Help Me Decide If I Should Switch!

[loybond]

Typing this on the XS Max. Not liking that I'm experiencing issues with WiFi, especially given the price.

I'm considering a switch to Android for my primary device. I'm fairly familiar with them; have rooted in the past, unlocked with various techniques from XDA etc. I've had Nexus 7 and 9 tablets as well.

I use a Shield TV as my main tv component. I use Spotify for music. Have a Windows based server. I do my own photo backups, but also use Google photos. I use iCloud as a cloud hard drive. Don't use iCloud photo library.

What I'm thinking about is this... While many Android phones offer great features, there is no one ideal device unfortunately.

I love the screen (especially the way it curves over the sides) and general hardware of the Note 9. The 1.5 aperture is a boon for low light situations. However, there are too many reports of Samsungs, including the very similar S9s slowing down over time. People say the curved edges also lead to false touches.

The Pixel doesn't seem to have these problems, but the screen sucks to me, and I would really prefer to have a zoom lens. There's a new one coming out, let's see how it is.

The latest Sony phone can shoot 4K HDR, and the LG v30 shoots 10-bit log 4k. It also has a quad-dac for excellent audio. Huawei has those high resolution cameras that aren't bad.

The Oneplus 6t looks really quite awesome from the leaks. Love the minimal notch, the large OLED screen. According to Lew (Unbox therapy) and others, Oneplus' latest phones seem to not slow down over time. Along with that, we can expect to see the LG V40, which looks to be awesome if the screen is up to snuff, as wella s the Pixel 3.

I run a business, and the thing I've enjoyed most about iPhones is the reliability. The software works in a predictable way over the year that I own each model(I always get the newest one when it comes out), and this is super important to me. Odd as this sounds, I love the built in mail app.

If a phone were to slow down, and not keep up with my power user multitasking, that wouldn't be acceptable. Afaik Android also doesn't have a simple backup and restore system like iPhone, so it wouldn't be very simple to switch phones or set things up again. At the moment, I don't have time to look for and test custom ROMs and stuff like that.

So the question boils down to this... Can I expect to have a fluid, reliable, fast experience with 2018 Android flagships? What kinds of annoyances, niggles or hindrances can I expect?

 

[Puddled]

Oh God. If ever it was a case of YMMV.

In my experience:

Android is more powerful, flexible and reliable than IOS.


They are not the same.
Oh and 2012 is gone. Nobody roots Android anymore. The software and hardware is good enough.


In answer to your question, IOS is a fixed path. WYSIWYG.
Android is what you want it to be. Sure, it my have a few dead ends, but one mans dead ends is anothers doorway.

Both are great. but VMF is very much in Androids bag. IOS is getting very expensive.

Posted from my 2015 samsung S6 which does sh*t just as good as it did in 2015 lol.

 

[loybond]

Thanks for your time. I understand it's a YMMV. If you don't mind, could you tell me about how you've found Android more reliable? Is lag over time a problem on your Samsung? That's probably what's holding me back most from a Samsung.

Oh God. If ever it was a case of YMMV.

In my experience:

Android is more powerful, flexible and reliable than IOS.


They are not the same.
Oh and 2012 is gone. Nobody roots Android anymore. The software and hardware is good enough.


In answer to your question, IOS is a fixed path. WYSIWYG.
Android is what you want it to be. Sure, it my have a few dead ends, but one mans dead ends is anothers doorway.

Both are great. but VMF is very much in Androids bag. IOS is getting very expensive.

Posted from my 2015 samsung S6 which does sh*t just as good as it did in 2015 lol.

 

[ramram55]

Typing this on the XS Max. Not liking that I'm experiencing issues with WiFi, especially given the price.

I'm considering a switch to Android for my primary device. I'm fairly familiar with them; have rooted in the past, unlocked with various techniques from XDA etc. I've had Nexus 7 and 9 tablets as well.

