Phones 11 simple reasons why I dumped Android for the iPhone 4S/iOS

[Technarchy]

After 6 or so android phones in 3 years, and one tablet, I switched from android to iOS/iPhone/iPad...

Why?


1. It shouldn't be my job to handle hardware and software integration to get android to offer the best performance. This should be done by the device manufacturer and Google. I have a job. I don't need another one.

2. Android is poorly supported by carriers and manufacturers. You'd be lucky to see one major update a year on a brand new device. Apple gave the 3 year old 3GS iOS5. Good luck getting Google to do ICS on a Nexus One. More support is better, especially when talking two year contracts. No more aggravation from 6 months to a year of waiting for an android OS update that will outdated as soon as it is released. No more looking for shady ROMS from lord knows where.

3. The games selection sucks on android. iOS gets all the big budget titles from big name developers. Also Infinity Blade 2 works on a 3 year old 3GS. Good luck getting a high end android game to run on anything from 2009

4. Android is way too resource hungry, and poorly engineered, which makes it inconsistent, unstable with more UI lag than iOS. iOS is smooth, stable and allows me to do what I really want to be doing, which is not tweaking roms to get acceptable performance and stability.

5. Apple doesn't sell a bad iPhone. You can bank on that. With android plenty of suck phones are sold to the public on purpose.

6. All the Google ecosystem apps I need on android are also on iOS. (Search, Voice, Maps, Youtube, Gmail, etc etc)

7. iOS has greater cohesiveness between apps, OS features and hardware. With android you can tell there is almost zero synergy between apps, hardware and OS. Apple's mobile ecosystem is unmatched. Also iOS has the best app selection in the business outside of a Windows PC.

8. iOS versions of apps look and flow better than android versions because developers prefer iOS and give it their A team, more development time and more money.

9. Android phones depreciate quickly making them poor value purchases. Anything Apple will always keep its value better and longer. I can already get used One X's and GNote's for less than a used 16GB iPhone 4S.

10. Fragmentation...The fact that Google is pushing Jelly Bean and ICS barely has double digit penetration is utterly pathetic, hinders app development and ruins the user experience in a huge way.

11. Widgets are useless. I spend no time staring at the home screen. I'm either in an app or notification center. A running widget is an unnecessary layer eating resources.

Now this list does not suggest android does nothing right. Not true at all, but these are the main reasons why I dumped android, and probably will not be returning.

 

[The iGentleman]

After 6 or so android phones in 3 years, and one tablet, I switched from android to iOS/iPhone/iPad...

Why?


1. It shouldn't be my job to handle hardware and software integration to get android to offer the best performance. This should be done by the device manufacturer and Google. I have a job. I don't need another one.

2. Android is poorly supported by carriers and manufacturers. You'd be lucky to see one major update a year on a brand new device. Apple gave the 3 year old 3GS iOS5. Good luck getting Google to do ICS on a Nexus One. More support is better, especially when talking two year contracts. No more aggravation from 6 months to a year of waiting for an android OS update that will outdated as soon as it is released. No more looking for shady ROMS from lord knows where.

3. The games selection sucks on android. iOS gets all the big budget titles from big name developers. Also Infinity Blade 2 works on a 3 year old 3GS. Good luck getting a high end android game to run on anything from 2009

4. Android is way too resource hungry, and poorly engineered, which makes it inconsistent, unstable with more UI lag than iOS. iOS is smooth, stable and allows me to do what I really want to be doing, which is not tweaking roms to get acceptable performance and stability.

5. Apple doesn't sell a bad iPhone. You can bank on that. With android plenty of suck phones are sold to the public on purpose.

6. All the Google ecosystem apps I need on android are also on iOS. (Search, Voice, Maps, Youtube, Gmail, etc etc)

7. iOS has greater cohesiveness between apps, OS features and hardware. With android you can tell there is almost zero synergy between apps, hardware and OS. Apple's mobile ecosystem is unmatched. Also iOS has the best app selection in the business outside of a Windows PC.

8. iOS versions of apps look and flow better than android versions because developers prefer iOS and give it their A team, more development time and more money.

9. Android phones depreciate quickly making them poor value purchases. Anything Apple will always keep its value better and longer. I can already get used One X's and GNote's for less than a used 16GB iPhone 4S.

10. Fragmentation...The fact that Google is pushing Jelly Bean and ICS barely has double digit penetration is utterly pathetic, hinders app development and ruins the user experience in a huge way.

11. Widgets are useless. I spend no time staring at the home screen. I'm either in an app or notification center. A running widget is an unnecessary layer eating resources.

