Hmm very interesting and well written article. Here is some of my smartphone history, feel free to SKIP TO THE TEXT AFTER THE UNDERLINE to read why I would likely never go back to iOS.
I started out in the smartphone with a litany of crappy choices (some carrier restricted). First "smart phone" was an HTC Diamond running an OLD windows OS. What a piece of junk. Nothing like waking up to a dog locked phone when you check the time in the dead of night (relying on said phone for your alarm clock). iPhone comes out (original) and Telus wasn't carrying it (at least not for a decent plan rate) so stupid me goes for the Blackberry Storm.... I do NOT need to say more haha!
Enter iPhone 4 (when I was finally able to snag one on my carrier with a good plan). So far that was the best smartphone I have ever owned, and the reason I say this is it is STILL in use today after spending 2 years + with me, 2 years with my mother and now in my husband's hands. It is still working really well! (stopped updating the OS after a couple of years so still working smooth enough). After 2-3 years I grew tired of the stale looking OS, the requirements to deal with iTunes and lack of larger screen and ability to customize the device. iP5 would yield no significantly larger screen.
Enter the Galaxy S3 in pebble blue. Very nice feel and look and worked quite well (in a way I kinda miss the little guy) it took me 3-4 months to not dislike it, going from iOS and maybe 6 months to start loving what Android had to offer.
Unfortunately due to a software update, the phone decided to not make calls some of the time so I traded it in for a S4, which I only used for a couple of months, and then to the Note 4 when it released. Haven't looked back.
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Whilst your article covered some of what you feel is lacking in Android, what I feel is a plus is this:
1) complete customization of home screen or even the OS by rooting or using a launcher. I can actually SEE my wallpaper without having to shove all of my apps onto another page or hide them all into a folder.
2) The ability to share within a large amount apps (I can share to almost any app on the device vs just the select few that iOS allows).
3) Plug my device in and drag and drop my recorded music without having to frig around with iTunes, which I completely loathe.
4) As far as smoothness goes, I think some apps esp web based ones, tend to have to yield to the strength of the internet connection that you have, apple or android. I have the Note 4 and the only sluggishness that I now notice (unfort.) is due to the latest OS update and this also has caused some battery drain issues once the device hits 25%.
5) fast charging is a nice feature on the phone.
6) I don't know if iOS now allows for a sensor that lets the phone know you are looking at it so you don't have to keep touching the screen somewhere if you are reading a lengthy article but on my Galaxy phones this feature rocks.
7) I don't know if I should really lump the Note series into all things Android because in a way it is part of a Samsung thing, but I love having a device that allows me to sign documents on the fly and send them back via email when I am away from my work desk or am on courses etc.
8) I have actually taken some great pics with the "wide selfie" feature (friends and family on holidays etc), which some of these camera features are late or just coming to the iOS/camera set up. iOS was late coming to the game wrt OIS.
9) I love the notification light which tells me which sort of media message I have received without having to pick up and open the phone.
10) if you don't like the default mail app, you have many other options. This goes for keyboards etc. I cannot stand having to shift to access punctuation or numbers etc.
11) If you are a fan of VR you have access to it with some Android phones.
12) excepting some of the more high end Android phones, most people can afford to have an android smartphone without having to buy a 2-3 yr. old used phone (to be able to afford an iPhone, which Apple is proudly unapologetic on who it targets for it's boutique products).
13) with the exception of a very small handful of apps, you can still find the same app content and I personally don't notice a huge difference in app quality, but I am not fussy as long as I can get the info I want when I want or complete whatever task is required. You don't have to pay for a majority of android apps, which I kind of wish some I could pay for vs the occasional ad.
14) Volume control variation. I can put the ringer down, notification tone off, media mid range etc all from touching the volume button, it is completely customisable, not just DnD or silent mode.
15) Android allows for apps that can control your various ringtone volume, notification volume etc, based on geographic areas that you go into and out of. Apple doesn't like to allow that kind of access to the core OS.
16) Apple may offer OS updates for a majority of phones but I know at least a full handful of people who have had devices rendered practically useless (original ipad bricked) because they updated the device (which was supported) but should never have been made available to the device! You can't go back past the original few days that they allow you to. While you need to do a bit of a dance, you CAN revert your android device to its previous OS.
These are just some of the reasons which I would be unable or rather unwilling to revert back to the iPhone. As everyone will admit, it's all down to personal preferences AND finances on occasion, but I felt the need to champion the Android OS after reading your article.
