So basically for a decade, I've had almost every iPhone since the 3GS all the up to the 8+. The last iPhone I used as my main phone was the 7+. I barely used the 8+ and gave it to a close family friend. I swore that was the last time I would ever purchase another iPhone.
I've also had almost every Samsung Galaxy phone from the S3 to the S10+(my current phone). That includes the Note line. And had plenty of other Android phones from differ manufacturers. But mainly Samsung was my go to.
I used Android as my daily driver the majority of the time. The main reasons were iOS had too many limitations and lack of features. Hardware wise, Android manufactures were bringing it full throttle. Yes, Android was buggy and laggy at times, but the freedom, and flagships constantly being on the cutting edge made up for it. Another huge reason was internal storage options were skimpy back then, so having a micro sd slot was a huge factor. I can go on and on about this, but you get the point.
Now it seems times have changed. Many of the software and hardware features is either non-existent on most Android flagships anymore, or Apple has also implemented them on the iPhone.
While Android and the big name manufacturers have completely chipped away the contrast of performance and reliability vs the iOS, Apple in turn has chipped away the contrast of productivity, features, and limitations vs the Android world. Apple still has some ways to go IMO, but they have definitely come to the point of implementing what I mostly prioritize.
What Google and manufacturers have completely failed at is continuity with other devices, even between the same platform. And they also fail to bring a competent rival to iMessage. This has never bothered me though, but it'll be nice if they get their act together.
I believe you can't lose with most Android flagships (Note 10+, Pixel 4 XL, LG V50 ThinQ, and etc). Both Android and iOS have a slight edge over each other depending what a user values most.
So now that Android is super stable, fast, and damn near every flagship performs as good or better than the iPhone/iOS ............ how does one choose?
The answer for me is ...... Accessories was the tipping point (not the main reason) of choosing to get another iPhone.
Smartwatches:
Android Wear is a freaking joke. It's like going back to the Jelly Bean days of Android when it comes to reliability. And the UI design looks gloomy at best. Yes, app integration is almost as good as the Apple Watch, but Android Wear is just so damn lack luster, no matter how nice a manufacturer dresses it up. And the battery life is either great or terrible on any given day, there's no inbetween. I like Google Assistant on Android phones, but on Android Wear it's just too intrusive.
Samsung smart watches .... I love Samsung watches, and I'm currently wearing the Gear S3 Frontier. It looks like a watch and feels like watch. Have zero complaints about the hardware But my main issue is, the software feels so stagnant. Almost no app integration, no real maps(just 3rd party crap), and very few app updates. A huge exception is Spotify, which works flawless. The software is extremely stable though. I love the UI and especially using the rotating bezel. But it feels like my watch is working at a dead end job with no opportunity to advance. Another big issue is, newer watches from Samsung are more a downgrade feature wise. So upgrading makes no sense, but I wore this watch long enough that I'm yearning to upgrade . It still has freaking S-voice.
Apple Watch .... My last Apple Watch was a Series 2. App integration was great. What annoyed me at the time was the crappy watch faces to choose from back then. But now it seems the watch faces are much better, even though I prefer an endless choice of third party watch faces. What also annoyed me was the lack of voice memo. One of my favorite features of my Gear S3 Frontier watch is Always On Display. It just works so well and takes minimal battery life. I can glance at my watch to check the time or info(depending on watch face) without even moving my arm. So when Apple announced Always On Display with the Series 5, I was ecstatic(Mike Tyson voice)!!! And Voice Memo is finally here as well. I already pre-ordered.
Wireless Earbuds:
Currently using the Samsung Galaxy Buds. They sound good, but I just can't walk around with them in my ears without so much sound being blocked out. Nor do I like driving with them, even in just one ear. And the ambient sound feature on these buds is crap, it barely works. If I'm stationary, then I have no issues with these buds.
I plan on getting AirPods simply cause it's an open design earbud. I want to be able to walk, talk, eat with friends, and listen to my surroundings, without the handicap feeling of my ears being plugged up. I tried taking the rubber tips off my Galaxy buds, but it sounds 100% completely horrible without the tips. I will be skinning the AirPods black, cause I absolutely hate the white Q-tip look. I looked around and there is barely any earbuds (cheap or costly) that don't have the rubber tips. The ones that don't have tips have bad reviews of sound, phone, and connectivity quality. So AirPods seem like the best choice, even though I'm not a fan of the design. I have my Sennheiser momentum headphones when I want decent sound quality and noise canceling. I just want the AirPods for listening to music randomly, watching videos on my phone, and taking calls.
