Android in Decline?

[Awesomesince86]

Have you all noticed that Android seems to have been in decline over the past couple years, or is it just the fact that I’ve been paying less attention? By decline, I don’t mean that the software is getting worse, it just seems to have lost its competitive edge compared to Apple.

For years up to a couple years ago, it seemed like iOS and Android would be neck all the time. Android was heralded for its freedom of choice. But over time, it’s become more like iOS being more restrictive while iOS has slowly been gaining more freedoms.

Samsung was always the one to release the best hardware you could ask for in a device and usually at a really good price. But now they introduced products like the recent Note that simply doesn’t live up to its history of being insane everything-you-could-ask-for hardware at a good price and charges a ridiculous amount for a cheaper product.

Pixels used to be known for their cameras, but iPhone and other phones caught up, Google hasn’t really improved much with the cameras since the Pixel 2 or 3. Google has stopped trying to compete with Apple by going to a non-flagship processor. Their marketing also seems to have died down.

A lot of Android phones copied things they made fun of the iPhone for and things Android enthusiasts loathed (removal of the headphone jack, notch, no charger in the box).

There seem to be less value in Android anymore. For instance, pretty much every phone OnePlus released was an instant recommendation for someone who wanted a flagship for less money. Now, they’re basically just another flagship but at a lower quality for a similar price. Even their “value” phones are no longer instant recommendations anymore.

iOS seems to be innovating while Google is not. For example, privacy standards. Android used to always be in the news for all of their innovation and features that iOS doesn’t have. I can’t remember the last time I heard Android news about a new big feature. Maybe it was that feature from like 2018 where Google Assistant could schedule an appointment over the phone with you.

It just seems like iPhone has gained mostly all of the features that Android had that it didn’t while also providing more value for the money while Androids have gotten more expensive while also becoming worse products. iPhone also pretty much has a phone at every price now too compared to in the past when they really were known for being only the premium expensive product. It’s hard to compete with iPhones in every price range with incredible software support and updates, customer service, solid hardware, and reliability.

Yeah, I know there are a lot of good phones out there and Android dominates with market share across the world overall. And for a lot of people, it’s good enough and they’re able to find a phone they’re happy with. I also know mobile phones have become a mature product. But from an enthusiast standpoint, I’m not crazy right? Android has been declining over the past few years right? Or am I just not paying enough attention?

How exactly is iOS "innovating" when Android is not? Lets look at the features in iOS 15 that Apple is highlighting on their own page....

- Focus mode. Tools to eliminate distractions. Android has had this feature for years. So, not exactly innovative.
- Notification updates. This is basically Apple adding features Android already has in an attempt to catch up to Androids far superior notifications.
- On device intelligence. Basically before Siri was useless without an internet connection. Also they added things like using the camera to recognize text and objects. All things Android has had for a while.
- Full screen browsing in Safari. Handfuls of android web browsers have had this for a while.
- Updates to Apple Maps. Still Apple attempting to play catchup to the far superior Google Maps.
- Updates to Facetime. Things like listening to music or video while in a group chat. I dont see the usefullness in this but I guess its cool. Not sure I would call this innovative, more of a gimmick really.
- State IDs added to Apple Wallet. This is cool and helpful. Good addition.
- Privacy additions. Apple leads the way here and this is somewhere Android needs to improve. Good on Apple for continuing to make this better.

This are all the main to features in iOS 15. I wouldnt call anything in there innovative besides maybe the privacy features. And in fact, a handful of things they are touting are things that were first done in Android.

Then there's hardware, where I would argue Apple havent come up with anything innovative since the inclusion of the scanners needed for FaceID. Android manufacturers have devices with better screen to body ratios, better displays, higher refresh rates, and are now experimenting with foldable form factors. Meanwhile, Apple's big hardware innovation in the past couple of years is adding flat sides to the iPhone 12 and putting a miniLED display on the iPad (which is still inferior to OLED).

So I ask again...How exactly is Apple more innovative?

 

[Smellmet]

If that works for you, great, but personally I'd rather just get a 256GB phone then. Also, SD card doesn't last forever. If you have your entire live's photos in it, start making a backup. I have had random errors on multiple SD cards on my A71 that I stopped using one. It's not worth the hassle when it fails the moment you actually need it.

