for me without giving me any hassle. Android simply took more steps to get the same thing done and I personally found apple more convenient however at a price and compromise with hardware as compared to what the market had to offer at that time. This is a while ago, things might have changed so I do not know, just sharing my experience.

    • PTSD on 05/11/2015 - 17:53
      +4

      Bingo, StiffHindQuarters is spot on. If you just want a phone that works with minimal hassle, get an iPhone. If you like to play around with your tech and enjoy making it your own, get an Android.

    • dazweeja on 05/11/2015 - 18:20
      +2

      I've used both and I don't understand this comment. What took more steps?

      My experience is the opposite. You want to go back a page in an app you press the back button, in Apple you have to look around the screen and hope the dev put one there. You want to send the content in the app you're using to Dropbox, Evernote, etc, there's almost always a Share button along the top. I know Safari has something similar but it doesn't seem that common in other apps. In fact sharing content between apps seems a real pain on iOS. You want to copy a file to or from your phone, just plug it in and copy it without special software (or use a WiFi app if you prefer, or sync it with Google Drive, etc). That's just the basic stuff, without any customisation. If you do want to customise, the stuff you can do with an app like Tasker is amazing.

      I've watched somebody look for a couple of minutes on an iPhone for their YouTube app. They could have searched obviously but they didn't. That would never happen on Android. If they know they have it on one of their homescreens, fine, but if not they always have the option of opening their app drawer and flicking through an alphabetical list of apps. They have both options. It's exactly the same concept as Windows/OSX, it's not hard and it's much, much better than just dumping everything onto the homescreens.

  • h3h3 on 05/11/2015 - 13:38
    +2

    If your worried about the $1200 price tag, i would consider upgrading to a 5S, most underrated iPhone IMO and cost only $300-400 at most for a good condition one or refurb on gumtree. Battery life is awesome too. I wanted a bigger screen aswell but the way a 5S felt in my hand, the fact i could reach everything with my thumb without changing positions and the face it fit in my car storage and pockets left me with going for the 5S (plus cant beat iMessage and the huge price difference)

    • iridiumstem on 05/11/2015 - 18:23
      +3

      I personally liked the design of 5S the most (I frankly thought 5S had better design than 6), out of iPhone 4 to 6s.

      There is a rumour of new 4 inch iPhone, made with metal. Not sure how valid the rumour is (since the 4 inch iPhone rumour has been around for too long I think), it might be yet another "eh, it might happen", but your comment did reminded me of that rumour.

    • hangdog on 08/11/2015 - 15:53

      The 5S is still a decent performer. http://daringfireball.net/2015/09/the_iphones_6s

      "In terms of single-core performance, there isn’t a single Android phone that beats the two-year-old iPhone 5S. Android devices fare better in multi-core benchmarks, because they have more cores (some have eight, many have four — the iPhones 6S still have only two cores), but single-core performance is a better measure for the sort of things you can feel while using a device."

      • iridiumstem on 10/11/2015 - 18:19

        It's looking at different OSs and how they perform. iOS tend to focus on single core and Android tend to focus on multi core. It's because they approach multi-tasking and many things differently. Android focuses on multi-threading because it utilises those. Running many things at once is what Android does (whether it is good or bad is up to the person to decide imo), and that's one of the areas multi-thread processing is better at (at least, so I've heard).

        Anyways here is an analysis done by anandtech on multi-threading on Android. I've taken out a part of last paragraph because it summed it up (18 pages, not going to copy and paste all that) and a part of a paragraph where Apple was mentioned.

        While for Apple it can be argued that we're dealing with a very different operating system and it is likely iOS applications are less threaded than their Android counter-parts.

        In the end what we should take away from this analysis is that Android devices can make much better use of multi-threading than initially expected. There's very solid evidence that not only are 4.4 big.LITTLE designs validated, but we also find practical benefits of using 8-core "little" designs over similar single-cluster 4-core SoCs.

        The practical benefits being:

        [While] a 2-core design could handle bursts where ~3-4 threads are placed onto the big cluster, the CPUs would need to scale up higher in frequency to provide the same performance compared to a wider 4-core design. And scaling up higher in frequency has a quadratically detrimental effect on power efficiency as we need higher operating voltages. At the end of the day I think the 4 big core designs are not only the better performing ones but also the more efficient ones.

