Google Rebrands Switcher App to Lure iPhone Users to Android

[coolfactor]

Probably Niagara launcher is the main reason why I would like to switch to Android.

iOS is ok, but too boring. And too restrictive.

What makes Android "less boring"?

One expectation many users have is consistency across platforms at the app level.

- Google apps
- Microsoft apps
- Facebook
- Instagram
- X
- and countless others...

Imagine if an Android version of an app was entirely different? It would be mayhem.

So all that's left is reliability, stability, ease of use... and I suppose customizability.

iOS wins in the end.

 

[Mrjoedot]

WRONG. Android cannot text to iPhone with iMessage alike, since RCS is NOT globally available

 

[aevan]

Cuz I wanted a Fold. I still bought a iPhone 16 Pro but at this point I prefer OneUI over iOS. It's basically iOS with more options. Why tie yourself to one system.

Because it’s the best one 🙂

 

[npmacuser5]

The only clean Android software is sold by Google. The only way I would consider a switch would be to Google devices. All the rest are not clean.

 

[SMH4KIDIOT]

If you are downloading the app, you have already made the switch there is no luring you. Also there are those of us who use both platforms.

 

[dynamojoe]

I don't mind this. Competition keeps companies honest and keeps them trying to deliver the best experience.

 

[Odan]

google man, get that in your head, your software is garbage, I don't care about your 50 lens phones. When you are forced by your company to use the google apps suite with the google drive, the disgust and frustration prevent me from buying a mobile version of that. So laggy and old looking, seems like they designed the google suite in 2003 and left it like that. Android too, every time I try to use it, I don't see why I would switch, it feels like a cheap iPhone copy and now their app is another recycled item from 15 years ago.

 

[anthogag]

Rebrand the app to "Android Sucks" with this app icon 🚮

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Why would an iOS user downgrade to android? Insane.

The 3rd party apps are worse, their app store is full of malware, the security is worse, the update support is worse, the hardware and software are mismatched, the phones ship with tons of OEM and carrier bloatware, and the devices have zero resale value/equity. But they still charge you iphone prices for something that is not and never will be an iphone-tier product

Not even if they offered me a $10,000 VISA Gift Card I would switch.
(well... maybe to grab the Gift Card and switch back as soon as possible) 😆

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

There's no indie developers on Android. Because those with a geek brain just pirate the app, and the few grandparents on Android don't spend a dime on apps.

Yeah but nobody spends money on iOS apps either.

(Yes, more money gets spent on iOS apps than Android apps, but either way, there's just nowhere near enough money to be made off of mobile app development to justify making a good app. See the endless list of apps that you wish were on your iPhone. If you search on the app store, you can probably find something pretending to be it, but you won't find it, demonstrating two problems with apps on iOS at once.)

 

[Westside guy]

Aren't we all adults here.

There's a reason the term is "fanboy" (or "fanboi") and not "fanman".

 

[alfonsog]

My 3 best friends use android phones. One has a pixel 7 and the other 2 Samsung folds. Seem to be solid devices. We pretty much only communicate using Facebook messenger which is the only meta app I have on my phone and the only reason I even keep a Facebook account, I don't even have facebook installed on my phone. The camera stuff was neat, they could already erase objects in pictures a long time ago. One of my friends is a maintenance guy at a restaurant and he plays lots of games and watches a lot of pirated tv and movies using apps we don't have. Another works for Disney World (office work) and he's just scrolling Facebook all the time. Another is a substitute teacher or uber driver depending on the day and he is lining up hookups on the gay apps all day. They all say they hate Apple for all the same reasons we hate Google. They are addicted to their phones, but I can leave the house without it. I just went to EDC Orlando and left my phone back at the hotel all 3 days, everyone else is videoing sets how is that a good time?

