I never thought I'd see the day: Android looks better than iOS

[Ctrlos]

Lets get the accusations out of the way first: I've used Android alongside iOS since the G1. I more than bought into Google's ideas during the launch of Lollipop and my most recent handset was a Pixel 8 Pro.

My main phone however has been an iPhone for years. I admire the customisation options in Android but always preferred the more, shall we say 'professional' look of iOS. Or at least I used to.

Apple seem to have just kind of fudged in the iOS18 theming options without giving it much thought. The Dark icons are one thing but if you apply a hue across the board it still ends up looking illegible. At the same time the dark icons have an annoying gradient to them rather than appearing as proper black. Given Google has been offering system-level theming for 2 years now I would have thought apeing it would have been easier. I feel we are at a point now where Google are starting to look a lot nicer from a graphic design point of view

Which do you prefer?

 

[one more]

This is very subjective, IMHO. If you look at the icon details, etc., iOS counterparts are much more elegant. To me, Android apps and icons look like drafts in comparison. I do agree, however, that in terms of overall functionality and customisation Google has done a rather good job.

 

[Jkeith85]

S

Lets get the accusations out of the way first: I've used Android alongside iOS since the G1. I more than bought into Google's ideas during the launch of Lollipop and my most recent handset was a Pixel 8 Pro.

My main phone however has been an iPhone for years. I admire the customisation options in Android but always preferred the more, shall we say 'professional' look of iOS. Or at least I used to.

Apple seem to have just kind of fudged in the iOS18 theming options without giving it much thought. The Dark icons are one thing but if you apply a hue across the board it still ends up looking illegible. At the same time the dark icons have an annoying gradient to them rather than appearing as proper black. Given Google has been offering system-level theming for 2 years now I would have thought apeing it would have been easier. I feel we are at a point now where Google are starting to look a lot nicer from a graphic design point of view

Which do you prefer?

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android one just looks bland.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

If the example you've given is the best theme Android can offer, I prefer the look of iOS.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Both platforms have strengths and weaknesses, while the visuals are entirely subjective. I for one prefer iOS' blur/transparency scheme over Android's solid colors.

 

[HouseLannister]

I think Android has looked better since Ice Cream Sandwich or thereabouts because I can make it look however I want. Been rocking Niagra for 3 years now and love my list view with rainbow buttons instead of icons. The apps on Android are a much different issue... not sure if the developers just don't have the tools to create good looking apps or if they just don't care. Yes, the iOS tinting looks bad. Yes, the dark icons are inconsistent (the Notes one in particular is an eyesore). But the apps look miles better.

 

[Cobold]

Why did you chose the most ugly iOS-screenshot you could find? With an almost white wallpaper and dark icons? 🙄

You should compare to a tinted-version just like the Android one you are using.

 

[bigjnyc]

I use both daily (have a galaxy S23 for work) and iOS just looks more elegant and aesthetically pleasing to me.... Android looks messy and unfinished. Even apps look much better on iphone than their android counterparts... Even Google's own apps which I've always found hilarious.

But this all comes down to personal preference and opinion, so there's no right or wrong answer here.

 

[fsfty]

Up until the Iphone 13, I exclusively used Android phones (Samsung, LG, etc.). While i loved the customization of Android, I didn't like the many problems with basic things one relies on. Calendar event notifications and texts messages that never arrived, photos that would disappear from Google photos, etc.
I decided I needed a phone that actually works rather than have the ability to use 3rd party launchers, change the color of notification badges and use different Icon packs. Just my experience.
EDIT: Forgot the monstrosities of video calling with Duo and Meet Me...good lord they were awful.

 

[Ctrlos]

Why did you chose the most ugly iOS-screenshot you could find? With an almost white wallpaper and dark icons? 🙄

You should compare to a tinted-version just like the Android one you are using.

See to me that gradient black just looks awful compared to the blue tinted Android backgrounds. I’d prefer a solid black background on the icons.

 

[mjschabow]

Now open up the app drawer and show us all the 3rd party apps that don't follow the color scheme.

