Other Is there a specific app or feature that is keeping others "iPhone bound"?

[CharlieSierra]

The apple watch, and for the most frivolous reason too! I like the snoopy and mickey mouse watch faces lol.

Me too! 😁

Apple’s apps and devices do just work together. I had a Samsung S24FE and Galaxy watch. To get Samsung fit to talk to Google fit you have to install another app - HealthKit. It doesn’t talk direct to Google fit and then the Slimming World app can sync your activity from Google fit. Except it never worked reliably. Apple health syncs seamlessly and reliably with my SW app to track my activity. So iPhone and Apple Watch it is. And I could never give up my iPad for android tablet. Another plus for staying in the Apple ecosystem - for now at least.

software updates in the android world are hit and miss. Google pixel? Yep fine but other manufacturers are slow to integrate new android releases into their own skins. If they update them at all. (Motorola)

 

[Abydos]

actually no app keeps me bound to apple , the issue for me is no compelling reason to move to android

 

[eyoungren]

I would never use google services for anything!

I use them, and will continue to use them. They are cross platform. Most of Apple's services aren't.

 

[Hajj.david]

iMessage, iCloud, Find My, continuity, the ability to use my phone as a remote, the apps I and my company develop (We only build for iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and VisionOS, and a tiny bit of web).

My complete distain of Google and Android keeps me on iOS plus above. But boy do I miss Windows Phone, I wish Microsoft wasn't so shortsighted and stupid.

 

[rui no onna]

Is there a specific app or feature, that either works better on iPhone, or only exists on iPhone, which is enough to keep you "iPhone bound"?

Not really an app but rather the iPad. I've yet to find a tablet I like better and the syncing between iPhone and iPad keeps me in the iOS ecosystem. Also, iPhones tend to be better supported by 3rd party devices.

I don't require syncing with my computers beyond Dropbox so my desktop and laptop are both Windows.

 

[Hajj.david]

Not really an app but rather the iPad. I've yet to find a tablet I like better and the syncing between iPhone and iPad keeps me in the iOS ecosystem. Also, iPhones tend to be better supported by 3rd party devices.

I don't require syncing with my computers beyond Dropbox so my desktop and laptop are both Windows.

FYI apple makes icloud for windows, works pretty good:

iCloud - Free download and install on Windows | Microsoft Store

With the iCloud for Windows app, you can access photos, files, passwords, and other important information from your iPhone or other Apple devices on your Windows PC. iCloud Photos • Access and view your iCloud photos directly in the Microsoft Photos app. • Keep your photos up to date across...

apps.microsoft.com

 

[Xenomorph]

Not so much trapped. It's just I haven't found anything better than iOS.

I've been using Android since the 1.x days. I have a Pixel 6a now with the latest Android. It's fine, but it's never been at a level that I like using as my primary OS - or that I'd feel comfortable supporting for others.

I use iPhone and iOS for my primary devices (with Google Photos and the Gmail app for managing photos and mail).

If I need to do something like a WiFi scan (something not allowed in the App Store on iOS), then I grab Android.

 

[oldtime]

I started on Android and it was a headache. Switched to Apple with the 5S and the experience was a total 180. I've been back to Android with secondary phones a few times and the experience is just worse in almost every way. I wish it weren't true bc it would be cheaper to be an Android Bro, but even with current iOS issues and all, it's too much of a dive into pavement to go all-in with the robot.

 

[danpass]

the Apple ecosystem; icloud, pages, numbers and so on

perfectly happy with iphone/mac/ipad/macbook/atv/homepod/homekit ....

-

 

[VineRider]

For me, it is Apple's stance on security. Advanced Data Protection is something I value and no other major cloud service (Google, Microsoft etc.) offers that.....I realize there are other smaller 3rd parties that do offer e2e encryption however.

I also like how Apple rolls out updates and is not dependant on a h/w vendor or cellular carrier to approve the rollout of new features and versions.

From a pure platform perspective, I think both Android and iOS are capable operating systems and I am sure I could eventually accomplish most things on Android that I do on iOS. But, I like iPhones and how they integrate with the Apple Watch and other Apple devices, so I'd be hard pressed to move at this point.

 

[eyoungren]

I also like how Apple rolls out updates and is not dependant on a h/w vendor or cellular carrier to approve the rollout of new features and versions.

You are probably already aware of this, but in the Android world, Google is the same as Apple in this respect. You buy a Pixel and you can expect timely updates delivered to your phone, just like Apple does with its iDevices.

My carrier, T-Mobile, had zero to do with any update when I was using my Pixel as a primary phone. I got updates delivered right to my phone from Google. That is one of the reasons I got a Pixel when I tried out Android.

Other manufacturers - not so much.

 

[JoeG4]

Feeling trapped in anything is mentally unhealthy and toxic in your life. I would say switch to Android and see how it goes.The best way to see if the grass is greener on the other side is go and walk. Feel for yourself, and come back if you don’t like.

You don't even really have to "go and walk" or "come back", you can just have both platforms. I do have a fold 4 that I used as my primary phone for a while.

 

[edubfromktown]

I do not miss anything using an Android phone and Chromebook (as a daily driver), along with a couple of Mac's (MBP and M1 Studio Max).

Don't have a need to FaceTime with anyone and experience no issues texting with iPhone individuals or in Apple proprietary or mixed with Android user group chats.