Now this list does not suggest android does nothing right. Not true at all, but these are the main reasons why I dumped android, and probably will not be returning.

1. You don't have to.
2. Support definitely has room for improvement.
3. Not sure what 2009 has to do with anything. Unless you plan on buying a 3 year old phone, I don't see how that's relevant at all.
4. You obviously haven't used any high-end Android phones in the last 12 months. It isn't even close to being unstable or laggy, especially with the next-gen phones. You're regurgitating old criticisms that don't even apply anymore.
5. Bad? No. Flaws? Yes. The 3GS had cracking. The iPhone 4 had the deathgrip isssue and faulty home button. The 4S has battery life that could certainly use improvment. No phone is perfect, every phone has its faults.
6. Albeit handicapped versions. Google Voice on iOS isn't even half as functional as the Android version. For example, on iOS you can't set it to make all your calls via Google Voice.
7. You've got to be kidding. Android allows apps on their platform to integrate into the system. You can go in your email, open a picture, and send it to Dropbox, all from the email app. You can go on facebook, see a picture you want to scan to find out info on, and tap share to Google Goggles. Apps are fully integrated in the OS, not just facebook and twitter. You can get any more cohesive than that. Apps don't work together on iOS even close to this fashion.
8. Look and flow better? If you look at the same app on both OS', most cases they look the same. As for "flow better", you lost me there.
9. iPhones hold value longer because there is no other iOS phone to compete with it. The downside to that is, while you're holding value, other people have the opportunity to move up to even better devices. In the time it took for them to go from the 4 to the 4S, I had the chance to own several different phones. I like to try out different technology, so that was a very nice option for me. That 18 months while iPhone 4 owners were forced to sit still, Android owners went from qHD phones, to HD phones, phones that can be used to buy things, dual-core processors, etc. Much progress was made during those 18 months.
10. Honestly, I think too much is made of the adoption rate numbers of Android devices. What those numbers don't take into account is the huge number of low end devices out there that wouldn't be able to get the upgrade anyway. Most of the last-gen high-end phones are on ICS, or are almost at release. The low end phones aren't going to get it anyway, so it's a non-issue. That said, they do need to fix the upgrade process, as it is definitely broken.
11. Of course you don't spend any time looking at your home screen. There's nothing to look at, so you wouldn't. Nobody would just sit and look at a grid of icons, that wouldn't make much sense. If useful information was on there, or useful controls, then you would look at it more than you do now. Try not to be so closed-minded.

 

[Leonard1818]

Congrats on the move. I did the same and I'm not looking back either... Not on my phone anyway. Maybe a tablet sometime

 

[Eso]

11. Of course you don't spend any time looking at your home screen. There's nothing to look at, so you wouldn't. Nobody would just sit and look at a grid of icons, that wouldn't make much sense. If useful information was on there, or useful controls, then you would look at it more than you do now.

Pretty much. Sometimes I just don't understand how some people don't think that having information on the homescreen can be useful.

 

[bobTX10]

Those reasons you mentioned have been said time and time again. I only read your post thinking you could mention something new. There was no reason to create a new thread about it.

Why do these people persist on justifying their apple purchases time and time again.

 

[cynics]

I thought you always preached about this being a iPhone forum. Why make another vs thread?

All this does is further prove my point that only iphone users start threads about Android on this forum. There are currently 0 threads related to the iPhone on the nexus section of android central.

I'm glad you are happy with your iPhone I am with mine too but it feels like you are trying to justify it with the the particular examples you gave. Some are just opinion anyway (widgets).

 

[ChrisTX]

Those reasons you mentioned have been said time and time again. I only read your post thinking you could mention something new. There was no reason to create a new thread about it.

Why do these people persist on justifying their apple purchases time and time again.

Honestly if you didn't have anything constructive to contribute, wouldn't it have been better just to keep quite? I found the original post to be quite relevant, and well thought out. It's posts like yours that really make me miss the down vote button here.

 

[RocketRed]

Honestly if you didn't have anything constructive to contribute, wouldn't it have been better just to keep quite? I found the original post to be quite relevant, and well thought out. It's posts like yours that really make me miss the down vote button here.

I've noticed ever since the down vote feature has been removed, I see disruptive posts like these more frequently.

 

[cynics]

Honestly if you didn't have anything constructive to contribute, wouldn't it have been better just to keep quite? I found the original post to be quite relevant, and well thought out. It's posts like yours that really make me miss the down vote button here.

You are right but some of us are just tired of hearing about android. I'd like some relevant info for iPhones.

