iOS VS Android: which one should you choose? Why? Who is truly the best? This certainly sounds like a joke, coming from a website that's 100% on Android. But, make no mistake. We're not fan boys. We know when to admit defeat - but we also know when we are the winners.

That being said, without any further ado, let's get right into it!

1: iOS VS Android: Pricing

iOS VS Android

Apple is known for releasing expensive/premium devices and there is not much that you can do about it. Sure, there are a few mid-range and used options. But, not only they are made of plastic, but you also still don't have any budget choices.

Android smartphones, on the other hand, can be found anywhere from $40 up to $2K or even more. So, when it comes to pricing, there is no doubt that Android is the winner.

Furthermore, did you know that you are basically allowed to install Android on any device that supports it? That could be your old laptop or something. And you can do it for free - if you're willing to spend the time to research the details on how to do it and actually do it.

So, you can actually get Android without spending anything in the first place. Apple, on the other, doesn't legally allow you to install any of their operating systems. You can only get it with their devices where it's pre-installed and paid for beforehand.

And while you can actually at least install Mac OS on a Windows computer, the process is still illegal and painful, to say the least. Not to mention that you'll need very specific hardware.

So, when everything is said and done, iOS is definitely the loser in terms of pricing. Only those who are willing to reach at least in the mid-tier can get it .

Winner: Android
Score: 0-1

2: Choices

iOS VS Android

When it comes to iOS, you either get an iPhone or you don't. There's not much else to say. All of them are very identical in terms of design with every new generation offering better performance and sometimes new features as well.

If you love the way that iPhones look, then that's definitely great. You simply pick the latest release to come out without even having to spend time researching and you're all set to go.

On Android, however, you can get whatever you want. Looking for specific types of cover? Design? Maybe numerous cameras? Specific kinds of display technology? Specific sizes? Truly bezel-less displays? Something cheaper? No matter what you're looking for, Android has at least one option for you.

So, once more, we have to give credit to Android as it's clearly far superior in terms of giving you something to choose from. Again, there are also several iPhone devices. But, the design has remained more or less the same throughout the years.

And you know what? On other hand, you can't blame Apple for that. After all, you know what they say: if it ain't broken, don't fix it.

Winner: Android
Score: 0-2

3: Customizability

Apple fans, I swear we're not doing this on purpose. It just happens that Android is the superior platform on those specific categories that we've mentioned till now. But, fret not, you'll get your turn as well.

For those of you who have yet to catch up, it's been known for years now that Android allows you to customize pretty much everything while iOS only gives you some very basic options. So, this is a no-brainer, really.

And if you want more technical details, Android allows you to install 3rd party launchers, lock-screens, widgets, and more. Those can completely change the feel of your phone and even make it look like a completely different device.

iOS doesn't have any similar features and that's why it loses this battle. Yes, we know. There is the option of installing jailbreak and changing lots of stuff. However, the same thing can be said for Android with custom ROMs. So, not a solid argument, really.

And while we're at it, let us not forget support for 3rd party apps. iOS doesn't even allow you to install apps out of its app store which can greatly limit what you can get or not.

That being said, it's also one good reason as to why Android is considered inferior in terms of security. But, more on that later. Still, as long as you're careful, you shouldn't have any issues. We certainly didn't in the past decade or so.

Winner: Android
Score: 0-3

4: iOS VS Android: Performance

https://youtu.be/Cv1xwda0xkQ

We were genuinely surprised to see the results of this test. iPhones have been beating us in terms of performance for years now and that's mostly thanks to the great optimization that iOS offers.

However, it seems like that era is coming to an end as the hardware gap between iPhone and Android devices is only getting larger and larger. To be more specific, the latest iPhone offers 4 gigs of RAM while some of the latest flagships come with more than 10 gigs.

RAM makes a huge difference because you won't have to re-launch every app time and time again. And as you noticed in the video above, we're not merely speaking about specs and numbers here. The Galaxy S10+ beats the iPhone XS Max in real-world performance.

And let us not forget to mention that we were looking at the Exynos version which is known for being slower than the Snapdragon one. Though, with that being said, the difference in performance is not dramatic and there are times where iPhones pull ahead as well.

So, at the end of the day, it's hard to declare a clear winner in terms of performance. Though, it's worth noting that again, the extra RAM that Android devices offer makes a difference in the long run.

Still, we're gonna have to declare a tie here because there is just no clear winner. And don't forget that as you go cheaper and cheaper on Android, you'll end up sacrificing more performance as well. Unless you go with the Poco F1 which has the latest hardware for a relatively very cheap price.