I use a Shield TV as my main tv component. I use Spotify for music. Have a Windows based server. I do my own photo backups, but also use Google photos. I use iCloud as a cloud hard drive. Don't use iCloud photo library.

What I'm thinking about is this... While many Android phones offer great features, there is no one ideal device unfortunately.

I love the screen (especially the way it curves over the sides) and general hardware of the Note 9. The 1.5 aperture is a boon for low light situations. However, there are too many reports of Samsungs, including the very similar S9s slowing down over time. People say the curved edges also lead to false touches.

The Pixel doesn't seem to have these problems, but the screen sucks to me, and I would really prefer to have a zoom lens. There's a new one coming out, let's see how it is.

The latest Sony phone can shoot 4K HDR, and the LG v30 shoots 10-bit log 4k. It also has a quad-dac for excellent audio. Huawei has those high resolution cameras that aren't bad.

The Oneplus 6t looks really quite awesome from the leaks. Love the minimal notch, the large OLED screen. According to Lew (Unbox therapy) and others, Oneplus' latest phones seem to not slow down over time. Along with that, we can expect to see the LG V40, which looks to be awesome if the screen is up to snuff, as wella s the Pixel 3.

I run a business, and the thing I've enjoyed most about iPhones is the reliability. The software works in a predictable way over the year that I own each model(I always get the newest one when it comes out), and this is super important to me. Odd as this sounds, I love the built in mail app.

If a phone were to slow down, and not keep up with my power user multitasking, that wouldn't be acceptable. Afaik Android also doesn't have a simple backup and restore system like iPhone, so it wouldn't be very simple to switch phones or set things up again. At the moment, I don't have time to look for and test custom ROMs and stuff like that.

So the question boils down to this... Can I expect to have a fluid, reliable, fast experience with 2018 Android flagships? What kinds of annoyances, niggles or hindrances can I expect?

The OnePlus 6T screen is from Samsung.

 

[pika2000]

For work/business, my choice is iOS, especially after I saw what an Android dev can siphon off an Android phone (ie. Everything). iOS with is built in encryption and easy backup/restore gets my vote.

For tinkering/toying around, obviously the choice is Android. If you want Android and wants some consistency, my vote is for Nokia phones with Android One. They get stock Android and security updates like Pixel, but they don’t cost you an arm and a leg. If you are on the budget, Xiaomi Mi A2 is a great choice as well (Same Android One).

If you want a regular Android phone, imo the king of value is the Poco F1. Snapdragon 845 for $300, nothing can beat that value. The rest of Android flagships have become overpriced iPhone copycats (including the Pixel 3 with the worst notch on any modern phone).

 

[loybond]

Yeah I guess it'd be from one of the major OLED panel makers. I saw on a rumours site that the v40 will also have the same p-oled screen that the v30 and pixel 2 currently have; that would be disappointing.

The OnePlus 6T screen is from Samsung.

Appreciate your input, especially because it's today to my dilemma. I can blaze on this iPhone xs max, and I love that it feels snappy and keeps up with my workflow. The backup and restore is good insurance.

I don't care too much about the cost, but the pocophone is indeed interesting. I also agree with you that the pixel, especially for having minimal history is a little expensive. Apparently the pixel leaks might be fake... It might impress us all.

For work/business, my choice is iOS, especially after I saw what an Android dev can siphon off an Android phone (ie. Everything). iOS with is built in encryption and easy backup/restore gets my vote.

For tinkering/toying around, obviously the choice is Android. If you want Android and wants some consistency, my vote is for Nokia phones with Android One. They get stock Android and security updates like Pixel, but they don’t cost you an arm and a leg. If you are on the budget, Xiaomi Mi A2 is a great choice as well (Same Android One).

If you want a regular Android phone, imo the king of value is the Poco F1. Snapdragon 845 for $300, nothing can beat that value. The rest of Android flagships have become overpriced iPhone copycats (including the Pixel 3 with the worst notch on any modern phone).