Oh it's all backed up, multiple times. Even a 256GB phone isn't enough for me (120GB tunes +80GB photos +60GB apps etc on phone). Once the internal storage of these A series phones reach the 512GB stage then I'll happily sack the SD card off but until then I'm enjoying having all the stuff I have on my laptop on my A71 without needing a data connection, cloud storage or music subscription. I enjoy paying £6 a month for my phone, my days of £40pm contracts are long gone.

 

[fischersd]

I've said for years that Apple really should have gone after the emerging markets - taken what they did with the iPhone 5C and produced a cheap phone in a plastic shell....and price it competitively with the cheapest Android phones all over the world in places where the flagship phones could be up to a month's wages.

But, they've been SO focused on being a luxury brand. The ego. They need leadership that gets them out of that mindset and building devices for EVERYONE!!!

We need a third ecosystem. And, no, don't say Huawei - trade one evil entity (Google) spying on you for another (the Chinese government).

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I've said for years that Apple really should have gone after the emerging markets - taken what they did with the iPhone 5C and produced a cheap phone in a plastic shell....and price it competitively with the cheapest Android phones all over the world in places where the flagship phones could be up to a month's wages.

But, they've been SO focused on being a luxury brand. The ego. They need leadership that gets them out of that mindset and building devices for EVERYONE!!!

We need a third ecosystem. And, no, don't say Huawei - trade one evil entity (Google) spying on you for another (the Chinese government).

Apple sort of are now though as they offer an iPhone at pretty much all price points. It took a long time for them to realise not everybody wants to pay £1k+ for a phone though.

 

[TiggrToo]

Android is not in decline, it's just they do not need to bang on about phones or the OS like Apple do.

Guess you’ve not watched one of Google’s or Samsung’s release shows then?

It’s not just Apple who do this - Samsung love to point out “Apple shortcomings” only to then delete all reference to said shortcomings when they copy them.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Android is not in decline, it's just they do not need to bang on about phones or the OS like Apple do.

The one thing that Android has going for it is the use of micro SD card slot. Not only does it allow the owner to increase it's storage size very cheaply, it also allows ease of use when wanting to transfer video or pictures from phone to computer because a huge majority of android and windows based devices and computers have an SD card slot. There is no need to carry around a usb cable. If i've been on holiday and used my android phone to take pictures and videos, when I am back home and I am visting friends and relatives and they want to see the videos and pictures of the holiday, instead of showing them on the small screen of the phone, I can take the micro SD card out, put it either in their windows based computer or their smart TV which has an SD card slot and instantly being to view the videos and pictures, no cables required, no internet access required for icloud or user names and passwords required to access such services, no need to bluetooth pair devices either. Not so simple when it comes to an Apple iphone though.

Not the best example since on iOS it’s all uploaded to iCloud. Anyone with an AppleTV can pull up the vacation photos and show them on the large screen without doing anything or you can share them via iCloud, even to Android users (iCloud links). Apple’s strength has always been using many devices in their ecosystem.

 

[russell_314]

Android will never be in decline because it’s the only operating system that you can put in a cheap $50 phone and still sell it for a profit. Google doesn’t need to make money developing android or even off the Google app store because they make money mining and selling data from android users. Every phone they get out there is profit.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Android will never be in decline because it’s the only operating system that you can put in a cheap $50 phone and still sell it for a profit. Google doesn’t need to make money developing android or even off the Google app store because they make money mining and selling data from android users. Every phone they get out there is profit.

You are correct and that is fine. A so called smart phone is almost essential to function in todays world and hundreds of millions of people cannot afford the prices Apple charges. So there is only one option, Android.

If Apple really cared about privacy perhaps they could produce a bare bones phone which could be affordable to the masses. Sort of a global public service to back up its we care about the vulnerable and oppressed manta.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

You are correct and that is fine. A so called smart phone is almost essential to function in todays world and hundreds of millions of people cannot afford the prices Apple charges. So there is only one option, Android.

If Apple really cared about privacy perhaps they could produce a bare bones phone which could be affordable to the masses. Sort of a global public service to back up its we care about the vulnerable and oppressed manta.

What sort of price do you think would be reasonable for that type of device?

 

[Expos of 1969]

What sort of price do you think would be reasonable for that type of device?

I have no idea.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I've noticed what OP is talking about. Decline isn't the right word, but it's become boring in the same way that "No one ever got fired for buying IBM". There's no energy there, and I think a large reason is because people are becoming anti-Google, so Android gets caught up in that.

Combine anti-google tendencies with lackluster hardware that doesn't take advantage of the freedoms Android has, and you get a lot of iPhone clones that have a slightly different OS, written by a company you don't like.

