Android users: how does App quality compare to iOS?

[Technarchy]

All the third party apps I use on iOS are on android.

Some of the android apps have much better functionality due to the nature of android itself. Things like sharing being a good example. The iOS apps with the iOS 7 language look and flow better.

Though the more important thing is apps are present on both OS's most of the time. This makes it easy to share and move between platforms with ease.

 

[bkends35]

I am sorry but this is what Apple is telling us. In theory that could be true, but if you look at all flagship Android devices, their battery life is at least comparable to the iPhone 5S, and they have true multitasking.
The first day I got my HTC One M8 I was doing the following at the same time and experienced no lag whatsoever:

• Synchronizing 2000 songs via WiFi
• Copying 8000 pictures to the device from my iMac
• Installing 50 apps from the play store
• Surfing the net using Chrome and having 10 tabs open
• Had many widgets open, among them Twitter feed, my Exchange mail and calendar, and Facebook
• Synchronizing 3GB of Exchange Mail
• Synchronizing my Dropbox folders (in the background)
  [*]I was chatting with a friend on Facebook

When iOS can do that, please let me know..I wouldn't hold my breath

Impossible to believe since the Facebook app lags by itself without anything else running on every android phone.

 

[petvas]

Impossible to believe since the Facebook app lags by itself without anything else running on every android phone.

Good for you if you don't believe it. Just for your info, when you use Facebook chat on Android , the messaging bubble appears on the Android desktop, not the Facebook app itself...You can chat from anywhere!

 

[Razeus]

When I switched from my 4S to and S4 I found the Android app quality good, but missing features or a completely different or old UI.

The Path app didn't have Nike integration.
Tumblr didn't have the Photosets feature.
Instagram pictures looked horrible (and the main reason I left Android for a 5S)
Flickr didn't have auto upload
Zite has the much older UI

Those are a few examples, but there's more. My thoughts on the whole thing is that developers did just enough to get it on Android, but really spend most of their time on iOS development. Android felt like an after thought. Even today, judging by the quality of Android tablet apps, it feels like that. An after thought or we really didn't have time to deal with it feel.

It's why I returned to iOS.

 

[bkends35]

Good for you if you don't believe it. Just for your info, when you use Facebook chat on Android , the messaging bubble appears on the Android desktop, not the Facebook app itself...You can chat from anywhere!

I am aware... I have two android devices that I mess around with from time to time.

 

[Explicitic]

In terms if aesthetics, Android won't beat iOS in many apps. Functionality, on the other hand, is a different story.

 

[Stuntman06]

Anyone try out the new Facebook app on Android? It looks pretty damn good! For once, Facebook works and looks better on Android than it does on iOS.

How does it look in landscape? Before it always looked horrible on my tablet. All the pictures are too big to fit on the screen.

 

[Apollo 13]

Not sure what you're driving at. So our apps upgrade and improve often. Do you read what's being improved on each one? Often times they are being tweaked for more features not bugs. In terms of iOS being superior, please elaborate with details on comparison to support the statement. I actually see it the other way around.

• GPS - No comparison that Google Maps on Android beats out Apple Maps 10x over
• Grocery IQ - Great app but on the iPhone it would often crash until they applied several updates. On my Note 3 it's been flawless and runs way faster.
• Photo Album - Android blows apple away in terms of functionality including sending them directly to any wireless printer
• PowerAmp - Far superior to Apple's music player and includes tons more capability in terms of audio enhancements
• Google Search is way better and far faster than Siri
• SalesForce1 is way more refined and offers more features than on iOS.
• So many widgets and quick abilities available on Android...can't do much different at all with iOS.
• Airdroid....no such capability to link an iPhone to a Windows PC like that app offers.

The list could go on....

bla bla bla...defend your android device been there done that. I use to do the same crap. You also seem to be out of the loop. You're naming off google products like maps and search when both are on IOS. I also don't agree with the google maps beats apple maps 10x over. Both seem to work the same for me.

GroceryIQ works fine on ios with no crashing for me...as for photos I can send them to my wireless printer with no problem. All you're doing is just trying to justify your purchase and name off meaningless crap that doesn't mean much to 99% of the population. I use to do the same crap even when I joined this site. Know one really cares. All ppl want is a smartphone that works at all times and can log into that crap u call Facebook.

Since moving to ios I can tell the apps are more superior looking and run better. Some look the same and run the same on both ios and android but not all of them. Don't get me started on the tablet version of apps on ios compared to android.

 

[pdqgp]

bla bla bla...defend your android device been there done that. I use to do the same crap. You also seem to be out of the loop. You're naming off google products like maps and search when both are on IOS. I also don't agree with the google maps beats apple maps 10x over. Both seem to work the same for me.

