When buying a new phone, people usually have to choose between two of the most popular operating systems. Here are 15 reasons why iPhones are better than Android phones.
Nothing sparks debates in the tech community faster than saying iPhones are better than Android devices or vice versa. Android users often argue that iPhone users only care about branding. On the other hand, iOS fans believe Android devices have unnecessarily complex, impractical features.
However, shopping for smartphones should go beyond opinions. Although both have their bad and good points, there are several areas wherein one operating system outperforms the other.
So, if you’ve been leaning toward buying a new iPhone, we’ve rounded up all the ways that iOS is better than Android to help you make an informed decision.
Fifteen reasons why iPhone is better than Android
Here are fifteen reasons why Apple iPhones are better than Android phones!
1. iPhones Retains Market Value
Unlike their Android rivals, an iPhone holds good resale value over time. Apple also holds tight control on device prices among third-party vendors. You will hardly see an iPhone going for a discounted sale in the first six months of availability.
The latest iPhone models typically cost at least 10% more than top-of-the-line releases from Android brands like Samsung or LG. However, they usually retain their market value longer. All smartphones depreciate after a year or two, but Apple products frequently end up with resale prices closer to their original retail value.
For instance, let’s compare the Samsung Galaxy S21 with the iPhone 12. Apple released the iPhone 12 Pro Max in November 2020, retailing for $1,199. In November 2022, you can get a used model for around $900 on eBay.
On the other hand, the S21 Ultra hit the market in January 2021, also retailing for $1,199. However, its resale value has already dropped to around $550 on eBay.
2. iPhones have Less Security Risks
iPhones are better than Android smartphones when it comes to cybersecurity. iPhones have tighter security than Android, thanks to the exclusive Apple App Store, closed ecosystem, and prompt updates. These make iOS devices challenging to infiltrate.
Also, an iPhone is extremely unlikely to be infected with a virus. Most iOS devices with compromised security systems were either jailbroken or rigged by unauthorized technicians.
That said, Google’s cybersecurity measures are nothing to scoff at. However, frequently customizing Android devices leaves them prone to several security threats.
3. iPhones Have Extremely User-Friendly Interface
Android features an open platform that accommodates full-on customization. You’ll have total control over your smartphone’s settings, and you can use the broad scope of apps on Google Play to execute them.
However, this level of customization also creates a steep learning curve. You’ll need some technical proficiency and customization experience to utilize Android’s platform, which not all smartphone users have.
On the contrary, iOS devices have a straightforward, user-friendly interface. They come with various pre-installed, out-of-the-box features, so you can start using them right from the get-go. You wouldn’t need much time to learn an iOS interface.
4. iPhones Have Superior Phone Protection Plans
AppleCare plan comes at a steep premium. Alternatives like Asurion, SquareTrade, and Samsung Care offer relatively cheaper phone protection plans.
However, none of them compare to Apple’s streamlined, hassle-free services. Instead of spending hours on the customer service line, you can simply visit your local Apple Store for repair quotes and estimates.
Also, claims are a breeze. Most of the time, you can consult an in-store Apple employee and walk out with a brand-new or newly repaired device in an hour or two.
5. Seamlessly Integrated Apple Ecosystem
The range of Apple products has grown notably in recent years. The company started out making computers and has since added music players, tablet computers and smart watches to their product selection. Today, Apple provides a wide range of products and services for various purposes.
The devices work seamlessly and effortlessly together. You don’t need to download or install separate applications to link them together, it’s enough when you sign in to the devices with the same Apple ID. Photos, emails, notes and calendars can be shared to all the devices. You also don’t have to pay twice for apps, movies or books – they can be found on all your devices.
The closed ecosystem also guarantees the user safety. The operating environment is secure when devices, users, manufacturers and app developers are all in the same ecosystem.
The situation is different for Android phones. Several different manufacturers produce phones and tablets based on the same operating system, so a safe ecosystem and using the devices together seamlessly cannot be guaranteed.
6. Easy to Spot Fakes
If you intend to buy a secondhand smartphone, learn to verify authenticity. Scammers have been selling counterfeit devices for decades now. Moreover, the Android knockoffs circulating in the market look almost identical to their original counterparts. You’ll need to watch out for super-minute details.
Fortunately, spotting a fake iPhone is significantly easier. iOS devices have an exclusive interface, so you can easily spot fakes since they likely wouldn’t have features like Siri, iCloud, or even the App Store.
Also, each device comes with a unique serial number. Go to Settings > General > About, then scroll down to the Serial Number section in the middle portion of the page.
Next, copy-paste it into Apple’s service and coverage page. You’d see the device’s valid purchase date, telephone technical support expiration, and warranty coverage if the serial number is legit.
7. Get the best apps first
The developers of the best and highest quality apps still favour Apple. Most apps use Apple’s App Store as their launch platform and release their apps there much earlier than they do in the Android phones’ Google Play store. This has been the case with some of the most popular apps of recent years, such as Super Mario Run and Snapchat.
Some of the high-profile apps and games are iOS-exclusive only. Clubhouse is a recent example of such a trend. Halide is another popular developer that is iOS-only. It’s much harder for app developers to create games and apps for Android phones, as there is a wide range of them and many unique features of the phones should be taken into account in the development. The App Store’s revenue model also serves the developers of high-quality apps better, which will guarantee safe and good apps for iPhone users in the future as well.
8. Every eligible iPhone gets software updates at the same time
Software updates have always been an area iPhones are better than android smartphones as a whole. Unless you own one of Google’s Pixel phones, you never really know when you’re going to receive a security update or major feature release, because that timing is up to each individual phone brand. Some are more consistent than others.