Android lost some PR momentum, and since iOS isn't quite where Android is in terms of being mature, it hasn't quite lost the energy yet.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I have no idea.

Me neither, but I suppose £199 is half the price of Apples current cheapest device. The problem with a device that cheap is you probably need to use a chip from 2017 and to make it cost effective for Apple it would probably end up being an iPhone 8. Android has the edge because the software is effectively free and the hardware on the really cheap devices are produced from low cost Chinese manufacturers. I can’t see Apple producing for the low end sector personally and I doubt there is much margin in it either.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Me neither, but I suppose £199 is half the price of Apples current cheapest device. The problem with a device that cheap is you probably need to use a chip from 2017 and to make it cost effective for Apple it would probably end up being an iPhone 8. Android has the edge because the software is effectively free and the hardware on the really cheap devices are produced from low cost Chinese manufacturers. I can’t see Apple producing for the low end sector personally and I doubt there is much margin in it either.

I am sure they won't. I imagine they could do something at a much lower price point that would lead to big sales in the lower end of the market IF they had the balls, fortitude and inclination to serve more than just their Wall Street overlords.

And I don't want to hear from the so called experts who claim that a CEO has a fiduciary responsibility to squeeze out every cent of profit as that is complete BS.

 

[TiggrToo]

Me neither, but I suppose £199 is half the price of Apples current cheapest device. The problem with a device that cheap is you probably need to use a chip from 2017 and to make it cost effective for Apple it would probably end up being an iPhone 8. Android has the edge because the software is effectively free and the hardware on the really cheap devices are produced from low cost Chinese manufacturers. I can’t see Apple producing for the low end sector personally and I doubt there is much margin in it either.

£199 is cheap for a year. But if you need another £199 the next year etc. and so on then the break even factor falls apart given Apple’s notorious device longevity.

Sadly most people don’t plan ahead and so a year later they’ll still happily drop another £199 on another cheap device because “it’s cheaper than an iPhone”…

 

[jamezr]

I am not sure Android is in decline. It is still in development. But a lot of the reasons or features to buy Android phones...are now on iPhones. So Apple has brought a lot of the features from Android to iPhones and people are finding less reasons to stray from Apple to buying Android phones.

But make no mistake...they BOTH platforms copy from eachother!

 

[Allyance]

Competition is necessary to make manufacturers improve and update to increase sales and yes profits which is their fiduciary requirement to stock holders. It also keeps the anti-trust gremlins away. Room for everybody, pays your money and takes your choice.

 

[xxray]

I've noticed what OP is talking about. Decline isn't the right word, but it's become boring in the same way that "No one ever got fired for buying IBM". There's no energy there, and I think a large reason is because people are becoming anti-Google, so Android gets caught up in that.

Combine anti-google tendencies with lackluster hardware that doesn't take advantage of the freedoms Android has, and you get a lot of iPhone clones that have a slightly different OS, written by a company you don't like.

Android lost some PR momentum, and since iOS isn't quite where Android is in terms of being mature, it hasn't quite lost the energy yet.

Yeah, I think a lot of people are getting caught up in market share or quality of software since I used the word decline (which is fair - could've been the wrong word to use). I don't think the software is regressing or declining, and I'm very aware that Android has the large market share worldwide. But it just seems like the days of Android and iOS being neck-and-neck and that competition and fervor around Android has faded.

Like 2016-2018, iPhone X and XS were great products, but Android offered heavy competition by including the headphone jack, having no notch, fingerprint sensor for those who wanted it, a good amount of flagships had better battery than iPhones, wireless charging, fast charging, OLED, camera with night mode on the Google Pixel, etc. They also were usually cheaper than the iPhone X's what seemed to be insane price at the time of $999, and therefore offered more bang for the buck.

But then by 2019, Apple had introduced the iPhone 11 which had a great camera with night mode, wireless charging, fast charging, lowered the price compared to the XR, and gave the entire 11 lineup the best battery life of any iPhones ever. Meanwhile, Android phones copied iPhone with notches, removed the headphone jack, and increased their prices just like Apple, and then subsequently created all of these devices that really just haven't seemed to offer a great of an all-around package as the iPhone. Even in the midrange and budget areas where Android dominated as well, now older iPhones and the iPhone SE offer a compelling package.