 

[macfacts]

This slowing down over time is a myth. Perhaps one model like the nexus 7 did slow down over time but that was because of a bug (no trim support in the flash filesystem)

 

[bgro]

I use iOS for now but have dabbled in Android every year. There’s no doubt that if I didn’t use Apple Music, the Apple Watch, and a few other Apple services that I would use Android. To me, Android is more fun to use and you can potentially be more productive especially with a device like the Note 8/9. iOS is a set it and forget it type device but the simplicity of it is a benefit and preference to many.

Your switch would be easier given you don’t seem to be tied down to Apple services. From what I understand the later Samsung Note devices (8) have not experienced slowdowns yet. If you’re looking to keep a phone 1-2 years I don’t think slowdown would be an issue. Anything longer than that I’m not sure about. If you like the built in mail app then check out the Outlook app. Very similar but much more functionality. Works the same on iOS as it does Android.

Not sure about privacy/security. I’ve always read that iOS is more locked down but if you’re careful with what apps you download and use 2FA on the apps you can then you’ll lessen the chances of a security breach using Android. I always wonder about the people who use Apple because they value privacy but use Google services/apps, doesn’t really make sense to me. If you’re using google services on an iPhone then you’re giving up some privacy and using iOS for privacy is of no value. Maybe I’m missing something with that thought process..

If you have time to tinker and want a customizable experience and are bored with your iPhone then I’d say switch. If all you’re going to do is use the same apps and not take advantage of anything android has to offer then no reason to switch imo.

I hate to say this but I just feel more comfortable in the Apple ecosystem. Probably because it’s been my primary choice for the last 8 years. But I feel like all the cool stuff is on the android side. There’s nothing making me want to upgrade my phone (X) this year. iOS 12 is the same old boring (but reliable) software. They’ve made some nice tweaks and the performance is night and day from iOS 11 but nothing “cool”.

 

[ultravegeta1981]

Why not the iphone 8 plus? You say you got problems with your Xs Max and you like IOS why not the 8 plus?

 

[IowaLynn]

Typing this on the XS Max.

I
Android also doesn't have a simple backup and restore system like iPhone,

So the question boils down to this... Can I expect to have a fluid, reliable, fast experience with 2018 Android flagships? What kinds of annoyances, niggles or hindrances can I expect?

Samsung Smart Switch clones just as easily.

Even Apple has modernized the file system which is the heart of slowdowns, indexing content, moving files around, and off cell pages, as well as deal with fragmentation.

I never expect iOS to "work well" until iOS reaches "x.3" version level. And a phone bought day one versus in March may have updated parts, better production and yields.

A Note 9 and you Max might be best combo.
There's just some growing pains. And the version of ios is rudimentary support and not even 12.1 final (and likely wanting .3 to do so).

 

[DiamonDecoden]

If financially possible, I would suggest having both iPhone Xs Max and the Note 9. Both phones are the top dogs and you can't go wrong with either of them!

My friends and family hugely rely on Apple's proprietary features so I am using more of the iPhone Xs Max.

I also am having the horrible WiFi issues and I am hoping it will get fixed soon with the software update or else I will angry and demand a refund. Seriously...

 

[Michael Goff]

I use iOS for now but have dabbled in Android every year. There’s no doubt that if I didn’t use Apple Music, the Apple Watch, and a few other Apple services that I would use Android. To me, Android is more fun to use and you can potentially be more productive especially with a device like the Note 8/9. iOS is a set it and forget it type device but the simplicity of it is a benefit and preference to many.

Your switch would be easier given you don’t seem to be tied down to Apple services. From what I understand the later Samsung Note devices (8) have not experienced slowdowns yet. If you’re looking to keep a phone 1-2 years I don’t think slowdown would be an issue. Anything longer than that I’m not sure about. If you like the built in mail app then check out the Outlook app. Very similar but much more functionality. Works the same on iOS as it does Android.

