The Blackberry OS project has been cancelled, the future of the Windows Mobile project is uncertain, and Tizen has been limited to only smart accessories: there are indeed only two mobile operating systems nowadays, Android and iOS. So, which one is better? To tell the truth, both have advantages and disadvantages. However, in general, we think that Android is the superior operating system. You can see the 5 most important reasons for this below:
1. Open Source Operating System
iOS is a closed operating system, which means that no one, except Apple, can use it. Once you’ve designed a mobile phone, you can’t choose iOS as the operating system: this is a “privilege” granted to iPhones only. In other words, this operating system has a “trademark”. For the same reason, you cannot modify it, customize it, or make any changes to it without the manufacturer’s permission.
Android is the opposite: As an open-source OS, anyone can use it in any product. That’s why you see a large number of mobile phone brands on the market using Android. If you want, you can also produce a mobile device of any kind and use Android as the operating system too. Moreover, you can make various changes depending on your preferences and customize the system as you wish. For example, a website like Vulkan Vegas casino online can develop a completely unique Android version and distribute it – there is nothing that prevents this legally. Moreover, you can even make money from it: customized Android versions such as MIUI and CM allow developers to earn revenue.
However, the biggest advantage of being an open-source operating system is the ease of use. You can connect your Android phones to your computer and use them as a USB disk without the need for separate software. With the drag-and-drop method, you can add files to your phone, specify ring tones, and complete all synchronization tasks easily. In closed operating systems, such as iOS, this is not possible. It is necessary to use separate software and complete all synchronization processes via this software. And as we all know, this is quite difficult and time-consuming – if you make a mistake and delete some files, for example, they will be nearly impossible to recover.
To sum up, the first advantage of Android is its ease of use and customization, as it is an open-source operating system.
2. Ease of Sideloading Apps
Both operating systems have their own app store for installing new applications: “App Store” for iOS and “Play Store” for Android. However, it is mandatory to use the App Store for iOS. If you want to install a new app, you must first wait for it to be released on the official store. Even if the application you want is available on the developer’s website, you can’t install it on your phone – being a closed-source operating system iOS prevents you from doing a thing called “sideloading”, which means installing applications from third-parties.
This is more restrictive than you can imagine. The App Store must comply with regional laws. In other words, the government in the country where you live may restrict your access to an application for any reason, and Apple must comply. Local politics determine which applications you can access. Android doesn’t have this problem: since it is open-source, sideloading can be done easily.
Play Store will still be your main source for new apps, but never your only option. Android users can download and install APK files from third-party sources on their phones and get access to apps that aren’t available on the Play Store. They do not need to “jailbreak” their phones or use separate software. If you live in third-world countries ruled by wannabe dictators, using Android will always give you more freedom.
3. Freedom of Choice
There is a simple reason why iOS always wins in synthetic tests: it is designed to work on a specific set of hardware. In other words, developers know that, for example, a single type of processor will be used and can optimize the system to work with it in the most efficient way. This also applies to other types of hardware. If you already know all the features of the hardware to be used, you know what to look for when writing the code and improve the performance easily. iOS has this advantage because it works on a single type of phone: All iPhones have the same design and use the same hardware.
Android, on the other hand, is not designed for a particular brand or hardware set. It literally works on every device: You can use it on a $ 90 mobile phone or a $ 900 tablet PC. Although the hardware of these devices is completely different from each other, Android will work on both and offer the same features.
In other words, Android gives you the chance to choose from dozens of different devices. You can decide according to your budget and personal tastes. If you don’t like the iPhone models released in 2019, there’s nothing you can do because you won’t be able to find another device using iOS. However, if you don’t like Samsung phones using Android, for example, you can easily choose from dozens of different brands and models, with different designs and prices. Using Android, you will never have to settle for the offered.
4. Longer Battery Life
Literally, every iPhone user suffers from the battery life. Even the flagship models cannot last for 24 hours after the first 6 months. All iOS users carry portable batteries with them and have to charge their phones multiple times during the day. And there is no way to prevent this: Apple does not give you the option to choose between different battery types. Moreover, it is officially stated that Apple slows down iPhones intentionally as the battery ages. In other words, the battery will reach the end of its life in about 2 years, and the phone will no longer work. The only way to solve this problem is to get a new iPhone!
Android offers diversity above all. If you don’t like the battery life of a particular model of a particular brand, you can find a better option in another model. Or you can switch to a completely different brand and opt-in for much longer battery life. Since you have a chance to make a choice, it is possible to evaluate each phone model separately and determine the one that best suits your needs. Moreover, most 2019 Android models come with a cable that is suitable for fast charging. So, the price of the cable is included in the price of the phone. For iOS iPhones, however, you must pay extra 50 dollars for this “privilege”.
5. Better Software and Service
We know that this is a topic open to heavy debate: many users will claim that iOS has more (and even better) software. It is impossible to say that they are completely unfair, and iOS is indeed the primary choice of software developers. However, if you compare the default software and services, Android is more advantageous. Below, you can see a list of them:
- The default email app of Android is Gmail, which supports other providers too. It is very easy to use and handle all attachments without having to install separate software. You will never feel the need to install a third-party email app, it is that good. The default email app of iOS, on the other hand, offers only the basic options. If you need a full-featured email app, you must install something from the App Store.
- iCloud offers only 5 GB for free, and you need to store everything within this space: photos, videos, app backup files, etc. Android offers 15 GB of free storage space with cross-platform support. And there is no limit on photo & video storage: you can literally store as many photos and videos as you want.
- If you want to manage your calls and filter some of them, for example, your only option is to subscribe to a service or install a third-party app in iOS. This feature is quite new, and there is no “out-of-the-box” solution. For example, you cannot define keywords and block SMS that contains those keywords – you need to purchase a service for this, which is offered via third-parties. Android, on the other hand, gives you much more control over calls. You can create blacklists, keywords to block, define specific periods where specific calls will be allowed, etc. In other words, without installing a third-party app, you can start taking control of your calls and SMS right away.
We are aware that it is also possible to create an article that explains “why iOS is better than Android”, but again, being an open-source operating system is the biggest strength of Android, and iOS can never beat this – it will always be the better choice for personalization.