Why?
Why Apple?
Firstly, let me start off with why someone may choose an iPhone as their daily driver.
Apple makes great iPhones. They do. They really do. iPhones are high quality, look nice, have a good feel, are generally sturdy, can last a while, and have a decent combo of hardware and software powering them.
The list is pretty long on why someone may choose an iPhone.
Overall, they can be easy to use and a great pick for someone, especially when everyone around them is already using iPhones as well.
Why Android?
Firstly, I know, Android is the operating system, not a device. However, Android runs on numerous devices, unlike iOS. So, I will talk about a few of them.
Devices running Android are generally inexpensive. They are usually really affordable to someone who either can’t financially commit to an iPhone or frankly someone who doesn’t want to, even if they can. Although, there are some devices that aren’t the most favorable in terms of value-to-product.
Additionally, Androids are also more customizable and allow more freedom having fewer walls containing your control.
I could be here a while naming reasons, so I won’t.
Overall, devices that run Android are generally a great pick.
Android over iPhone
The Price.
One of the biggest reasons I choose an Android device over an iPhone is obvious. The price.
It is no secret that iPhones are expensive. Most Apple fanatics may stand up for the price, stating you get your value. However, I believe in the opposite.
A base model iPhone 13 Pro Max is $1100 at MSRP. This gets you a 6.7 inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, an A15 Bionic CPU, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a 3 lens array (12MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom), a 12MP front camera, an IP68-rated water resistance, and a 4300 mAh battery.
One of the most similar phones, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is $900 at MSRP. This gets you a 6.71 inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a Tensor CPU, 12GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a 3 lens array (50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 48MP telephoto with 4x optical zoom), an 11MP front camera, an IP68-rated water resistance, and a 5000 mAh battery.
As you can see, a popular base model Android device runs $200 cheaper while also delivering more than the iPhone.
Now, for someone not looking for top-of-the-line specs, there are numerous devices with relevant specs that are within the range of what I consider to be up-to-date for 2022, such as Samsung’s line of A-series phones.
Similar to Apple, there are still overpriced Android devices, most knowingly is Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S-series line.
Overall, the value of iPhones for what you get is… not the best.
The Software.
While iPhones do run a decent operating system (iOS), it is far from perfect, and in this case, we’ll include the bundled iOS apps.
Apple devices tend to received new features months (or even years) behind Android. Additionally, iOS is limited in what it allows the consumer to do, such as access to the deep file system.
Apple is commonly against the integration between its devices and Android-based devices. One of the biggest examples of this is iMessage.
Without a doubt, iMessage is one of the greatest apps to have enabled deep connection over smartphones in the past decade. However, it comes with caveats. The software behind iMessage is limited to Apple devices. Unlike Android (mainly Google), Apple does not allow others to adopt their architecture used for key features in iMessage that are lacking in the SMS and MMS protocols. Due to this, texting between an Android device and iPhone is limited, lacking texting indicators, read receipts, reactions, replies, better groups, and more. That being said, there is a reasonable fix. RCS.
RCS, Rich Communication Service, is a protocol developed by Google for their app, Google Messages. Similar to iMessage’s architecture, RCS allows the device to have read receipts, better groups, replies, reactions, texting indicators, and more. Unlike iMessage, RCS is available for other manufacturers to adopt, including Apple. Why haven’t they? That’s the question. It would open up Apple devices to extremely better communication amongst smartphones in today’s day and age. This leads me to my next point.
The Morals.
It’s no secret that Google loves making apps and services. Unlike Apple, Google releases most, if not all, their apps on Apple’s App Store. This allows the world of iPhones to use Google’s services at their will. Apple tends to do the exact opposite. They hoard everything for themselves. This is what makes me question their morals.
Apple only cares about money. I get it. Money is what makes the world spin these days. Here’s the thing. Apple isn’t hurting for money, having been evaluated at $3 Trillion last month. Apple, as one of the largest tech manufacturers, has the ability to open the world of communication, connection, expression, and so much more. However, they focus on their money.
It was revealed in the court filings between Epic Games and Apple that Apple discussed opening iMessage to Android in 2013, however, Apple feared losing that obstacle.
However, Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering and the executive in charge of iOS, feared that “iMessage on Android would simply serve to remove [an] obstacle to iPhone families giving their kids Android phones”. (PX407, at ‘122.)
Removing this obstacle would reduce iPhone sales by the billions. I understand, companies live on revenue. However, the iMessage controversy opens the door to new problems.
When texting on iMessage, messages to other iPhones show as blue and SMS as green.
This seems like no big deal at first, but it only creates severe issues.
Due to this differentiation and Apple having a tendency to be the popular pick amongst teens (as well as young children), it has allowed bullying. We currently live in an unfortunate society where having that green bubble would get you picked on, as that displayed you didn’t have an iPhone. This comes from the stereotype that Android devices are just “cheap phones for poor people”. This has been a social issue for years, meanwhile, Apple stays in the back raking in the cash. The obvious and easiest change also has no financial drop for Apple. They just need to make the colors the same. Easy as that. Why haven’t they? Their morals. They feed off the bullying. Kids being bullied means kids beg their parents for the next iPhone which only means one thing, more money in their pockets.
Always have, always will.
These are only a few reasons why I pick Android over Apple. The biggest thing for me is their morals. Their morals are wrong in so many ways. Technology should be about collaboration and innovation, not revenue. Apple only cares about revenue.
I always have and always will choose almost any Android device over Apple devices because of these reasons. Morals. Price. Quality. Care. Passion. Innovation. The list goes on.
In the end… Androids Eat Apples.