        I've used snippets of the article (to avoid writing massive chunks), here is the link to the article.

        http://www.anandtech.com/show/9518/the-mobile-cpu-corecount-…

  • snajper on 05/11/2015 - 14:05
    +3

    I was an absolute android fan… At work these days they only provide iphone…It is ok and stable……… These days prefer Windows mobile due nice interface and battery life.. (Lack of apps sucks)

  • Viderzo on 05/11/2015 - 14:32
    -2

    I tried to switched twice pre iPhone 6+ and both times returned to the walled garden of Apple. It is quite hard to explain as it is very subjective. Rather than trying to explain I have a better suggestion for you: Buy a cheap Android phone/tablet and see whether you like it, yes the end price will be more expensive but much better than spending 800 bucks and finding out you hate it!

    • PTSD on 05/11/2015 - 17:51
      +4

      The problem there is you're telling him to compare apples with oranges (no pun intended).
      A $50 Android "don't-care-if-I-lose-this" phone is very different to a $800 flagship Android phone.
      A realistic comparison between Apple and Android phones can only be undertaken using flagship Android phones.

  • blindingshadowz on 05/11/2015 - 15:14
    +1

    User of an iPhone 3GS -> iPhone 4 -> iPhone 4S -> Samsung Galaxy S3 -> iPhone 5 ->Sony Xperia Z3 -> iPhone 6 -> iPhone 5S

    Speaking from experience, I think what to expect jumping ship from Apple to Android depends on the software manufacturer of your chosen hardware. Some add their own flavour to the Android experience and that can both be good and bad. If your consideration is a Nexus 6P, I think you're choosing the best Android phone to date. Android OS 6 Marshmallow is well refined and I think you'll get used to it, once you have a play with the phone and work out what does what. Granted it's not as easy as tapping into the Settings icon in iOS but it does allow for more freedom to really make the phone your own :)

    Like you, for me my biggest gripe with the iPhone series is that the battery is a massive let down. I personally like the simple interface, as I only use a smartphone for web browsing, messaging, SnapChat and Instagram. I also like the Messages, Mail and Photo system in iOS. Don't know why, guess it's just easy and organised to my liking? Once they did release a better battery for the iPhone, the price skyrocketed so that was a bummer. I had the iPhone 6 second hand and sold it off again because even at a used price, I couldn't justify the price matched with the improved screen size and battery life. I returned to the iPhone 5S because it is WAY more affordable now, and after the implementation of iOS 9's Power Saver mode, I just keep that on all the time and I get respectable battery life out of it, considering it's only a 1570mAH battery in it (in other words, very small compared to the Android competition)

    For me making a decision was relatively easy because I'm into tech reviews online and I had a play around with the demo models at stores before choosing one for me. Maybe that'll help :) I honestly don't regret the choices I made with those Android phones I had, they're top of their class in their day. Best of luck! :)

  • Freek on 05/11/2015 - 15:22

    If you are considering the Nexus, have a look at the oppo r7 plus. Comes in cheaper again and great specs. Considering one myself to replace a Lumia 930 that I dropped. I went to wp from apple , and now more than likely to android. I am not fussed on a certain os.

    But the above has certainly caught my eye.

    Good luck!

  • anonymous01 on 05/11/2015 - 16:11

    I did 2.5 years ago, from iPhone 4 to Samsung Galaxy S4. Pretty impressed at first, but now Android is just Meh.. It does have lot more flexibility though and allows lot more customisation. If you are switching just for battery life, to be honest I haven't noticed much difference between iPhone and Samsung, not sure if other brands will have better battery life. My plan finished 4 months ago and I still haven't upgraded, I was waiting for new iPhone but it failed to impress me and there is nothing in the market that I really desire at the moment. I would rather wait until early next year for new iPhone 7 and Galaxy S7 to see which looks/performs better. I would've gotten Galaxy S6 Edge/Edge+ but they removed the replaceable battery and SD card, the only two reasons why I didn't ended up switching. Note 5 also got my attention but it turns out it's only 32GB and no SD card support either. Do you jailbreak (iOS) or Root (Android) your phone? I have heard the new Lumia can be connected to TV and can be used as a normal PC, though I personally don't have any experience with Windows phone.