Neither google maps or search are integrated with iOS like they are with Android. On iOS
niether will automatically and preemptively track your packages from Amazon, check your route for the upcoming appointment you have for traffic or notify you if your flight is delayed.

You're the one fooling yourself if you think Apple Maps is even remotely close. Besides, I want to choose what app to use when open a file. I want to be able to click on street view and actually see the building and surrounding before I map to it as well.

as for photos I can send them to my wireless printer with no problem.

Not any wireless printer you can't. I know as i run an iPhone and iPad and have several HP and Epson printers. They aren't supported via airprint thus it's a third party PIA to get anything to print from said iDevices. Not so with Android. I just hit print and find my printer as I would at home. I even get a full print preview and options too. You don't get that on iOS.

All ppl want is a smartphone that works at all times and can log into that crap u call Facebook.

Not everyone. There are tons of us that want to be able to hit print, file save as and choose the apps we want to use to open a file. I want to be able to edit a document, sign it and export it to a PDF all from the app itself not 3 different ones. I want a folder where I can store documents and actually work like I would on a desktop. I want a smart phone that's actually smart and fully integrates with emails in my inbox's and calender appointments even if I'm not actively using either or am even aware of said messages / meetings. I want to be able to connect a thumb drive a client hands me so I can easily and quickly plug/play and transfer files. I want the ability to plug 64-120gb of additional storage on my phone without paying crazy prices to do so.

 

[wallaby]

I've been a new Android user for about a week and have been dealing with this question as well. In general, the apps are about the same quality, just...different. And in some cases, you have to get used to the way Google does things.

Examples:

Wunderlist - the exact same on iOS and Android.
Evernote - the shortcuts are in different spots on the screen. You swipe from the left to get to your favorites instead of tapping the little star on the bottom. Also, the editor has different options. Kinda prefer the iOS approach here.

Some items, like podcasts, you're going to have to find an app for. Pocketcasts is my choice, but that's because it's as close as I can get to the built-in iOS podcasting app.

Switchers generally rave about Intents, which allows you to choose the default applications for certain actions. However, I haven't found this to be particularly useful.

As said earlier in this thread, the bigger difference is how you interact with apps using the operating system. In iOS, you get the little red badges everywhere to notify you of new things. Android lacks this, but has a better notification center, so that's pretty much your go-to for updates. The keyboards are different, so there's that. And of course the way your lock screen shows these notifications.

There are plenty of good and bad apps on either platform, so make sure to patronize the well-designed ones that deserve your attention.

 

[SomeGuyDude]

bla bla bla...defend your android device been there done that. I use to do the same crap. You also seem to be out of the loop. You're naming off google products like maps and search when both are on IOS. I also don't agree with the google maps beats apple maps 10x over. Both seem to work the same for me.

GroceryIQ works fine on ios with no crashing for me...as for photos I can send them to my wireless printer with no problem. All you're doing is just trying to justify your purchase and name off meaningless crap that doesn't mean much to 99% of the population. I use to do the same crap even when I joined this site. Know one really cares. All ppl want is a smartphone that works at all times and can log into that crap u call Facebook.

Since moving to ios I can tell the apps are more superior looking and run better. Some look the same and run the same on both ios and android but not all of them. Don't get me started on the tablet version of apps on ios compared to android.

LOL "justify your purchase".

This is gonna sound crazy, but some of us aren't in a position where we have to "justify" our purchases. If we disliked our purchases we could have swapped over to something else. Last November I went from a Galaxy S4 to an iPhone 5s. Last week I went from the 5s to a Nexus 5. I don't need to "justify" my purchase like I'm stuck with it and am trying to make myself feel better.

App quality is the same, period. They aren't the SAME apps always, but the app quality is the same.

 

[Brittany246]

I'd say the app selection is still better on iOS especially with games, but you can usually find acceptable alternatives with other types of apps that aren't games or puzzles. The popular apps are usually on Android though, so if you're not that into apps or games, you'll probably think they're about the same as far as app selection goes. If an app isn't released on Android and iOS at the same time, iOS usually gets the app first, and there are still so many iOS exclusives. Android app selection has gotten a lot better since the release of the first Nexus 7 though. As far as the app quality goes, I'd say they're about the same.

 

[zbarvian]

I think it's pretty clear that iOS still has a very strong lead in terms of app exclusives and big name updates. Both platforms have strengths in the app department. iOS developers have better tools to build with, especially when it comes to enriching an apps design and animation, so the apps are generally more polished. But, Android has capabilities not found on iOS, so it might also have different, more powerful apps. Just as a few examples, though, the highest quality apps I've ever used are both Paper by Facebook, Paper by 53, Tweetbot, Coast, and Fantastical. None are on Android. Many apps I rely on aren't on Android, or take forever to get ported, ie. Mailbox. Now, that's just my experience, and yours may vary. Even the phenomenal Google Maps redesign was pushed live for iOS first. Google seems to know of this disparity, and has promised a keener focus on developer and designer tools moving forward, so any perceived gap should shrink soon.