 

[Adora]

This!

 

[eScenCe]

Every time I switched to Android I was disappointed after a time.
No support, no updates, "yes, you will get the next android update later"-bla, while you where waiting for android 9 or 10 and everyone else got 11...

... this was at times Android "Flagships" where generally cheaper.

Now, with my bad experiences and full-flag-prices I really don't see a reason to try this out again ...

Beside that: Apple Music, iMessage. While first is no exclusive reason anymore, but second is.

 

[Bethanie21]

You couldn’t pay me to switch to Android.

 

[MarkX]

3. Which brings me to this point: MagSafe. Wireless charging is of course not the whole point. Android has wireless charging, too. But the point of MagSafe goes beyond wireless charging. It can be used to magnetically attach the phone to a stand, attach it to a car mount, attach a wallet to the phone, attach a battery to the phone (and keep it there), etc... And sadly, there's no alternative for this in Android world that's "standard". You can indeed just purchase a magnetic case, but see #2 above: can we even get anything other than plain boring black?

The Pixel 10 series has MagSafe equivalent called Pixel Snap and uses Qi2 wireless standard. No case needed.

 

[max2]

No. Used Android before just not all of it.

 

[kamikazeeMC]

These days it’s getting less for me to be bounded by the iPhone. Things I really like(d)

• UI and UX - I am finding iOS more and more buggy, don’t like the direction of 26, I feel like it’s slower to get some things done, like an extra step to get to an action. Originally iOSs universal swipe from the left to go back, but now Android has swipe from the left or right for a while. More consistency between apps. Every time I’m on Android I turn off animation, it just feels way more snappy.
• App quality - As it’s the main development platform for most devs, being more polished. But now I have cut down a lot of apps. No social media, so things like the camera not fully integrated within social media is no longer an issue when switching to Android. The few apps I used were fine last time I was Android, plus easier side loading options. With Reddit killing 3rd party options, even the official app is horrible on iOS.
• Hardware and build quality - Still well made devices.
• Cameras - I prefer a dedicated camera. But been looking into the Oppo X9 and Vivo X300 and think they are better for photos. While iPhone is better with video, I rarely take.
• After sales support - iPhone 4 had a camera exposure issue walked in and out with a new one. iPhone 5 with the power button issue, I beat the hell out of it working on a construction site at the time, then the replacement program for the button came, while it did take me 2 visits the get it swapped because how beat up it was.
• Face ID - it rarely fails, unless I have half my face buried in a pillow. I have very dry hands, have not had good luck with under display optical or early ultrasonic readers. Willing to give new ultrasonic readers a go.
• Apple Music - Recently downloaded FLACs of all my playlists, thinking of going back to local.
• iCloud E2EE - Planning on purchasing a NAS and self hosting.
• MagSafe - Hope more Android phones add compatible qi2 magnets. Can live without though.
• Apple Watch - I did wear a lot before, but now have a patch of ink that messes with the sensor, so wear a mechanical more, or switch arm for the Apple Watch.

 

[throAU]

Is there a specific app or feature, that either works better on iPhone, or only exists on iPhone, which is enough to keep you "iPhone bound"?

I'm not iphone bound, i'm apple hardware and software bound.

Their stuff works together well and their hardware is faster than anything equivalent on the market in almost every case.

And the case where it isn't (PC desktop) - i have a PC.

 

[Spinarelo]

imessage - I'm in a bunch of group chats that are exclusively iPhones, I don't want to be the one to ruin it

Findmy - my whole family uses this and I have so many apple devices and air tags

Applepay - this is accepted pretty much everywhere I go and I love the Apple card, I use the cash back to buy new iPhones

 

[eyoungren]

So today I was browsing the net on my work Mac and I wanted to send a link to my wife. Ordinarily that'd be quite easy, copy the link in my browser, open the Messages app, paste and send.

But, my work Mac is not connected to my personal AppleID. So…I opened my browser on my iPhone (which at this time is on cellular, not WiFi) and sent the link from the browser on my work Mac to the browser on my iPhone. Received. Now I can copy the link and paste it into the Messages app on my iPhone.

No Handoff was involved. Safari was not involved. The go-between was strictly the Vivaldi web browser, both on the Mac and on my iPhone. I know someone can criticize how it was done, but this was entirely a third party service process. Had I been on my Pixel, it would have worked the same way. This is why I find alternatives and do not lock myself into Apple.

 

[eyoungren]

imessage - I'm in a bunch of group chats that are exclusively iPhones, I don't want to be the one to ruin it

My son will be 22 this week. Back when he was in high school he attended a STEM school that was highly oriented towards technology, both learning it and using it in the school. My son has an iPhone.

I asked him once if the kids at his school using Android phones ever messed up the chat group or got looked down on because their messages were green bubbles. He looked at me like I'd sprouted a second head. His answer was 'no'. His co-students had zero issues with any of that.

I'm not saying anything to knock your choice because what you use is your business and it works for you. I'm just mentioning my son's experience is all.

 

[Starfia]

For features I actually like; I think Mail.app is great.

(Would that be "Mail.ipa"?)

 

[Happy_John]

It’s a phone. No-one is trapped. There’s no magic app forcing users to use an iPhone.

If you don’t like iPhones, get a different phone.

It might be good to bring the dramatics down to a less hysterical level. There are more important things in life.