Switching from iPhone to Android

[adamr7]

Currently have an iPhone but had a couple Android phones previously.

I'm considering switching back to Android. Both meet my needs but I can save a few hundred on an Android phone. Still undecided.

How would this impact text messages? Most of my family and friends have always used iPhones. Am I overlooking something with iMessages that would make me regret the switch?

 

[UKapple]

Don't let what is essentially a messaging app tie you to a particular brand. I would say that there is a 50/50 split between my friend's and family with android/apple but all if them have WhatsApp so there's no issue.

I swapped over from the iphone 5 to the galaxy S5 right up to my current S8+. It's no biggy really.

 

[Shanghaichica]

If your contacts are willing to use another messaging app then there shouldn't be an issue. However some people cannot/won't use anything other than iMessage. My mum and cousin are like that. We've tried to set up what's app on their phones but they won't use it and then revert back to iMessage.

 

[ramram55]

I recently switched. And cannot be happier, all my relatives have iphones, it is a matter of using SMS they will not know any difference, they send you imessage you get it in SMS and vice versa. You have to deregister from apple once you get to android. Will take few hours lead time to switch over to sms from imessage. Another way to communicate is with facebook messenger. Save yourself few hundred bucks and take a nice vacation.

 

[Yankee512]

I like being able to use iMessage between my iPad and iPhone when chatting with people. It is convenient but if I get the note 8 that goes out the door. I’ll have to use the note 8 for texting only then. But thats ok., not a biggie.

 

[BlueGoldAce]

Currently have an iPhone but had a couple Android phones previously.

I'm considering switching back to Android. Both meet my needs but I can save a few hundred on an Android phone. Still undecided.

How would this impact text messages? Most of my family and friends have always used iPhones. Am I overlooking something with iMessages that would make me regret the switch?

The biggest impact is the ability to see when someone is typing, has read your message (I disabled this anyway), and high quality pictures,videos, gifs, etc.

Once you switch off of it, it isn't a big deal. It is touted as a big obstacle, and to some people it appears to be, but in my mind it isn't. With a note 8, for example, you can share your photos/videos via a generate link for full quality, via google photos, etc.

Does the iPhone support RCS, yet? I know the s8/s8+ does (at least on sprint). RCS essentially eliminates the need for imessage/whatsapp/etc (beyond specific features like payments, etc) by adding all the above. You can see when someone is typing, when they have read your message, and photos/videos are all sent in high quality (up to 100mbs, i think).

It was developed by google, and is available to any carrier/phone that supports it. It is becoming pretty widespread.

Anyway, iMessage is nice, but once you get used to Android, there will be features on Android you love. Both operating systems are so good at this point, that there really is no major disparity. Just a different way of doing things. This, for example, is why the iPhone 8 may likely be the first iPhone I have not bought since the 4s. I really can't see a phone justifying the rumored price point, when there are equally good phones for less.

 

[nviz22]

Currently have an iPhone but had a couple Android phones previously.

I'm considering switching back to Android. Both meet my needs but I can save a few hundred on an Android phone. Still undecided.

How would this impact text messages? Most of my family and friends have always used iPhones. Am I overlooking something with iMessages that would make me regret the switch?

iMessage is easily replaceable. What's App, WeChat, and GroupMe offer options to replace iMessage with an RCS type of messaging system. Want to save $? Get the LG G6: minimum bezels, water resistance, sufficient RAM, high end processor (ok, 2016 one, but not outdated), great camera, high quality LCD display, facial recognition, FP sensor, and all the latest and greatest you should expect in a flagship.

 

[Sounds Good]

The biggest impact is the ability to see when someone is typing, has read your message (I disabled this anyway), and high quality pictures,videos, gifs, etc.

I switched from iPhone not too long ago and I absolutely miss iMessage for the reasons mentioned above (especially the video part). Will I switch back because of iMessage? No -- at least not yet. But it really does bother me. Let the criticism begin!

 

[zone23]

I've switched from my 7+ plus to the S8 and once I got the iMessage turned off its really been almost no different. With that said I have T-Mobile and can use Digits to get texts on my Mac, Windows, and I think it will work on my iPad but not getting text on my iPad hasn't bothered me. Using apps like "What's App" has been out of the question for me because (I'm in the USA) my iPhone family doesn't want to install another texting app just to talk to me. I got the S8 for 424$ from Samsung and will switch to the iPhone 8 when I can get one.

Edit: I still have my 7+ and can switch to it anytime I just leave iMessage turned off. The S8 in my mind is what the iPhone 8 will be can't wait but will miss being able to theme my phone.