Then there's stuff that Android has always struggled with and still to this day is not fixed, like software updates and RCS messaging (granted, this is a carrier issue as much as it is Google's issue). There is no equivalent to AirDrop. Meanwhile, iOS has improved its deficiencies like not allowing Spotify integration with Siri, default mail browser, have added a lot of the hardware features (OLED, 5G, wireless charging, fast charging) that a lot of Android phones had at cheaper prices that iPhone didn't offer at all. And again, instead of Android sort of embraces its flexibility and open software, it's slowly become more restricted like iOS over time.

I know I'm biased towards Apple, but unless you just strongly prefer Android and are already integrated into the ecosystem or you need an extremely cheap new phone, I don't see why someone would pick an Android phone over any of the iPhones for sale right now. This is coming from someone who owned multiple Android phones in the past and as recently as 2018 with the Galaxy S9+. Android was more compelling to me then. It's become less compelling to me over these past few years, which is what I'm getting at in creating this thread.

 

[maflynn]

One reason that I really like iPhones/iOS is that Apple keeps my phone viable for years. For android, once you get your phone, you'll be lucky to see one update. I've literally waited a year plus for an android update, meaning that I'm already a year behind.

Adoption rates for android vs. iOS illustrates this.

I think Android offers a lot of great features but, that seems to be only people who buy new phones, those features tend not to trickle down to existing owners

 

[hallux]

There is no equivalent to AirDrop.

I guess you missed this - https://www.androidcentral.com/how-use-nearby-share-your-android-phone

Then there's stuff that Android has always struggled with and still to this day is not fixed, like software updates and RCS messaging (granted, this is a carrier issue as much as it is Google's issue).

This is absolutely a carrier hang-up (sorry). BUT - it works between my Pixel 4a 5G on Fi and my sister's Samsung on Verizon so there seems to be movement in that direction.

 

[Oohara]

Yeah, I think a lot of people are getting caught up in market share or quality of software since I used the word decline (which is fair - could've been the wrong word to use). I don't think the software is regressing or declining, and I'm very aware that Android has the large market share worldwide. But it just seems like the days of Android and iOS being neck-and-neck and that competition and fervor around Android has faded.

Like 2016-2018, iPhone X and XS were great products, but Android offered heavy competition by including the headphone jack, having no notch, fingerprint sensor for those who wanted it, a good amount of flagships had better battery than iPhones, wireless charging, fast charging, OLED, camera with night mode on the Google Pixel, etc. They also were usually cheaper than the iPhone X's what seemed to be insane price at the time of $999, and therefore offered more bang for the buck.

But then by 2019, Apple had introduced the iPhone 11 which had a great camera with night mode, wireless charging, fast charging, lowered the price compared to the XR, and gave the entire 11 lineup the best battery life of any iPhones ever. Meanwhile, Android phones copied iPhone with notches, removed the headphone jack, and increased their prices just like Apple, and then subsequently created all of these devices that really just haven't seemed to offer a great of an all-around package as the iPhone. Even in the midrange and budget areas where Android dominated as well, now older iPhones and the iPhone SE offer a compelling package.

Then there's stuff that Android has always struggled with and still to this day is not fixed, like software updates and RCS messaging (granted, this is a carrier issue as much as it is Google's issue). There is no equivalent to AirDrop. Meanwhile, iOS has improved its deficiencies like not allowing Spotify integration with Siri, default mail browser, have added a lot of the hardware features (OLED, 5G, wireless charging, fast charging) that a lot of Android phones had at cheaper prices that iPhone didn't offer at all. And again, instead of Android sort of embraces its flexibility and open software, it's slowly become more restricted like iOS over time.

I know I'm biased towards Apple, but unless you just strongly prefer Android and are already integrated into the ecosystem or you need an extremely cheap new phone, I don't see why someone would pick an Android phone over any of the iPhones for sale right now. This is coming from someone who owned multiple Android phones in the past and as recently as 2018 with the Galaxy S9+. Android was more compelling to me then. It's become less compelling to me over these past few years, which is what I'm getting at in creating this thread.

Nothing much has changed imo, the same reasons that people have always had for switching to Android are still there. Cheaper phones is one. Some prefer Samsung, Google or other UIs/ecosystems. But most of all I think it comes down to having less restricted options for what to do with your phone. It just feels more "your own" that way.

I mean, you all know all of that already. But I'm repeating it because the fact is that despite thinking in December that my new 12 Pro Max is the best phone I've ever owned, and that I'll probably be happy with this one forever - during the past few weeks I've found myself watching S21 Ultra vids on YouTube, posting in related threads here, etc.