Not sure about privacy/security. I’ve always read that iOS is more locked down but if you’re careful with what apps you download and use 2FA on the apps you can then you’ll lessen the chances of a security breach using Android. I always wonder about the people who use Apple because they value privacy but use Google services/apps, doesn’t really make sense to me. If you’re using google services on an iPhone then you’re giving up some privacy and using iOS for privacy is of no value. Maybe I’m missing something with that thought process..

If you have time to tinker and want a customizable experience and are bored with your iPhone then I’d say switch. If all you’re going to do is use the same apps and not take advantage of anything android has to offer then no reason to switch imo.

I hate to say this but I just feel more comfortable in the Apple ecosystem. Probably because it’s been my primary choice for the last 8 years. But I feel like all the cool stuff is on the android side. There’s nothing making me want to upgrade my phone (X) this year. iOS 12 is the same old boring (but reliable) software. They’ve made some nice tweaks and the performance is night and day from iOS 11 but nothing “cool”.

I can explain itt. With an Android phone, you're giving up much more than you do on iOS. Apple doesn't allow Google the access that ... Well, that Google does.

 

[Caspavio]

I always wonder about the people who use Apple because they value privacy but use Google services/apps, doesn’t really make sense to me. If you’re using google services on an iPhone then you’re giving up some privacy and using iOS for privacy is of no value. Maybe I’m missing something with that thought process..

As mentioned in the earlier post, iOS allows google to extract less data then android. i read somewhere that some google apps continue extracting your data even when that setting is turned off, so you can imagine what happens if the OS is by google. they are afterall an advertising and software company and data is crazy valuable to them.

another reason is the fact that you can use google apps without logging into your google account on iphones. so while google will get your data, if will be more private in the sense that there is no way for anyone to really link the data to you.

the thing i hate most about google pixel is that they make money off my personal information, but still wants to charge me a premium. In other words, at least in my POV, pixel 3 is at least as expensive as iphone Xs.

 

[SteveJUAE]

As mentioned in the earlier post, iOS allows google to extract less data then android. i read somewhere that some google apps continue extracting your data even when that setting is turned off, so you can imagine what happens if the OS is by google. they are afterall an advertising and software company and data is crazy valuable to them.

another reason is the fact that you can use google apps without logging into your google account on iphones. so while google will get your data, if will be more private in the sense that there is no way for anyone to really link the data to you.

the thing i hate most about google pixel is that they make money off my personal information, but still wants to charge me a premium. In other words, at least in my POV, pixel 3 is at least as expensive as iphone Xs.

I think you mixing up native OS access and 3rd party access

Apple by and large do not allow less access by 3rd party apps than any other OEM

Your are just as vulnerable on IOS with 3rd party access to location, contacts, photos etc as with Android hence all the permission settings both OS have

Both Apple and Google internally use their extra access they have to perform various data analysis and targeted advertising, however the difference is Google advertising is far more in your face and Apple tend to normalise some data so it is not backwardly traceable with personal data to an individual when they share data with their partners

Apple privacy policy most like to quote is for their native apps and services and the umbrella of coverage is not the entire product as you take responsibility for what 3rd party apps you load

Many IOS and Android apps have been data mining for years

I believe many iPhone owners unintentionally do the fellow owners a disservice by not clarifying what is under Apple umbrella.

Use you iPhone only as it comes out of the Box that's fine but once you start loading 3rd party apps it's potentially a different story

 

[Michael Goff]

I think you mixing up native OS access and 3rd party access

Apple by and large do not allow less access by 3rd party apps than any other OEM

Your are just as vulnerable on IOS with 3rd party access to location, contacts, photos etc as with Android hence all the permission settings both OS have

Both Apple and Google internally use their extra access they have to perform various data analysis and targeted advertising, however the difference is Google advertising is far more in your face and Apple tend to normalise some data so it is not backwardly traceable with personal data to an individual when they share data with their partners

Apple privacy policy most like to quote is for their native apps and services and the umbrella of coverage is not the entire product as you take responsibility for what 3rd party apps you load

Many IOS and Android apps have been data mining for years

I believe many iPhone owners unintentionally do the fellow owners a disservice by not clarifying what is under Apple umbrella.