    I usually consider the following when selecting a phone. May be you can use these to compare and see what suits you best:

    • Camera (and no don't worry about mega pixels, just because it's 18MP doesn't mean it's a better camera. You should care about the picture quality and functionality. Even 8MP is sufficient.)
    • Storage (Internal + External support)
    • Speed (RAM + Processor)
    • Look
    • Exclusive functions (Sony Experia allows you to play PS4 games on it's mobile (need a PS4), Samsung has a Virtual Reality System, Lumia allows you to connect to TV as PC etc.)
    • Brand (From Experience, I won't buy LG. I have had bad experience with their products. You may have your own reasons for different brands)
    • Battery (Don't care that much as pretty much all phones have sh*tty battery life)

    One thing I really like about Android at the moment is Google Pics, it allows for unlimited storage of your photos. Not sure if it's available for iPhone. But iPhone has better security and easier to use and better resale value. If you are 100% determined to switch to Android, then I would say Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ (for bigger screen) is probably one of the best phones out there at the moment, but S6 Edge (smaller screen) has more internal memory capacity (depending on the model).

  • donkeydoc on 05/11/2015 - 16:12

    Get the Sony Xperia Z5, waiting on the premium version to go on plan.

  • Conka on 05/11/2015 - 17:28

    I like the idea of doing this as the "Open" Android ecosystem generally appeals to me.

    However, the Open ecosystem means (sweeping generalisation approaching) an increased cyber security risk - which I'm just not comfortable with.

    No device is unhackable … but in its present form, IOS is "safer" than 'Droid.

    That said, I still love all the cool features of the Android.

  • PTSD on 05/11/2015 - 17:36
    +3

    With Apple your experience is consistently good but tightly controlled.
    With Android your experience will be up to you. If you're reasonably tech savvy and are willing to do your own research, IMO your experience will be better than with Apple.

  • heyrosered on 05/11/2015 - 17:49

    I just did the opposite - went from Android to iPhone. Had been avoiding iPhones for ages due to the lack of customisation, expandable storage, battery etc. but since the new Samsung didn't have expandable storage or battery and nothing else interested me I took the plunge. Now I have the iPhone I'm totally in love, never looking back.

    iMessage group chats, being able to use emojis and not have it send as an MMS (so annoying!), camera/photo quality, fast response times, intuitive, quality feel. The only thing I missed from android was widgets, and being able to arrange the homescreen, but honestly I'm used to it now and it doesn't matter. I think you'll find yourself wanting to change back to iPhone - I'd recommend borrowing someones android for a week or so before you make the choice.

    • BertieBrown on 05/11/2015 - 19:15

      This. I wish I'd borrowed someone's android phone before taking the plunge and buying one, I regretted it fairly soon afterwards. Never again.

      • Ramrunner on 08/11/2015 - 10:04

        HHmm. Hangouts does the same thing as iMessage if you set it up. Camera quality is frequently neck a neck when reading and comparing reviews, response times are certainly AS fast.

        Quality feel is perhaps the only thing I could say makes sense, but even now with Samsung and Nexus 6P going metal and glass I'm not sure about that one either.

        I absolutely agree they should borrow an Android and try it to see whether they personally prefer the freedom it affords of course but the rest of the comments aren't really that true and I have NO idea how you can not miss the back button and running apps button, every time I use an iPad there's nothing more frustrating for me personally.

        • heyrosered on 08/11/2015 - 15:04

          "Not really that true" they're my opinions not empirical facts mate. Your opinions are also not facts. If my opinions don't "make sense" to you that's wholly your problem, about which I could not care less.

          The thing with Hangouts is it's a whole different system, it's not tied in with SMS like the iPhone message app, you can only use it with others who have Hangouts. As far as I'm aware, you can't send a mass message on Hangouts and have it go to your Hangouts and non-Hangouts contacts. Also, Hangouts has those like "online" status light things, whatever the word for them is, and I hate people being aware of my availability.

        • jsefrog on 08/11/2015 - 22:37

          @heyrosered: I think your comment is outdated. Hangouts doesnt have online status, and has not for at least 2 years.
          It is still not "integrated" with SMS; however it behaves as an SMS app, as in your SMS messages and hangouts messages are combined (which I turned off as I found it confusing). I believe you can send out a message to both hangouts and SMS contacts if you wish, in one message.

  • [Deactivated] on 05/11/2015 - 18:02

    My personal phone is a Note 4, my work phone is a iPhone 6.
    I use both, but I still prefer my Note 4, though the apps on the iPhone look more beautiful than the Android version.