I usually try to avoid getting off topic but debating Android vs iOS is turning into the ONLY thing on the iPhone section. So I apologize for the off topic post (you didn't quote me but my post was similar).

 

[ChrisTX]

You are right but some of us are just tired of hearing about android. I'd like some relevant info for iPhones.

I usually try to avoid getting off topic but debating Android vs iOS is turning into the ONLY thing on the iPhone section. So I apologize for the off topic post (you didn't quote me but my post was similar).

That's fair but at least his post was pro Apple, and more relevant to MacRumors, than the "Hey guys I switched to the latest Android" posts we seem to get around here lately. If I wanted to read posts concerning the Galaxy S3 I would go somewhere else.

 

[cynics]

That's fair but at least his post was pro Apple, and more relevant to MacRumors, than the "Hey guys I switched to the latest Android" posts we seem to get around here lately. If I wanted to read posts concerning the Galaxy S3 I would go somewhere else.

True. But this can/will only inspire yet another flame war. Even the OP knows not everyone is going to say "you are correct /end thread".

In a page or two this will more then likely be about the S3 or some other high end android.

 

[SpyderBite]

Thanks for sharing.

However you are bound to have a couple dozen haters replying to your post.

Personally, I don't care what anybody else uses for a mobile device. I use an iPhone cause that's what works for me. The gf uses an android device cause that's what works for her. But we don't sit in the couch and have p'n contests every night debating which is better. No reason I should need to do that with strangers on an Internet forum either.

 

[Phone Junky]

If I wanted to read posts concerning the Galaxy S3 I would go somewhere else.

And if you don't want to read those posts, DON'T. Is someone forcing you to click on those threads? I don't know what's worse, someone starting a thread about an Android device or the person complaining about that thread, IN THE THREAD. If you see the mention of an Android in the title, do yourself a favor and move along. It's really very simple.

 

[sracer]

After 6 or so android phones in 3 years, and one tablet, I switched from android to iOS/iPhone/iPad...

Why?


1. It shouldn't be my job to handle hardware and software integration to get android to offer the best performance. This should be done by the device manufacturer and Google. I have a job. I don't need another one.

2. Android is poorly supported by carriers and manufacturers. You'd be lucky to see one major update a year on a brand new device. Apple gave the 3 year old 3GS iOS5. Good luck getting Google to do ICS on a Nexus One. More support is better, especially when talking two year contracts. No more aggravation from 6 months to a year of waiting for an android OS update that will outdated as soon as it is released. No more looking for shady ROMS from lord knows where.

3. The games selection sucks on android. iOS gets all the big budget titles from big name developers. Also Infinity Blade 2 works on a 3 year old 3GS. Good luck getting a high end android game to run on anything from 2009

4. Android is way too resource hungry, and poorly engineered, which makes it inconsistent, unstable with more UI lag than iOS. iOS is smooth, stable and allows me to do what I really want to be doing, which is not tweaking roms to get acceptable performance and stability.

5. Apple doesn't sell a bad iPhone. You can bank on that. With android plenty of suck phones are sold to the public on purpose.

6. All the Google ecosystem apps I need on android are also on iOS. (Search, Voice, Maps, Youtube, Gmail, etc etc)

7. iOS has greater cohesiveness between apps, OS features and hardware. With android you can tell there is almost zero synergy between apps, hardware and OS. Apple's mobile ecosystem is unmatched. Also iOS has the best app selection in the business outside of a Windows PC.

8. iOS versions of apps look and flow better than android versions because developers prefer iOS and give it their A team, more development time and more money.

9. Android phones depreciate quickly making them poor value purchases. Anything Apple will always keep its value better and longer. I can already get used One X's and GNote's for less than a used 16GB iPhone 4S.

10. Fragmentation...The fact that Google is pushing Jelly Bean and ICS barely has double digit penetration is utterly pathetic, hinders app development and ruins the user experience in a huge way.

11. Widgets are useless. I spend no time staring at the home screen. I'm either in an app or notification center. A running widget is an unnecessary layer eating resources.

Now this list does not suggest android does nothing right. Not true at all, but these are the main reasons why I dumped android, and probably will not be returning.

Summary: "I'm an iPhone fanboy".

There's nothing wrong with that, but you used way too many words to convey that thought.

 

[chokem]

I thought I was was a good post, well thought out and informative. I had exactly the same experience.

 

[bjones521]

This thread is a complete joke! Are u meaning to tell me the gmail, voice, maps and youtube app are on par with what android offers???

I use a 4S are my daily driver but c'mon man! you cant be so ignorant with androids strong suits. You do make good points with #2 and #9 but all the other numbers are subjective!