Use you iPhone only as it comes out of the Box that's fine but once you start loading 3rd party apps it's potentially a different story

Google does get more data from Android than iOS according to a report.

https://fossbytes.com/google-android-collects-10-times-more-data-than-apple/

 

[SteveJUAE]

Google does get more data from Android than iOS according to a report.

https://fossbytes.com/google-android-collects-10-times-more-data-than-apple/

I don't doubt that as its on its native OS same as I would expect Apple Music to get more data on IOS than on Android

That's the differentiator I was noting ie Google is a 3rd party on IOS but not on Android

 

[Michael Goff]

I don't doubt that as its on its native OS same as I would expect Apple Music to get more data on IOS than on Android

That's the differentiator I was noting ie Google is a 3rd party on IOS but not on Android

And I doubt Apple scoops up as much data on iOS as Google on Android. If they did, Siri and Apple Maps would be so much better than they are.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

Oh God. If ever it was a case of YMMV.

In my experience:

Android is more powerful, flexible and reliable than IOS.


They are not the same.
Oh and 2012 is gone. Nobody roots Android anymore. The software and hardware is good enough.


In answer to your question, IOS is a fixed path. WYSIWYG.
Android is what you want it to be. Sure, it my have a few dead ends, but one mans dead ends is anothers doorway.

Both are great. but VMF is very much in Androids bag. IOS is getting very expensive.

Posted from my 2015 samsung S6 which does sh*t just as good as it did in 2015 lol.

Also interested to learn about your experience how you've found Android more reliable than iOS.

 

[Caspavio]

I think you mixing up native OS access and 3rd party access

Apple by and large do not allow less access by 3rd party apps than any other OEM

Your are just as vulnerable on IOS with 3rd party access to location, contacts, photos etc as with Android hence all the permission settings both OS have

Both Apple and Google internally use their extra access they have to perform various data analysis and targeted advertising, however the difference is Google advertising is far more in your face and Apple tend to normalise some data so it is not backwardly traceable with personal data to an individual when they share data with their partners

Apple privacy policy most like to quote is for their native apps and services and the umbrella of coverage is not the entire product as you take responsibility for what 3rd party apps you load

Many IOS and Android apps have been data mining for years

I believe many iPhone owners unintentionally do the fellow owners a disservice by not clarifying what is under Apple umbrella.

Use you iPhone only as it comes out of the Box that's fine but once you start loading 3rd party apps it's potentially a different story

hmmm i didnt mix them up. you are correct to some extent. but based on what i have read on some forums, google apps are still sending location data back to google even though that option is turned off. i think iOS would have forbidden that. also iOS will probably only allow google apps to mine data onlywhen you are using it (i maybe wrong), but im sure with pixel, your data will be mined all the time.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

I think you mixing up native OS access and 3rd party access
Apple by and large do not allow less access by 3rd party apps than any other OEM
Your are just as vulnerable on IOS with 3rd party access to location, contacts, photos etc as with Android hence all the permission settings both OS have
Both Apple and Google internally use their extra access they have to perform various data analysis and targeted advertising, however the difference is Google advertising is far more in your face and Apple tend to normalise some data so it is not backwardly traceable with personal data to an individual when they share data with their partners
Apple privacy policy most like to quote is for their native apps and services and the umbrella of coverage is not the entire product as you take responsibility for what 3rd party apps you load
Many IOS and Android apps have been data mining for years
I believe many iPhone owners unintentionally do the fellow owners a disservice by not clarifying what is under Apple umbrella.
Use you iPhone only as it comes out of the Box that's fine but once you start loading 3rd party apps it's potentially a different story

hmmm i didnt mix them up. you are correct to some extent. but based on what i have read on some forums, google apps are still sending location data back to google even though that option is turned off. i think iOS would have forbidden that. also iOS will probably only allow google apps to mine data onlywhen you are using it (i maybe wrong), but im sure with pixel, your data will be mined all the time.