    I like the back button on the Android phone, while I found myself pressing an invisible back button on the iPhone.
    Also, the iPhone doesn't seem as tough - 1 drop and my screen is cracked.

  • darkmattersunB6c0MV on 05/11/2015 - 18:03
    +1

    Disclaimer: I love android devices.
    I have seen people struggling on both ecosystems, and my sister in law could not migrate to android.
    I think that secret is not to go from a premium version of iPhone to a cheap android.
    If you use Nexus 6 or LG G4, you will not be disappointed ( and Samsung devices). Overall, the ecosystem is open, has more apps(although Apple users pay much more) and the quality of apps is catching up.
    I love the simplicity of Google, the auto backup, synching info - for e.g.search for a place on the web and send it to your phone, or just touch your phones to transfer photos using NFC, use it for paying etc.
    Would recommend giving it a go, and check the experience…

  • BertieBrown on 05/11/2015 - 19:12

    I've been back and forward. From iPhone 4 to Note 3 to IPhone 6 Plus.

    I love my iPhone.

    Obviously everyone has a different opinion, but let me preface my opinion by saying that it's just a phone.

    I prefer the stability of my iPhone compared with my note 3, which I found to be very unstable largely (maybe I just had a dud), I also like that I can upgrade my phone OS every year through Apple. On the whole the apps IMO are largely of higher standard and quality on my iPhone, and I also consider that they're updated more regularly (but this is probably simply due to more owners of iOS devices or similar). I prefer iOS to android but this is a very personal thing I guess, but I like the style and functions of my iPhone, for example swiping up gets me the flashlight and camera, which on my note 3 I had to go digging for, which was frustrating if I wanted to take a photo in a hurry (this may have changed with newer android).

    If you're asking me though, out of the two I'd definitely go with a newer iPhone, and after my android experience will only use iPhone henceforth.

    • Ramrunner on 08/11/2015 - 10:17
      +1

      Nothing wrong with any of your comments but just wanted to correct the "more owners of iOS devices" statement. That has actually not been true for years.

      CURRENTLY

      Android penetration in Australia is more than 54%, iOS is only about 37%.

      This is taken from http://www.kantarworldpanel.com/global/smartphone-os-market-… but you'll find similar comparisons worldwide. If you look at Spain for instance Android is actually 90%.

      Click anywhere on the map and Android penetration is higher than iOS anywhere in the world.

      More people own iOS devices is actually a myth.

      • BertieBrown on 10/11/2015 - 21:21

        Fair enough. Appreciate the reply and information Ramrunner :-)

    • SlickMick on 08/11/2015 - 12:12

      You can't get to flashlight and camera from a single swipe on Note 3? You could on the original Note.

      • BertieBrown on 10/11/2015 - 21:23

        I certainly couldn't on mine no.

        Don't know if that means I didn't install something properly; I thought it was odd but that's that.

  • Mattycee on 05/11/2015 - 19:27
    +2

    I was totally iPhone from the 3G until the 5 and got bored of it, I actually used a Lumia 920 for ages and then went to the Xperia Z as my Android gateway phone.

    When I first went across I used to mod my Android to look and sound like an iPhone. After some time I actually got used to it and when I go back to IOS (I do from time to time, currently using an iPhone 6S Plus and will be going to the Nexus 6P tomorrow when it arrives)

    It is actually surprisingly easy to switch and the freedom of Android is awesome after using IOS as it is very strict in its use.

    The biggest bugbear is no back button, it makes it much quicker to navigate (Although IOS 9 has the ability to go back to the screen you came from! Thanks Android!)
    It is also crazy that you cannot enter the settings of apps (Like the Camera and Email) from the app and need to go out and go to settings to change the resolution of the camera and other settings. That is something you do not have to worry about with Android as most apps allow you to enter the settings from within the app.

    I do like the iPhone despite what I have listed above (although IOS9 is still a buggy mess) and I will use the iPhone in conjunction with the Nexus 6P. I have an LG G Watch R for Android and an Apple Watch for when I am IOS'n it!)

    Android handles notifications much better than IOS in my opinion, as I would like to be able to swipe away certain notifications in an easy manner.

    A personal irk of mine (I used to love it) is the numbers that show missed calls and texts and emails. I am so anal about it that if any are showing a number I need to clear it, but that is because I am loony when it comes to that, as its actually quite handy! Ha

    IOS does have the edge in apps (Quantity and polish) but its not as bad as it once was, although most apps (If not out on both at the same time) will come out on IOS first and then across to Android after.