I started using Apple computers since iMac G4 and OS X 10.0 after spending the 90's building my own PC's. I did have an old CP/M machine I used in high school for research papers with a daisy wheel printer and using wordstar 1.0 and went to university in 1991 with a 286 pc. I just sold my older Mac Pro and my Mac Studio Ultra and I'm just using a base M4 mini now with a studio display... it's clean and simple and I use it more than my iPhone or iPad. I think this is the smallest neatest setup I've ever had so I don't understand the posts saying I'm going back to custom pc's, I use windows at work and its just as fail as it always has been. If I had to I could go back to a command line interface and be fine 😂

 

[Krizoitz]

I think everyone eventually grows weary of whichever platform they’re using. Switching is good

You think incorrectly then. Been an iPhone user since the debut model and have absolutely zero interest in switching. I have to use an Android device from time to time at work and it’s a painful reminder every time how poor the user experience is.

If others want to use it, great, have a blast, but I’m LESS inclined now to give up my iPhone than I ever was before.

And since I’m part of everyone that disproves your claim.

 

[Chungry]

Not even if they offered me a $10,000 VISA Gift Card I would switch.
(well... maybe to grab the Gift Card and switch back as soon as possible) 😆

Are you cereal? Super cereal? Easiest 10k ever. I’ll take a OnePlus 13 or a Pixel Fold and pocket that sweet cash. It’s just a phone

 

[Chungry]

You think incorrectly then. Been an iPhone user since the debut model and have absolutely zero interest in switching. I have to use an Android device from time to time at work and it’s a painful reminder every time how poor the user experience is.

If others want to use it, great, have a blast, but I’m LESS inclined now to give up my iPhone than I ever was before.

And since I’m part of everyone that disproves your claim.

iPhones are boring. It’s just a fact. I’ve had every last one. My favorite is the 13PM

 

[JonathanX64]

Why would anyone want to switch to Android?

I mix both. Here’s what I like about Android:

• Typing experience is superior; Gboard is light-years ahead of absolutely anything else. It remembers all non-typical words and text constructions that I use, it doesn’t block offensive words (unlike the puritanic iPhone), and the swiping algorithm is precise as heck. I can swipe text SO fast it’s sometimes unbelievable to my own eyes.
And no, Gboard on iPhone is not a thing; not only does it no longer receive updates, but it also does not integrate well into the system.

• Android is hip and cool. Literally every person around me has an iPhone and a Mac. These are great devices, sure, but they’re the normie choice; the default devices. I’d much rather be seen with a weird flip phone than this—it better suits my looks.

• Sideloading. In a country where I used to live, people can’t install/update their banking apps on iPhones because many of them are US-sanctioned. There are workarounds, but why are they needed in the first place?
Sanctions are fine, but not the concept of a computing device telling you what not to do.

• No censorship. For example, Apple delists VPNs and media outlets from said country’s App Store. Why?
This, for me, is the biggest “Steve Jobs would’ve never” thing. He would screw any dictatorship government on the spot because he understood. He knew they’re not going to do anything about it. He knew that people in said countries would buy Apple products anyway, just unofficially. He knew that Apple is bigger than some random human rights abuser. Tim Cook doesn’t

• Android depreciates faster… which is bad news if you’re into the latest and greatest, but good news if you’re shopping on the lower end of the pricing spectrum. A used Pixel 8 costs $300 nowadays—killer value for a fast flagship with 120 Hz display and an incredible camera. Pixel 7 is $200; it's impossible to find even an iPhone 12 for that price.
Buy it, carry it everywhere without a case, toss it into pockets or onto tables, use it to capture extreme sports footage, do whatever you want with it—because you’re not as worried about breaking it as you would be with the latest Pro Max iPhone.

 

[CapitalIdea]

Basic functionality still and a few words changed in descriptions. Why is this an article again?

 

[Chungry]

I mix both. Here’s what I like about Android:

• Typing experience is superior; Gboard is light-years ahead of absolutely anything else. It remembers all non-typical words and text constructions that I use, it doesn’t block offensive words (unlike the puritanic iPhone), and the swiping algorithm is precise as heck. I can swipe text SO fast it’s sometimes unbelievable to my own eyes.
And no, Gboard on iPhone is not a thing; not only does it no longer receive updates, but it also does not integrate well into the system.