 

[nfl46]

Most of the reasons given are subjective. They should really create an Android section on this forum. That's all we will see until the new iPhone comes out.

 

[bry223]

4. You obviously haven't used any high-end Android phones in the last 12 months. It isn't even close to being unstable or laggy, especially with the next-gen phones. You're regurgitating old criticisms that don't even apply anymore.

You do know as part of Jelly Bean's development google has come out and officially stated that they are let me quote "At war with lag" to enhance the user expierence. I have a transformer prime tablet and a ipad 3 and I can tell you first hand there is a huge diffrence between the two with UI lag and stuttering.

I find it funny that Google can admit this but the android fanboys can't come to terms with this.

 

[mattopotamus]

You do know as part of Jelly Bean's development google has come out and officially stated that they are let me quote "At war with lag" to enhance the user expierence. I have a transformer prime tablet and a ipad 3 and I can tell you first hand there is a huge diffrence between the two with UI lag and stuttering.

I find it funny that Google can admit this but the android fanboys can't come to terms with this.

i agree that is a huge issue with droids that has kept me away. As soon as i start changing through menus i notice the stutter/lag/or whatever you want to call it.

 

[batting1000]

I knew all the Android fanboys would flock here and offer up their excuses.

 

[chambone]

3. The games selection sucks on android. iOS gets all the big budget titles from big name developers. Also Infinity Blade 2 works on a 3 year old 3GS. Good luck getting a high end android game to run on anything from 2009

Good luck getting any version of Android itself to run smoothly on a 600MHz cpu. Forget about butter. Might not be relevant to some, with today's hardware in mind, but it just goes to show how resource efficient iOS really is.

 

[VulchR]

And if you don't want to read those posts, DON'T. Is someone forcing you to click on those threads? I don't know what's worse, someone starting a thread about an Android device or the person complaining about that thread, IN THE THREAD. If you see the mention of an Android in the title, do yourself a favor and move along. It's really very simple.

And if you do not want to read posts about the appropriateness of a given post within a thread don't read them. Do yourself a favour and move along....

 

[Phone Junky]

Do yourself a favour and move along....

I think I'll stay, thanks.

 

[lordofthereef]

And if you do not want to read posts about the appropriateness of a given post within a thread don't read them.

Here you go again with this impeccable logic... Do you realize the fault here? How am I supposed to know I don't care to waste my time reading something when I don't know what it is I am going to read about? It's not like most of you give a disclaimer "warning, I am going to write a whole lot of nothing that doesn't actually contribute in any way, shape, or form, to the discourse in this thread".

----------

Good luck getting any version of Android itself to run smoothly on a 600MHz cpu. Forget about butter. Might not be relevant to some, with today's hardware in mind, but it just goes to show how resource efficient iOS really is.

Some would call it resource efficiency. Others might call it lack of features. iOS, at is core, is essentially as it was when it first launched on the 3GS. No, I am not talking abouttweaks and toggles that Apple has added over the years, I am just talking the core operations of the OS. The notifications center and "widgets" were the biggest addition in that time. There isn't anything wrong with this, per se, but we are talking resource efficiency here when in reality not enough has actually changed. We aren't really seeing a new OS running on older hardware. We are seeing an old OS with slight tweaks here and there running on the same and newer hardware.

On a bit of a side note, I have some difficulty believing iOS5 is buttery smooth on the 3GS. 5.1.1 (stock" on my fiance's 4 has some notable lag here and there. The 3GS I got rid around when iOS 4.x hit wasn't smooth either. Maybe we are having bad luck (or maybe all of the people who are raving about buttery smoothness don't actually use these devices anymore).

 

[ChazUK]

I love the fact there is as much choice out there and it's good to read that the iPhone has filled all of your needs (especially after going through 6 Android phones!).

There are those that are passionate enough about smartphones nowadays that they hurl insults at each other and platforms (iTards, Fandroids, Google did notifications first, Apple did multitouch first, Microsoft did Wifi sync first e.t.c).

I've had the fortune to grow up through the years using Symbian S60, Windows Mobile, Symbian UIQ, iOS, Android, Windows Phone 7 (and I just recently got a Pre3 to experience WebOS) and don't really regret buying any of the many phones over the years on each platform. The only platform I've overlooked is BlackBerry and I doubt I'll ever bother with it to be honest.

Everyone should count themselves lucky we have the choices we have.

Good luck OP. I hope the iPhone keeps filling your needs just as the many platforms I've used over the years have done so for me.

*group hugz*