    If you are heavily into the Apple ecosystem, there are workarounds to move your music across so that shouldn't be that much of an issue.

    You can also get a program called Backuptrans Android iPhone Data Transfer+ to keep all your Call Logs/Messages/MMS/Music/Pictures/Videos on both phones. I always back everything up every time I swap so I have all my messages and stuff and it is seamless. The software costs about $30 US or so but is good to transfer the data across if that is something you like doing.

    Other than that, enjoy the freedom and the newer versions of Android are much more polished and security is actually becoming a big deal to Google so don't sweat any of the negatives you hear, its good now and Google released monthly security upgrades to keep it that way!

    Hopefully some of this has helped.

    • Ramrunner on 08/11/2015 - 10:20

      I'm looking at the 6P also but don[t want a grey import. Any suggestions where to get it? I'd REALLY like to buy from a local shop but otherwise a genuine Australian model will do me.

      I've been bitten by HTC warranty before and want to make sure the warranty on any of my devices moving forward is covered.

  • MoMoney on 05/11/2015 - 19:45
    +3

    Since when did an Operating System get renamed to "Eco-System"? Is this a new Apple thing? Am I the only one who is noticing this?

    • Mattycee on 05/11/2015 - 19:56
      +2

      Its not just the OS, its the whole shooting match.

      • MoMoney on 05/11/2015 - 20:14

        You mean a platform?

    • Flying Ace on 06/11/2015 - 09:46

      iOS is the operating system. But with Apple you get the software, hardware and services, and people usually refer to this combination as the eco-system.

      • MoMoney on 06/11/2015 - 13:59

        I have always looked at the two as separate entities. As smartphones, tablets, and cloud based services become more popular, big software vendors have to be flexible when it comes to supporting competitors products. Most people use a combination of services (eg Office365 with IPhone, along with Spotify for music and Google Maps for navigation). My point with the comment is that marketing flogs come up with new names for things that have existed for a long time ("cloud" being the worst of the bunch).

        • wildstone on 06/11/2015 - 16:47

          No, big software vendor's goal is not to be flexible, but rather try to have everyone use everything of their own product so they in fact, stick to their own 'eco-system' and couldn't get out of it, hence resulting permanent customer of them.

          Think about it, Apple has now got Apple Music to compete with Spotify and Apple Maps to compete with Google Maps. They haven't got their own version of Office365 yet but I bet they are thinking hard to replace it. They will when they get a chance.

          I think 'eco-system' is the right word for it, as can be seen in this thread, the OP is reluctant to switch because of 'iMessage', a product that only works with Apple device. If Apple didn't invent this but tried to be 'flexible when it comes to supporting competitors products', Apple would have already lost the OP as a customer.

    • 811b11e8 on 06/11/2015 - 10:57
      +1

      Cause its more than just the operating system.

      Eco-System refers more to the whole system including the online stores, music, movies, messaging platforms, could services like iCloud, Gmail etc.

  • Peace Maker on 05/11/2015 - 20:18

    My single biggest iOS bug bear is that it doesn't sort photos automatically. In android my images are sorted into different groups like camera, facebook, whatsapp, downloaded etc. With iOS9 I can now have a selfies folder! Really, no folder for all the other apps, but selfies you think is a good idea?!

  • MrFrugalSpend on 05/11/2015 - 21:10
    +1

    The great Apple vs Android debate… that could start a war! Nice to see a few mentions of the Windows Phone option as well - I didn't like it at first because I struggled with the transition, but its not as bad as people think once you get used to it, same as everything, its just what you are used to. Its got office on it and other good features, it was cheap, and it works (quite fast). So like I did with that transition, the OP may struggle with the Android at first, but it'll get better once you get used to it.

    Most people get accustomed to Apple then stick to it, and I must admit having used an iPad for a while now I quite like it, and I've quite liked Android phone in the past before my windows phone. The Android offered more flexibility for advanced users (i.e. with rooting of O/S) etc, but many people don't care about that.

    I think the OP can still get iTunes on Android if you really want it, and there are other ways to keep your library (google it).