Again, flagship phones and both platforms are so much in the same league nowadays, that I wonder how much of an effect accessories make in users choice. I know when the Gear VR was a thing, it helped my decision to stay with Samsung.
I've also had almost every Samsung Galaxy phone from the S3 to the S10+(my current phone). That includes the Note line. And had plenty of other Android phones from differ manufacturers. But mainly Samsung was my go to.
I used Android as my daily driver the majority of the time. The main reasons were iOS had too many limitations and lack of features. Hardware wise, Android manufactures were bringing it full throttle. Yes, Android was buggy and laggy at times, but the freedom, and flagships constantly being on the cutting edge made up for it. Another huge reason was internal storage options were skimpy back then, so having a micro sd slot was a huge factor. I can go on and on about this, but you get the point.
Now it seems times have changed. Many of the software and hardware features is either non-existent on most Android flagships anymore, or Apple has also implemented them on the iPhone.
While Android and the big name manufacturers have completely chipped away the contrast of performance and reliability vs the iOS, Apple in turn has chipped away the contrast of productivity, features, and limitations vs the Android world. Apple still has some ways to go IMO, but they have definitely come to the point of implementing what I mostly prioritize.
What Google and manufacturers have completely failed at is continuity with other devices, even between the same platform. And they also fail to bring a competent rival to iMessage. This has never bothered me though, but it'll be nice if they get their act together.
I believe you can't lose with most Android flagships (Note 10+, Pixel 4 XL, LG V50 ThinQ, and etc). Both Android and iOS have a slight edge over each other depending what a user values most.
So now that Android is super stable, fast, and damn near every flagship performs as good or better than the iPhone/iOS ............ how does one choose?
The answer for me is ...... Accessories was the tipping point (not the main reason) of choosing to get another iPhone.
Smartwatches:
Android Wear is a freaking joke. It's like going back to the Jelly Bean days of Android when it comes to reliability. And the UI design looks gloomy at best. Yes, app integration is almost as good as the Apple Watch, but Android Wear is just so damn lack luster, no matter how nice a manufacturer dresses it up. And the battery life is either great or terrible on any given day, there's no inbetween. I like Google Assistant on Android phones, but on Android Wear it's just too intrusive.
Samsung smart watches .... I love Samsung watches, and I'm currently wearing the Gear S3 Frontier. It looks like a watch and feels like watch. Have zero complaints about the hardware But my main issue is, the software feels so stagnant. Almost no app integration, no real maps(just 3rd party crap), and very few app updates. A huge exception is Spotify, which works flawless. The software is extremely stable though. I love the UI and especially using the rotating bezel. But it feels like my watch is working at a dead end job with no opportunity to advance. Another big issue is, newer watches from Samsung are more a downgrade feature wise. So upgrading makes no sense, but I wore this watch long enough that I'm yearning to upgrade . It still has freaking S-voice.
Apple Watch .... My last Apple Watch was a Series 2. App integration was great. What annoyed me at the time was the crappy watch faces to choose from back then. But now it seems the watch faces are much better, even though I prefer an endless choice of third party watch faces. What also annoyed me was the lack of voice memo. One of my favorite features of my Gear S3 Frontier watch is Always On Display. It just works so well and takes minimal battery life. I can glance at my watch to check the time or info(depending on watch face) without even moving my arm. So when Apple announced Always On Display with the Series 5, I was ecstatic(Mike Tyson voice)!!! And Voice Memo is finally here as well. I already pre-ordered.
Wireless Earbuds:
Currently using the Samsung Galaxy Buds. They sound good, but I just can't walk around with them in my ears without so much sound being blocked out. Nor do I like driving with them, even in just one ear. And the ambient sound feature on these buds is crap, it barely works. If I'm stationary, then I have no issues with these buds.
I plan on getting AirPods simply cause it's an open design earbud. I want to be able to walk, talk, eat with friends, and listen to my surroundings, without the handicap feeling of my ears being plugged up. I tried taking the rubber tips off my Galaxy buds, but it sounds 100% completely horrible without the tips. I will be skinning the AirPods black, cause I absolutely hate the white Q-tip look. I looked around and there is barely any earbuds (cheap or costly) that don't have the rubber tips. The ones that don't have tips have bad reviews of sound, phone, and connectivity quality. So AirPods seem like the best choice, even though I'm not a fan of the design. I have my Sennheiser momentum headphones when I want decent sound quality and noise canceling. I just want the AirPods for listening to music randomly, watching videos on my phone, and taking calls.
Again, flagship phones and both platforms are so much in the same league nowadays, that I wonder how much of an effect accessories make in users choice. I know when the Gear VR was a thing, it helped my decision to stay with Samsung.