 

[Tsuchiya]

iOS usually gets updates first, and I'm starting to see more iOS inspired design in my Android apps now that they are conforming to iOS7 aesthetics.

Sometimes it takes a while for Android apps to get up to the same standard as well, I'm a FT.com subscriber and the web app on iOS was infinitely smoother and more polished than the dedicated Android App until recently.

 

[Stuntman06]

iOS usually gets updates first, and I'm starting to see more iOS inspired design in my Android apps now that they are conforming to iOS7 aesthetics.

Sometimes it takes a while for Android apps to get up to the same standard as well, I'm a FT.com subscriber and the web app on iOS was infinitely smoother and more polished than the dedicated Android App until recently.

I find iOS inspired design rather annoying on Android. It just bothers me when the back button doesn't work and I have to hit some button in some corner of the screen to go back to the previous screen. I saw this more a few years ago when Android was newer. It seems now, most developers who make Android apps design it to work like an Android app and not an iOS app. Bank apps on Android are the worse when it comes to looking like iOS. At first, I didn't understand why some Android apps act so weird until I started using iOS more. Then I realised, that the Android app was a lazy conversion from iOS.

 

[Lloydbm41]

I think it's pretty clear that iOS still has a very strong lead in terms of app exclusives and big name updates. Both platforms have strengths in the app department. iOS developers have better tools to build with, especially when it comes to enriching an apps design and animation, so the apps are generally more polished. But, Android has capabilities not found on iOS, so it might also have different, more powerful apps. Just as a few examples, though, the highest quality apps I've ever used are both Paper by Facebook, Paper by 53, Tweetbot, Coast, and Fantastical. None are on Android. Many apps I rely on aren't on Android, or take forever to get ported, ie. Mailbox. Now, that's just my experience, and yours may vary. Even the phenomenal Google Maps redesign was pushed live for iOS first. Google seems to know of this disparity, and has promised a keener focus on developer and designer tools moving forward, so any perceived gap should shrink soon.

Tweetbot is just a twitter client for IOS. Thats like saying Falcon is a high quality app exclusive to Android. And better than Tweetbot. 3rd party clients of a big name app found on all platforms is not something you should add in your list, especially for something using twitter.

And Google Maps redesign to ios first? I think you are mistaking maps for the Google+ redesign that went to IOS first? The reason for that was simple and an exception to every other updated Google app. The reason: G+ was ***** on IOS and it needed a serious overhaul. Android users had a fully functioning app. IOS users did not. It made sense to get IOS G+ up and running. Google likes taking money from Apple users, dontcha know.

 

[zbarvian]

Tweetbot is just a twitter client for IOS. Thats like saying Falcon is a high quality app exclusive to Android. And better than Tweetbot. 3rd party clients of a big name app found on all platforms is not something you should add in your list, especially for something using twitter.

And Google Maps redesign to ios first? I think you are mistaking maps for the Google+ redesign that went to IOS first? The reason for that was simple and an exception to every other updated Google app. The reason: G+ was ***** on IOS and it needed a serious overhaul. Android users had a fully functioning app. IOS users did not. It made sense to get IOS G+ up and running. Google likes taking money from Apple users, dontcha know.

You completely distorted my points, congrats. iOS gets tons of exclusives from big name publishers, especially games, and also gets redesigns first. Google maps had a huge mobile redesign, and it came to iOS first. Tweetbot is probably the best twitter app I've ever seen, even tho it can be argued. Fact is, from a design and user interface perspective, iOS apps are often far ahead. Refer to my other apps for proof of this. There is a discernible difference between the apps from each, each having pros and cons, but it's still there.

 

[Lloydbm41]

You completely distorted my points, congrats. iOS gets tons of exclusives from big name publishers, especially games, and also gets redesigns first. Google maps had a huge mobile redesign, and it came to iOS first. Tweetbot is probably the best twitter app I've ever seen, even tho it can be argued. Fact is, from a design and user interface perspective, iOS apps are often far ahead. Refer to my other apps for proof of this. There is a discernible difference between the apps from each, each having pros and cons, but it's still there.

Wasn't trying to distort anything. Simply saying that because a small 3rd party developer makes an app exclusive to another platform should not dictate the pro's or con's of another. I mean Falcon Pro was so popular on Android that it was the first client to run into the Twitter user token limit. Have you ever tried it? I used Tweetbot and Tweetcaster on iOS and I wouldn't give either the edge over Falcon Pro.

