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2020 - Will Android Ever Defeat the iPhone

  • Writer: Emily DeFranco
    Emily DeFranco
  • Feb 17, 2020
  • 5 min read

Updated: Apr 23, 2024

This article was part of Dekad Lifestyle magazine's first quarter 2020 edition.




Android versus iPhone, a tale as old as...well, 2008. Ever since the release of the first Android smartphone in September of 2008 following the iPhone’s debut the previous year, the two mobile phone giants have been in stiff competition. With other negligible platforms aside, Apple’s IOS iPhone and Google’s Android dominate the market with over 99.7 percent of all smartphones purchased over the past three years.


While die-hard customers with fixed loyalties all have opinions on which is the more sophisticated and user-friendly option, the two have been one-upping each other for years. Many see the iPhone as the leader in smartphones and an untouchable industry standard, however Android hasn’t given up the chase and the question has been raised if Android will ever defeat the iPhone. To gain perspective, we can take a simplified look at the different categories the smartphone industry has to maintain in order to remain competitive. Among these are style, affordability, hardware and software, compatibility, customizability, security and privacy, battery life, and of course, the cameras.


Style

The style and aesthetic of both iPhones and Androids has basically been tweaked to perfection. Fans of iPhones love the consistent design since outer appearance hasn’t changed much besides variations in size, over the years while hardware has made leaps and bounds. Android has been less than consistent in regards to changing models but with more phone options on the market, there are those who appreciate more choices and different looks to choose from.


Affordability

Affordability has always favorited Androids since iPhones have remained on the high end of the market. Apple’s newly released iPhone models start above the thousand- dollar line and even out of date phones are hard to find under $500 if unused and running the newer iOS systems. Android users enjoy a wider range of products with a larger price range that starts at a much lower point. The Android platform also offers the most free apps so those who are budget-conscious may lean in favor of Android in that respect.


Hardware and Software

Both operating systems offer more portable technology, convenience, and connectivity than was ever previously imagined. Both tech giants have their OS down to a science with fast speeds and smooth interaction. Lifewire bills the difference down to the fact

that only Apple makes iPhones, so it has extremely tight control over howthe software and hardware work together. “On the other hand, Google offers the Android software to many phone makers, including Samsung, HTC, LG, and Motorola.” Because of their computer style operating system, Android phones can vary widely and quality and can be manipulated more easily to fit your specific needs.


Customizability

Customizability is undoubtedly one of Android’s greatest strengths and selling points. With ability to more thoroughly manipulate your home screen with apps at a glance, widgets, and shortcuts, this appeals to those who want more than a grid of apps. While iPhones, of course, let you change background images for your home and lock screen and are considered streamlined and elegant, other custom options are extremely limited.


Compatibility

This one comes down to individual preferences. For someone who uses primarily Apple technology like Mac desktop computers and laptops, iPads, Apple watches, etc, you’ll probably want to stick to Apple’s iPhone simply for that face that all your devices will interact seamlessly and with minimal setup. Using the cloud and your personal Apple ID account you can link accessories together for expanded functionality. While Android offers many devices, it can be more complicated linking third party accessories that weren’t necessarily designed to be compatible.


Security and Privacy

According to Norton, Apple’s operating system is more secure because it is a closed system. “Apple doesn’t release its source code to app developers, and the owners of iPhones and iPads can't modify the code on their phones themselves...making it more difficult for hackers to find vulnerabilities on iOS-powered devices.” Because of the customizability factor that sets Androids apart from iPhones, cybercriminals more often target Android software. Owners can also unintentionally but more easily damage their own smartphones when tinkering with the software codes. However, smartphones running Android operating systems are not ignoring this fact. For example, the new Google Pixel 3, which is said to be the most secure device from Google yet, features a security chip that encrypts data on the device.


Personal privacy can be measured on both a large and small scale. For example, iPhone users have had every option from passcodes to fingerprint scanners and face recognition simply to unlock their phones. At the same time Apple claims it doesn’t sell your personal information but it does collect it. Adroid maintains an acceptable privacy standard but because of it’s OS concept, privacy is innately more limited. As for what you share through apps, neither Apple nor Android can completely protect you from being targeted or monitored by third party platforms that build user profiles using and sharing your personal data.


Battery Life

Battery life is hard to compare between iPhones and Androids due to the fact that they don’t share any common hardware and applications run differently between devices. As new phones are released, longer battery life is often a key advertising point but can be affected by updates and how each individual uses their phone. Both offer ways to view battery usage by app but many argue that Android offers more ways to customize how power is allotted and shows how much battery time is left at a given time based on current usage.


Camera

Apple has boasted the best cameras in the smartphone industry for years and there was doubt until very recently that competitors would ever catch up. Since the camera feature is the one most users actually consider when upgrading or purchasing a new phone, marketing often puts the two companies up against each other for comparison. iPhones cameras claim to have the most crisp, clear, and color-correct cameras and also offer many in-camera features like frame size, filters, depth of field, and live photos that actually capture tiny videos when photos are taken. While the newest iPhones SX and SX Max have top-of-the-line cameras, Google’s Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL certainly come close. While both Apple and Google offer editing software applications for getting your photos just right, iPhone cameras offer the best results without tweaking.


These categories only skim the surface when it comes to comparing iPhones and Adroids. You could go on all day about voice assistants, call/text features, maps, gaming, cloud services, updates, build in features, etc. Basically, both platforms have a loyal following and will likely remain competitors as leads in the smartphone industry but Android has come a long way and it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise if we start to see a rapid increase in Android customers. While many features are comparable, price alone could cause Apple customers to jump ship and make the transfer. While iPhones are still considered top of the market by sales statistics, Android is quickly closing the gap.


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