 

[Kottu]

Apps like YouTube look terrible in dark mode

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Now open up the app drawer and show us all the 3rd party apps that don't follow the color scheme.

They're bad on iOS, too. These really needed more time in the oven on both platforms.

 

[MBAir2010]

Teh Windows screen saver from teh elevens looks much better than the iPad mini ios du jour screensaver
but that is were the advantage ends

 

[contacos]

Teh Windows screen saver from teh elevens looks much better than the iPad mini ios du jour screensaver
but that is were the advantage ends

What?

 

[gwhizkids]

This thread might have some pertinence…in late September when iOS 18 ships to the public. Until then, file feedback.

 

[mjschabow]

They're bad on iOS, too. These really needed more time in the oven on both platforms.

Except iOS 18 is in beta.

 

[iFone88]

Except iOS 18 is in beta.

Exactly that. Three betas in and nowhere near the finished article

 

[joshuabeg]

Why did you chose the most ugly iOS-screenshot you could find? With an almost white wallpaper and dark icons? 🙄

You should compare to a tinted-version just like the Android one you are using.

This looks great! Definitely one of the best examples I’ve seen of the tinting.

There is actually a way to change the Outlook app icon to dark mode in Outlook’s settings. Not sure how it translates with the app tinting, but just thought I’d throw it out there!

 

[Iwavvns]

Which do you prefer?

View attachment 2397781View attachment 2397782

Being that aesthetics are only skin deep, i much prefer iOS over Android. Why on earth would someone buy a Lamborghini and replace the engine with a hamster wheel? Sure, Android phones look amazing, but it’s still just putting makeup on a pig.

 

[krspkbl]

The new dark mode icons are all over the place and inconsistent. I get that not all developers will update their icons just yet (if they need to?) but even the apple apps aren’t all dark.

I like the idea they went for but some icons need fixed to make it look better.

Tinted icons are just straight up awful and I will never use it unless improved.

Widgets/Control centre could use some work to make dark mode look better.

I’m honestly considering just using light mode now lol but my eyes hurt!

 

[Iwavvns]

The new dark mode icons are all over the place and inconsistent. I get that not all developers will update their icons just yet (if they need to?) but even the apple apps aren’t all dark.

I like the idea they went for but some icons need fixed to make it look better.

Tinted icons are just straight up awful and I will never use it unless improved.

Widgets/Control centre could use some work to make dark mode look better.

I’m honestly considering just using light mode now lol but my eyes hurt!

You’d think that, since Apple designed this dark mode, all of their icons would match. Take a look at the Numbers and Pages icons. I have a bible study app that has a dark mode icon on iPad but a normal icon on iPhone.

 

[Cobold]

This looks great! Definitely one of the best examples I’ve seen of the tinting.

There is actually a way to change the Outlook app icon to dark mode in Outlook’s settings. Not sure how it translates with the app tinting, but just thought I’d throw it out there!

Thanks man! I'm pretty happy too with that "look" of my iPhone 15


I'll give it a try with the Outlook App Icon thou, thanks for the hint.

 

[Ctrlos]

Being that aesthetics are only skin deep, i much prefer iOS over Android. Why on earth would someone buy a Lamborghini and replace the engine with a hamster wheel? Sure, Android phones look amazing, but it’s still just putting makeup on a pig.

Oh heck, Its only the skin-deep homescreen we're talking about here.

iOS on the whole is better designed than Android with a much better design language when you delve into it.

But Apple's attempts to copy Material You have so far not been great.

 

[mjschabow]

The new dark mode icons are all over the place and inconsistent. I get that not all developers will update their icons just yet (if they need to?) but even the apple apps aren’t all dark.

I like the idea they went for but some icons need fixed to make it look better.

Tinted icons are just straight up awful and I will never use it unless improved.

Widgets/Control centre could use some work to make dark mode look better.

I’m honestly considering just using light mode now lol but my eyes hurt!

They'll improve. It's still July and the iOS18 Release is still 2 months out.