• Android is hip and cool. Literally every person around me has an iPhone and a Mac. These are great devices, sure, but they’re the normie choice; the default devices. I’d much rather be seen with a weird flip phone than this—it better suits my looks.

• Sideloading. In a country where I used to live, people can’t install/update their banking apps on iPhones because many of them are US-sanctioned. There are workarounds, but why are they needed in the first place?
Sanctions are fine, but not the concept of a computing device telling you what not to do.

• No censorship. For example, Apple delists VPNs and media outlets from said country’s App Store. Why?
This, for me, is the biggest “Steve Jobs would’ve never” thing. He would screw any dictatorship government on the spot because he understood. He knew they’re not going to do anything about it. He knew that people in said countries would buy Apple products anyway, just unofficially. He knew that Apple is bigger than some random human rights abuser. Tim Cook doesn’t

• Android depreciates faster… which is bad news if you’re into the latest and greatest, but good news if you’re shopping on the lower end of the pricing spectrum. A used Pixel 8 costs $300 nowadays—killer value for a fast flagship with 120 Hz display and an incredible camera. Pixel 7 is $200; it's impossible to find even an iPhone 12 for that price.
Buy it, carry it everywhere without a case, toss it into pockets or onto tables, use it to capture extreme sports footage, do whatever you want with it—because you’re not as worried about breaking it as you would be with the latest Pro Max iPhone.

I’ll add (and agree with a ton of this as someone that uses both each day) The control over the network stack is one of the biggest benefits to Android. You can have stuff like little snitch-style network filters. More deeply integrated DNS filters (I can’t recall the last time I saw an ad on a website). I can say with certainty cameras have caught up too.

So it’s really all down to preference. I’m not a fan of nor do I care about iMessage. Mind you I’ve got a top of the line android phone and a 16PM so I’m spoiled for choice. The configurable aspect of Android is a treat if that’s your thing otherwise I’d say go iPhone.

I like the OS being extensible on the Android side but I bet this is not something everyone needs or wants. OxygenOS is pretty slick but I’m using a Pixel for app testing at the moment so it’s the stock Android experience which is fairly opinionated in terms of design.

If you’re into PEN testing you’ve probably already got an Android phone because Apple won’t let those apps in the store despite their inability to say no to harmful apps that encourage child gambling because it takes in profit for their services arm. Or the myriad of apps that stay on the store for years and have harmful content.

What Apple used to hold was the high ground, now? Not so much. My daily driver is still an iPhone. And it’s basically the same iPhone that’s been around since the 11. It’s telling that they’ve settled into this design, perhaps they don’t have the stable of talent to design something more interesting or maybe they feel they found the perfect design.

Things about my 16PM that I feel are lacking: battery. Dynamic Island. Speakers. Apple “intelligence”. I hope the AI bit gets better but if Siri’s path over the years is anything to go by it will just be some parlor tricks that show off well during a keynote while providing scant, few daily conveniences.

 

[explosive0]

Switched from my iPhone 15 Pro Max to a Pixel 9 Pro XL and it has actually been a very refreshing experience.

 

[Chungry]

Switched from my iPhone 15 Pro Max to a Pixel 9 Pro XL and it has actually been a very refreshing experience.

Honestly not surprised. Good device

 

[applefan8254]

Can we get multiple user spaces on iPhone? would be nice to have completely separate spaces. limit the feature to 512gb devices so it's an upsell - everyone wins - apple gets the extra money they want, users get the feature they want

 

[Chungry]

Can we get multiple user spaces on iPhone? would be nice to have completely separate spaces. limit the feature to 512gb devices so it's an upsell - everyone wins - apple gets the extra money they want, users get the feature they want

Great idea! I’d also like an actual OS that doesn’t let down the incredible hardware inside the iPad too. It could also benefit from multiple users.

 

[victorvictoria]

Us Apple users would rather fight than switch!

 

[Chungry]

Us Apple users would rather fight than switch!

You’re saying it’s dangerous not to listen to cigarette ads?

 

[scorpio vega]

What are you basing this on? Sounds like your using very dated information here on the current state of Android.

My experience is relevant and they are not wrong.