    However what sealed the deal away from Apple for me was a family member of mine had an Apple 5c and it broke when she dropped it no more than 1 foot, and broke again 2 weeks after the screen was fixed. Then when I was at work, this debate was raging between Apple and Android owners and so I asked all the people who had an iPhone whether theirs were broken, and they all went quiet, so I asked them all to show me their iphones and it was revealed that 4 out of 5 of them had screen cracks at that time! However I've heard the new generation ones don't do this, but I don't know, I've seen broken ones of them within 2 weeks of release too - Like the OP said, the iPhone 6 is expensive - its a big investment so if you go Apple, so maybe buy a protective case to look after it!?

    I guess my point is, almost everyone with Androids were defending Android, almost everyone with Apple was defending Apple - its what they were familiar with using, so you just have be prepared to get used to it before you will love it.

  • PurpleHippo on 05/11/2015 - 21:45
    +4

    I switched from an iphone 5 to the first HTC One. That lasted a week. Just couldnt get used to the operating system.
    There was no central command centre, or at least nothing that worked as well as apple. If I wanted to switch off notifications, I had to go into every app and switch them off individually.

    A year later, I tried again with the OnePlus One. That was much much better. I realised that the closer to stock android, the better the experience for me. So for my next phone, I'll probably get a Nexus. Stay away from Blink, Sense, TouchWiz, or whatever else manufacturers put on their phones.

    In all, I found ((almost) stock) android to be better than ios. I don't miss ios at all anymore. But the 2 things I miss from my apple phones are the mute switch, and having the headphone jack on the bottom of the phone. Everything else, I think android wins out for me.

  • liquid metal on 05/11/2015 - 22:38
    +4

    I started with Android —> iphone —> back to Android and now a LG G4. I feel chained with iphones. If I want to change something or add a feature, with Apple I have to wait until Apple thinks it's a good idea. With Android I just do it.

  • voltfox on 05/11/2015 - 22:39

    I recently moved to Galaxy Note 5 from iPhone 6 about a month ago,
    Things I missed from iPhone that I can't seem to find its alternative in android,

    • iMessage
    • I found much better experience browsing using Safari on iPhone, I use lots of swipe to go back and forward pages, tabs
    • iOS Mail works better for me, I do a lot of "swipe to unread" and searching through 5GB worth of emails, tried Outlook, Yahoo, GMail, stock android mail but none of them works as good as iOS mail for me
    • Facetime Audio, my clients use it a lot, easy to use and free
    • I highly customise Notification on iPhone which makes my work easier such as only show notifications from certain emails accounts (I have total of 8 emails accounts and like to only have 2 of them showing in notification window) Notification in Android feels messy, not centralised.
    • Reminders & Calendars, I use them a lot on my iPhone to manage work and use Siri to make appointments when driving, Android / Google Now can't seem to do that as well as Siri
    • Music, missed this a lot, hope Apple will release iTunes Music for Android soon :)
    • Fingerprint scanner doesn't work as well as iPhone, I guess due to its orientation, I got more fail and end up disabling it,
    • Making calls from Phone app on iPhone feels faster, less taps but I guess just need more time to get use to this
    • I use "double click Home button" to switch apps, there's a few apps that suppose to do this in Android but none of them works :(

    Things I like from Android,

    • The screen is amazing, I can see better when under the sunlight on the iPhone but overall love my Note 5 screen, it just popped
    • Battery life, this is only because I use Note 5 which have bigger battery I guess
    • Highly customisable, really bored on how iOS looks basically the same since it was released, Android on the other hand have themes, live wallpapers to name a few
    • Better keyboard than iPhone, I make less mistakes on my Android
    • So used to back button on Note 5 and love it

    I guess I just need more time getting use to Android but I think iPhone is much better for work and task management,
    Any tips would be great :)

    • dbun1 on 06/11/2015 - 11:19

      Your points listed regarding what you miss from iPhone vs Android are nearly spot on to my experiences. I use iPhone and Android side by side and notice the exact same things.

      For me, the iPhone just seems to handle my day-to-day tasks more efficiently. Yes, it hasn't changed and could be considered boring, but it's just a great workhorse.

      The Note 5 screen is amazing though!!

  • [Deactivated] on 05/11/2015 - 22:59

    I haven't used apple stuff. I'm on my first android phone. There are plenty of free apps, plenty of accessories too. I have an OTG adaptor that allows me to use a bluetooth keyboard and mouse. The other day I was looking at at cheap plug-in device that allows you to watch digital TV. There are cables that allow you to charge and run other stuff simultaneously. I even have a USB wireless dongle - which the phone will power - but because it's a phone and not a computer, it can't communicate with it. However someone has made a program that allows the phone to communicate with it - only you have to root the phone first.