On the other hand, when Apple releases a software update for the iPhone, every single user has immediate access to that update as long as their iPhone is still supported. Currently, iOS 16 supports iPhones all the way back to the iPhone 8, which was released in 2017. And when iOS 16.2 is made available in the coming weeks, every eligible iPhone, from the iPhone 14 to the iPhone 8 will get the update at the same exact time.
You just don’t get that kind of consistency and assurance on the totality of Android phones.
9. Apple Pay Is Simpler to Use
Apple Pay is Apple’s payment service, which enables making credit and debit card payments using your phone. Paying works the same way as contactless payment with a plastic card, i.e., by placing the phone by the card reader. The card is protected with Face ID, Touch ID or the phone’s passcode, which let you keep your payment information safe.
Apple Pay can also be used to make purchases in apps: reserving a hotel room, shopping for clothes or ordering a pizza couldn’t be easier.
Options like Google Pay and PayPal also offer noteworthy features. However, their interfaces are a bit more challenging, plus they don’t come pre-installed on Android devices.
Also, Apple Pay is widely used, at least in the United States. The Apple Pay homepage states that more than 85% of retail shops, grocery stores, taxis, and vending machines in the US accept Apple Pay. Google Pay is not yet available in many countries, so users in need of a simple and easy mobile payment method should opt for the Apple iPhone.
10. Wireless headphones and earbuds are a breeze to set up and use
Pairing the wireless AirPods earbuds to your iPhone is a seamless experience that makes Apple’s system leagues ahead of Google’s. One of the most impressive benefits is being able to use the same AirPods with your Mac or Apple Watch without having to pair them again.
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds try to recreate that magical experience, and they come close, but lack the range and ease of use across multiple devices. Google’s Pixel Buds 2 are Android users’ best hope for recreating that magic — and they do a good job, but so far, nothing has truly matched the AirPods experience.
See also: 5 Best AirPods Pro 2 tips and tricks to try first.
11. iPhones Have No Bloatware
Bloatware, crapware. Whatever you want to call it, it doesn’t exist on an iPhone. In this regard, iPhones are better than android phones because Apple doesn’t allow carriers to install any apps before you get the phone, unlike Android devices that are loaded with carrier-specific apps from the moment you first turn them on.
Yes, you can delete or hide those apps in just a few minutes on your Android phone, but it’s not something users should have to deal with. Who really needs the AT&T locker app? Or random games pushed on you because the developer struck a deal with your carrier? I know I don’t. Not to mention, researchers have found that preinstalled apps are prone to bugs and security issues. In my opinion, the owner of a phone should have control over what is and isn’t installed.
12. Video calls with iPhone are as simple as a phone call
FaceTime is one feature that makes iPhone better than Android. FaceTime works so well because it’s encrypted and ready to use the moment you set up your new iPhone.
Like iMessage, FaceTime is for many people synonymous with video calls. It’s the only app they want to use and they don’t have to log into a third-party app or search for contacts to set it up and start a call. It’s just automatically linked to your contacts, camera and dialer to do all the work. It’s this ease that makes FaceTime one of the reasons that family groups stay rooted to the iPhone.
13. Seamless backup and restore
I’ve set up hundreds of Android phones, and the process has never been as painless as it is when I set up a new iPhone. With the iPhone, I log into my iCloud account, tap on Restore and then wait about 20 minutes. That’s not the case with an Android phone.
Google’s backup and restore service does a decent job, but more often than not there are apps I need to reinstall or log into, setting to adjust, and disappointment to manage when the phones frequently fail to restore my home screen layout exactly how I had it. The Restore feature is supposed to save time, but I still spend a chunk of it fine-tuning the Android devices I set up this way.
Meanwhile, my iPhone backs up to iCloud every night (as long as it’s connected to Wi-Fi and charging) and completely restores installed apps, accounts, home screen and settings without fail.
14. iMessage gives you that blue bubble feeling
Perhaps the biggest feature that Android users don’t have, and likely never will, is Apple’s proprietary messaging platform iMessage. It seamlessly syncs across all of your Apple devices, is fully encrypted and has a ton of playful features like Memoji.
When you send a message to another iPhone and you see the chat bubble turn blue, you know that the person on the other end of the conversation is using an iPhone, too. That makes you part of a club, sure, but it also includes certain benefits, like chatting over Wi-Fi and being able to share high-res videos and photos with the person on the other end of the line.
iMessage also lets you request or send money via Apple Pay and pepper the message with extra colorful animations, for example, which makes for a more robust conversation than using standard SMS on the iPhone. You’ll know you’re in typical texting mode when the chat bubbles are green.
Google recently announced the global rollout of its own take on iMessage as part of its Messages app. It uses something called rich communication services that let you send higher quality photos and videos, and see read receipts and even typing indicators so you know when the other person is replying. While Google’s RCS brings huge improvements to chatting on an Android phone, it’s not as widely used as iMessage right now and doesn’t have Apple’s full set of features.
15. Better-looking widgets
Sorry, it’s true. Apple may be late to the game or copied Google here, but it did it right. There are a few different sizes of widgets that developers can create for their apps, which you can then place anywhere on your home screen. You can stack widgets on top of each other and let iOS decide which one to show you depending on your device usage, or you can scroll through them on your own.
Reasons why iPhones are better than android phones? Now you know!
These are the reasons why iPhones are better than android smartphones. iPhones are user-friendly, straightforward device that requires minimal tech knowledge to utilize. You’ll find Apple’s ecosystem convenient.
If you’re looking for more features that make the iPhone better than Android, look no further than this long list of features Apple added in iOS 16, and if you’re still not convinced, here’s a healthy list of hidden iPhone features you probably didn’t know about.