This study (August 2018) by Douglas C. Schmidt, Professor of Computer Science at Vanderbilt University deals with Google Data Collection practices through Android and iOS.

 

[SteveJUAE]

hmmm i didnt mix them up. you are correct to some extent. but based on what i have read on some forums, google apps are still sending location data back to google even though that option is turned off. i think iOS would have forbidden that. also iOS will probably only allow google apps to mine data onlywhen you are using it (i maybe wrong), but im sure with pixel, your data will be mined all the time.

I don't disagree and I'm not defending Google

Users could be leaking data like a sieve from numerous 3rd party apps and fixating on Google or blind faith in Apple is what less scrupulous developers rely on.

Even Apple warn you about 3rd party or advertising data collection on find my iPhone or family sharing.

I think Apple have admirable standards but the less well informed may not understand the limit of these standards and end up being more disadvantaged by believing they are simply safe loading any app from the apple store

Out of the box the money is on Apple for looking after you but once your in to loading 3rd party apps the chances are you may be eroding that high ground.

Lets face it for the more technically challenged going through and enabling or disabling app permissions is a chore many may believe they are saved from this by having an iPhone.

Too many forum replies conveniently do not clarify or differentiate between Apple native apps and 3rd party and it all gets wrapped up as IOS. This some what false or over propagation of simply IOS safety is a disservice to many IMO

On a personal note I'm probably very lapse on security with too much water under the bridge and simply the amount of effort to be 100% invisible is beyond my enjoyment threshold LOL. My only defence is I am not an app collector and being reliant on only using major titles, weak I know but my poor choice .

Outside of Ikea I probably only bought a couple of handful of items online in the last 10 years more due to foreign locals are not served as well as US/Europe so online adverts have little appeal to me fortunately but ads are obviously not that simple to ignore

 

[bgro]

As mentioned in the earlier post, iOS allows google to extract less data then android. i read somewhere that some google apps continue extracting your data even when that setting is turned off, so you can imagine what happens if the OS is by google. they are afterall an advertising and software company and data is crazy valuable to them.

another reason is the fact that you can use google apps without logging into your google account on iphones. so while google will get your data, if will be more private in the sense that there is no way for anyone to really link the data to you.

the thing i hate most about google pixel is that they make money off my personal information, but still wants to charge me a premium. In other words, at least in my POV, pixel 3 is at least as expensive as iphone Xs.

Good points. I definitely agree with the "double dipping" asspect of the Pixel

 

[SteveJUAE]

This study (August 2018) by Douglas C. Schmidt, Professor of Computer Science at Vanderbilt University deals with Google Data Collection practices through Android and iOS.

Interesting article and very noticeable was this point IMO for iPhone users who may think they are immune by not having some apps:

"While using an iOS device, if a user decides to forgo the use of any Google product (i.e. no Android,no Chrome, no Google applications), and visits only non-Google webpages, the number of times data is communicated to Google servers still remains surprisingly high. This communication is driven purely by advertiser/publisher services. The number of times such Google services are called from an iOS device is similar to an Android device. In this experiment, the total magnitude of data communicated to Google servers from an iOS device is found to be approximately half of that from the Android device."

 

[IowaLynn]

Google owns Double click, AdSense and many others. Web pages with "amp" are also I think cached Google pages.

Didn't Google sign a $9 Billion contract to get Apple to use Google search?

 

[Breaking Good]

I run a business, and the thing I've enjoyed most about iPhones is the reliability. The software works in a predictable way over the year that I own each model(I always get the newest one when it comes out), and this is super important to me. Odd as this sounds, I love the built in mail app.

Perhaps you could consider getting an iPhone 8 or 8+, an Apple Watch Series 4 and one of the new iPad Pros when they are (hopefully) released later this month. That way you would still be using iOS but the phone itself becomes less important.

Just my option here, but I think that some people move to Android from iOS thinking they are going to get a better experience. However, what they end up with is a different experience and are dissapointed with the result.