    From what I've seen there's been an equivalent way to do nearly everything you can do on one, on the other.

    The only problem I can see can is rooting. i.e. There's a few apple phones. There's hundreds of android phones. My phone has CM support, but if you do it, you lose the camera and one or two other things I forget. So I stopped researching it until they get that right and maybe then I'll revisit it. (Whereas I would assume there's already full support for apple phones.)

  • DrStinge on 05/11/2015 - 23:06

    Nothing like an Android v Apple thread to really get the comment's flowing..

    Both system's are fine but at the end of the day pick and choose the phone you enjoy using the most. I personally find Android easier to use but that's because of my extensive use with it - the same someone will say about iPhone.

    Ecosystem isn't such a big deal anymore - I don't know of anything on iPhone that I'm missing out on. I certainly would miss setting default application's and being able to change more advanced settings, just to name a few.

    • iridiumstem on 06/11/2015 - 03:44
      +1

      It's like saying AK47 vs M16 on a military equipment nerd forum.

      • StewBalls on 06/11/2015 - 06:50

        Not really, the AK is hands-down a better, more reliable weapon than the M16 & it's derivatives. :P

        • iridiumstem on 06/11/2015 - 15:53
          +1

          I remember someone saying this:
          AK-47 is more accurate than people say they are and M16 is more reliable than people say they are.

          Don't think anyone can say which one is better, other than people who would've used both in real life. Then it probably would go into preferences (I assume, both of them are still used nowadays, if any of them were shite, people wouldn't be using them).

          South Korea still has conscription and since I was in the Air Force, where M16A1 is used mostly, I was issued with M16A1. I have to say this, they are more reliable than people make them out to be, judging from how old some of them were. Though I have no clue what AK-47 is like.

          My dad served in the army and in the reserve (as part of conscription), he used K2, M1 Garand and M16A1. My dad talked highly of M16A1.

        • DrStinge on 06/11/2015 - 16:12

          @Oversimplified:

          I've played a lot of CoD, I prefer the AK-47.

        • iridiumstem on 06/11/2015 - 16:14

          @DrStinge: Heh, 360 no-scope!

        • meatgasm on 06/11/2015 - 19:27

          @DrStinge: MW2 Noob jumping in ACR is where its at.

        • StewBalls on 07/11/2015 - 01:14

          @Oversimplified: I've used both IRL, I can state quite categorically that the Kalashnikov is a much more rugged weapon, period. You can drag those suckers through the mud & dirt & they will still fire reliably…you simply cannot say the same for the M16…Yeah, they're not wildly unreliable OOTB for the most part, but they are absolutely not as foolproof as the AK-47, especially under inclement conditions…that's just a fact, based on the two markedly different designs. The tighter tolerances of the M16 action just doesn't tolerate debris/dirt/residue as well.

          Personally though, I also prefer the ballistics of the 7.62x39mm round to a .223; case size notwithstanding, there's no substitute for the kinetic wallop of a .30 cal slug IMHO! ;)

          There's a very good reason the M16 has undergone significant evolution, they were fixing fundamental design flaws only evident in the field…conversely, the AK barely changed in the same time frame. The biggest selling point of the M16 IME was the weight, i.e. we weren't allowed slings in my day, and I can tell you lugging an SLR + a wad of .308s for a whole day was no picnic…consequently, a lot of guys were happy to get an M16 issued; although it also usually meant being FS or TEC! I'm just thankful I'm not an inch or two taller, or they'd have stuck a bloody M60 in my hands…now those suckers are heavy!

          IIRC, the M16 was not originally chosen on merit for the US armed forces, it was a backdoor buddy deal with a dodgy US Senator…much like the case with Blackhawk choppers, they were forced to commit to a deal for a second rate product made by someone with a vested interest rather than basing it on recommendations from technical advisors.

        • iridiumstem on 07/11/2015 - 01:37

          @StewBalls: Eh, I personally have no clue on how AK-47 would perform (and for a good reason, being in the air force and all). I never had the reason to learn about rifles (other than M16), and I pretty much am happy about that (my knowledge on military stuff goes more to aircrafts (both civil and military ones) and operations and air traffic stuff, which I cannot say many things on). I even got to see F-22 (though this was a part of an event by Americans) :D

          Anyways, thanks for sharing your experiences.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join