As for Google Maps, I don't recall seeing iOS get any redesign prior to Android, but I could be wrong. I do remember G+ redesign going to iOS first last month or the month before, but like I said, Google had to do something about the iOS app cause it was awful.

I don't really have a dog in this fight anyway. I use my Windows Phone as my daily driver and I wish I had the apps on WP that there is on Android, even if some lack the polish of iOS. I'm just curious why those that don't even use Android care if the apps are more or less polished on ANdroid?

 

[taedouni]

I recently got an HTC One m8 and my iPhone 5s is taking a break. I usually do this once a year. Last year I flirted with the note 3 then went back to to iOS.

My iPhone 5s is jailbroken, but Android offers more freedom, assuming you get yourself root and an unlocked bootloader. Android is a lot of fun. It's like a toy to me. The screen is great and videos are amazing. The one thing that bothers me is third party app quality. Most of them suck compared to iOS. For iOS they just have to optimize for a handful of devices, on Android there are hundreds of devices all running different versions of Android. I know why the quality may suck. I may keep the HTC One m8 at least until the iPhone 6 comes out. I have 13 days left to decide.

 

[nfl46]

The inconsistency in Android apps are annoying. Some have a nice Halo design while others have designs from Gingerbread days. I wish Google forced developers to stick to a certain interface for all updated apps. But, I guess that defeats the purpose of open source.

 

[Dontazemebro]

Android users: how does App quality compare to iOS?

Chase does it again, they updated the iOS app and now it looks awesome while the android version still looks like crap. Why?

 

[sracer]

There are some surprising "holes" in the Android app scene. I use a lot, I mean A LOT of different devices during the course of a typical day and I set up a system of keeping notes in plain text files in a folder tree on Dropbox. An easy and simple cross-platform solution that doesn't require any specific app on any particular platform (except for Dropbox).

On OSX (nvAlt, NotationalVelocity, Nottingham, etc.), iOS (Notesy, PlainText, WriteRoom, etc.), and Windows (ResophNotes, etc.) there are various options. But on Android... Epistle (no longer available) and NotationalAcceleration (which isn't actively updated) are basically it.

Even on my Surface 2 (running Windows RT) I'm able to cobble a solution with Dropbox + CodeWriter.

I'd advise examining how you use your phone and browsing Google Play store for possible options.

 

[petvas]

So far I could find everything I wanted to, even if it was a bit harder to do that, mainly because of the way the Google Play store is structured. I agree though with the comments that many apps look outdated, but others look very modern.
I had especially issues finding a good looking calendar app, but DigiCal+ did it for me.
There are also some iOS exclusive apps, like Omnifocus, Things and Tweetbot, that I would like to see on Android, but this won't happen soon.

Developers focus first on iOS and then on Android, mainly because of the better ecosystem that Apple offers, and XCode, which makes developing apps very easy.
Google needs to improve the situation.

 

[cracksoup]

So far I could find everything I wanted to, even if it was a bit harder to do that, mainly because of the way the Google Play store is structured. I agree though with the comments that many apps look outdated, but others look very modern.
I had especially issues finding a good looking calendar app, but DigiCal+ did it for me.
There are also some iOS exclusive apps, like Omnifocus, Things and Tweetbot, that I would like to see on Android, but this won't happen soon.

Developers focus first on iOS and then on Android, mainly because of the better ecosystem that Apple offers, and XCode, which makes developing apps very easy.
Google needs to improve the situation.

Things has gotten much better in only two years time. Android is growing much faster than iOS, because iOS got a good head start. The gap is closing for each month, but as of today, the iOS apps do look more clean and optimized. This competition is needed for Android to improve, which it will.

 

[pedromcm.pm]

Anyone try out the new Facebook app on Android? It looks pretty damn good! For once, Facebook works and looks better on Android than it does on iOS.

Not it doesn't. I'm even a beta user, and there is only one constant in life: the Facebook Android app is always behind the iOS app. While the new version is way better than the last, the app is so much better on iOS. Loads faster, is smoother and looks better.

Then again, you could say that about every app available on both platforms.

I'm an Android user and know pretty much everything that there is to know about how to use the plataform. One thing I quickly found, is that widgets are useless (if you use Google now, especially the launcher) for pretty much everybody, and no dev cares about updating apps in a timely manner.

Fortunately, it's great to hear (visit Android police) that Google is thinking about doing what must be done, and do a more iOS esque approach. Mobile OSes are app centric, and while widgets can have advantages on specific cases, no one cares about them and the homescreen, most of the time users don't even change the default disposition of apps and widgets, just the wallpaper. It's all about the app drawer.

It's shameful how there isn't a single widely used app that takes advantage of kitkat, like most apps do with iOS 7. Why bother with the transparent status bar at all?