I wouldn't quite call it "bored" with iOS, as some say. But there are all those little moments when I wish my iPhone could do things an Android phone can. Split screen when I'm chatting to friends while watching a match on an app that doesn't do PiP. Always on display with time and weather on it. A hotspot that acts like any normal router to my Mac and not some overly helpful fancypants internet genie that is meant to make things easier but in reality often forces me to sometimes restart and toggle stuff off/on for 15 minutes before it works. Sticky notes on the home page. Sticking whatever I want to the home page, for example a bunch of travel info and apps when I'm out traveling, without the apps on every single home page being nudged out of place. A few apps located in a sidebar. Taking notes on my phone using a pen.

Etc. Oh, and the complete collection of interactive digital versions of Joe Devers' "Lone Wolf" game books which I have on Google Play but not iOS.

So yeah. I don't think it's very hard to understand why someone would prefer Android still today. And I don't think that's about to change anytime soon. Sure, Apple are bringing over popular functions one by one and kind of making them their own on iOS, but they do it as such a snail's pace that they'll never ever catch up to Android. There'll always be something that Android does better. And part of the reason will always be simply: variation.

 

[mi7chy]

iPhone is still playing catch up to the old 2012 Galaxy Note II. iOS still can't move app icons anywhere on home screen for one-handed reachability, no split screen multitasking, no background multitasking, no pen support, no 120Hz display, no 30x zoom, no DeX, no freedom, no sideloading, etc. iOS just got widgets like a decade later. iPhone caters more to first time users so it doesn't need to catch up with Android. There's a place for both. I still recommend iPhone to grandparents that I have to support and iPad unless they need something more capable with a full desktop browser then Chromebook.

 

[laptech]

One reason that I really like iPhones/iOS is that Apple keeps my phone viable for years. For android, once you get your phone, you'll be lucky to see one update. I've literally waited a year plus for an android update, meaning that I'm already a year behind.

Adoption rates for android vs. iOS illustrates this.

I think Android offers a lot of great features but, that seems to be only people who buy new phones, those features tend not to trickle down to existing owners

I am curious, what updates would you be expecting? I am sure if there was security flaws found in Android OS, they would be fixed. I've a got a 2yr old Motorola android phone and everything still works fine. When a developer updates one of their apps, i update the app it works. I have no reason to see why android need to role out an update when in my opinion no update is needed.

Apple need updates because they keep screwing around with stuff that breaks things, then they need an update to fix the break and so on and so on.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

iPhone is still playing catch up to the old 2012 Galaxy Note II. iOS still can't move app icons anywhere on home screen for one-handed reachability, no split screen multitasking, no background multitasking, no pen support, no 120Hz display, no 30x zoom, no DeX, no freedom, no sideloading, etc. iOS just got widgets like a decade later. iPhone caters more to first time users so it doesn't need to catch up with Android. There's a place for both. I still recommend iPhone to grandparents that I have to support and iPad unless they need something more capable with a full desktop browser then Chromebook.

The ‘iPhone caters more to first time users’? It doesn’t though does it, because it’s aimed at just about anybody. You get people from grandparents to IT specialists using iPhones so it caters for anybody that likes the product.

 

[Falhófnir]

Me neither, but I suppose £199 is half the price of Apples current cheapest device. The problem with a device that cheap is you probably need to use a chip from 2017 and to make it cost effective for Apple it would probably end up being an iPhone 8. Android has the edge because the software is effectively free and the hardware on the really cheap devices are produced from low cost Chinese manufacturers. I can’t see Apple producing for the low end sector personally and I doubt there is much margin in it either.

I'm not sure they even could/would sell the iPhone 8 for £199, considering it's 80% of the £400 SE. I'm thinking more like the original SE, maybe with an A12 chip for that sort of price. Even then they'd probably struggle to make money on the hardware, and I'd imagine the subscription services would be a tough sell in less affluent markets as well (which is where they make a lot of their money now, and probably why we can now have an £400 SE).

 

[I7guy]

iPhone is still playing catch up to the old 2012 Galaxy Note II. iOS still can't move app icons anywhere on home screen for one-handed reachability, no split screen multitasking, no background multitasking, no pen support, no 120Hz display, no 30x zoom, no DeX, no freedom, no sideloading, etc. iOS just got widgets like a decade later. iPhone caters more to first time users so it doesn't need to catch up with Android. There's a place for both. I still recommend iPhone to grandparents that I have to support and iPad unless they need something more capable with a full desktop browser then Chromebook.

Seems it’s an android users take…specs, specs, specs. No user experience.