Winner: Tie. Difference in performance is too small to declare a winner
Score: 1-4

5: Stability

Putting iOS VS Android to the test in terms of stability, both for apps and the OS in general, there is no doubt that iOS takes the lead in this one. After all, when it comes to iOS, the developers only need to work on a handful of devices with specific hardware while Android is way more chaotic.

This allows for better overall stability across every single app. And though there have been times that iOS failed dramatically in terms of crashing and software issues, Android often has it much worse.

When you install an app on iOS, you can be 99% sure that it'll work without a single issue. Things aren't so great on Android. Again, mostly due to the fact that it's very hard to optimize an app for all the different hardware that Android devices use.

And let us not forget to mention that even Google's Pixel 3 is known for coming out with numerous issues. So, if you can't trust Google for creating a stable device for their own OS, how can you trust anyone else?

Winner: iOS
Score: 2-4

6: Security

How to lock apps on Android

Putting iOS VS Android, this is one more comparison where theoretically, iOS pulls ahead. That's mainly for two reasons:

  1. iOS controls the app store more strictly and doesn't allow you to install 3rd party apps
  2. Security updates reach most Android devices a bit late because of the whole process

So, first of all, you can't install 3rd party apps on an iPhone. And while that sounds like a bad thing, the reality is that you'll find more or less everything that you'll need on the app store and the whole situation also makes it much tougher to get infected with malware.

Second of all, while there are many Android flagships that manage to stay updated, most phones will stay behind weeks or even months before receiving the latest security update. And let us not forget support, which is our second to last point of comparison.

For now, when it comes to security, iOS is the clear winner.

Winner: iOS
Score: 3-4

7: iOS VS Android: Support

This is another point of comparison where iOS pulls ahead. While most Android manufacturers provide a couple or 3 years of support, Apple will have your back for about 5.

So, strictly speaking by numbers, there is no doubt that iOS is the winner here. And that's without even mentioning that cheaper Android devices will be lucky if they get a year or so of support.

Winner: iOS
Score: 4-4

8: Camera

https://youtu.be/Y7dwBw09MLQ

Our phone cameras have turned out to be one of the most important parts. So, we thought that this is worth adding to our list of comparisons. But, oh boy is this hard.

All devices have pros and cons here:

  • iOS tends to take the lead in terms of dynamic range
  • The Galaxy S10 offers better stabilization in 1080P
  • Color accuracy is better on the iPhone but some people may prefer the more vivid colors of the P30 Pro
  • Low light performance is light years ahead on the P30 Pro
  • The 5X optical zoom sensor of the P30 Pro is superior to the 2X of the iPhone
  • Standard photography is more or less the same but iPhones tend to offer more realistic color accuracy and dynamic range
  • Android gives you more features like wide-angle lens and stuff like that
  • Macro photography is better on the P30 Pro. Most people won't notice but it's worth mentioning
  • Selfie shots are more or less identical and a matter of personal preference
  • The S10 wins in slow-mo shots

So, who has the better camera? Well, again, it's a really tough choice and we find ourselves unable to give a subjective result.

In terms of numbers, Android pulls ahead. But, real-life usage isn't like that. What if you absolutely want the natural colors and dynamic range of the iPhone? Or what if you're willing to sacrifice that for wide-angle shots? What if you want good low-light performance no matter what?

You get our point. There is no clear winner here. Just pick whatever suits you best for your own personal use.

Winner: Tie
Score: 5-5

iOS VS Android: Who is The Best?

So, we're finally at the end. Who is the winner? In terms of numbers, iOS and Android are tied.

But, again, real-life doesn't work like that. We can go on all day comparing different devices in different subjects. However, at the end of the day, you're only going to pick whatever suits you best.

For example, the price of iOS on its own is enough to drive a lot of people away from it; even though it tied with Android on our comparison.

All we're trying to say is that there is no absolute winner. It's a matter of personal choice. Read our comparison, see who wins for whatever it is that you value the most, and pick that as your daily driver.

Feel like we forgot to mention something important? Got anything wrong? Then let us and everyone else know about it in the comments section down below! Also, who do you think is the best? And why?

Like what you see? Then don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news, reviews, listicles, apps, games, devices, how-to guides, and more!

View Comments

What's my model number?

There are several ways to locate your model number:

Option 1
On your device, go to Settings, then "About device" and scroll down to "Model number"
Option 2
Often times you can view the model number inside the device, by removing the battery
Option 3
Using Samsung's model/serial number location tool

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