Will Android give me a better experience?

[BigDO]

Last time I've tried Android was with the Nexus 5 and whatever that released with. I felt that the OS was good, hardware (Nexus 5) was mediocre, and apps were a good few steps behind the iOS equivalents.

I'm now frustrated beyond belief with iOS 11, and not sure I wanna buy into iPhone X.

What's the current state of affairs with Android, and especially the apps? Are they still lagging behind iOS equivalents or have they caught up?

Also, what would be the pick of the bunch of the Android devices right now? Is it still the S8(+) or is there anything better from the Chinese vendors? Not interested in the Pixels.

Thanks for any input.

 

[LoveToMacRumors]

LG V30 ?

 

[Knowimagination]

Last time I've tried Android was with the Nexus 5 and whatever that released with. I felt that the OS was good, hardware (Nexus 5) was mediocre, and apps were a good few steps behind the iOS equivalents.

I'm now frustrated beyond belief with iOS 11, and not sure I wanna buy into iPhone X.

What's the current state of affairs with Android, and especially the apps? Are they still lagging behind iOS equivalents or have they caught up?

Also, what would be the pick of the bunch of the Android devices right now? Is it still the S8(+) or is there anything better from the Chinese vendors? Not interested in the Pixels.

Thanks for any input.

I have a similar story to you, bounced around a couple different android devices most recently an S8+ but android apps are still no where near the quality of iOS apps in my opinion. some were nearly as good and others I couldn't find a comparable replacement on android. I ended up deciding to sell the s8+ and I am now anxiously waiting to pre order the X

 

[44267547]

Last time I've tried Android was with the Nexus 5 and whatever that released with. I felt that the OS was good, hardware (Nexus 5) was mediocre, and apps were a good few steps behind the iOS equivalents.

I'm now frustrated beyond belief with iOS 11, and not sure I wanna buy into iPhone X.

What's the current state of affairs with Android, and especially the apps? Are they still lagging behind iOS equivalents or have they caught up?

Also, what would be the pick of the bunch of the Android devices right now? Is it still the S8(+) or is there anything better from the Chinese vendors? Not interested in the Pixels.

Thanks for any input.

I think Android has come a long way in terms Of stability. But if I had to choose a device, the Note 8 would be my preference, which I also like the S-Pen capabilities.

 

[lowendlinux]

So don't buy an X and get a used or midrange Android phone, find the apps you need and used it. If it doesn't work for you sell the phone and you're only out a few dollars.

 

[Zaft]

Android is much better since the Nexus 5.

 

[Septembersrain]

I'm having no trouble with my LG V30. There are more settings but in terms of useability, it's good. Of course I started with android, so it's not so weird for me.

Only thing I miss about iOS is the emojis (I'm weird).

I still use my 7 Plus on Wi-Fi and for iMessage when I'm home. Besides that, I use my V30 for everything.

 

[dallas112678]

Last time I've tried Android was with the Nexus 5 and whatever that released with. I felt that the OS was good, hardware (Nexus 5) was mediocre, and apps were a good few steps behind the iOS equivalents.

I'm now frustrated beyond belief with iOS 11, and not sure I wanna buy into iPhone X.

What's the current state of affairs with Android, and especially the apps? Are they still lagging behind iOS equivalents or have they caught up?

Also, what would be the pick of the bunch of the Android devices right now? Is it still the S8(+) or is there anything better from the Chinese vendors? Not interested in the Pixels.

Thanks for any input.

Note 8. Most feature packed phone you can buy, and it' not close.

 

[ramram55]

So don't buy an X and get a used or midrange Android phone, find the apps you need and used it. If it doesn't work for you sell the phone and you're only out a few dollars.

Got rid of iphone and using Moto G5 plus will soon upgrade to moto z2 force. And never going back to IOS.

 

[convergent]

Last time I've tried Android was with the Nexus 5 and whatever that released with. I felt that the OS was good, hardware (Nexus 5) was mediocre, and apps were a good few steps behind the iOS equivalents.

I'm now frustrated beyond belief with iOS 11, and not sure I wanna buy into iPhone X.

What's the current state of affairs with Android, and especially the apps? Are they still lagging behind iOS equivalents or have they caught up?

Also, what would be the pick of the bunch of the Android devices right now? Is it still the S8(+) or is there anything better from the Chinese vendors? Not interested in the Pixels.

Thanks for any input.

I love the Note 8. As someone else said... not even close. I stuck my toe in Android for the first and only prior time back with the Galaxy S5. It was a 6 month run that I literally hated every day of that 6 months. Things have gotten a lot better. I have thoroughly enjoyed this round with the Note 8 and Gear S3.

 

[5105973]

Last time I've tried Android was with the Nexus 5 and whatever that released with. I felt that the OS was good, hardware (Nexus 5) was mediocre, and apps were a good few steps behind the iOS equivalents.

I'm now frustrated beyond belief with iOS 11, and not sure I wanna buy into iPhone X.

What's the current state of affairs with Android, and especially the apps? Are they still lagging behind iOS equivalents or have they caught up?

Also, what would be the pick of the bunch of the Android devices right now? Is it still the S8(+) or is there anything better from the Chinese vendors? Not interested in the Pixels.

Thanks for any input.

Just out of curiosity what is frustrating you about iOS 11 and what iPhone do you have now?

My husband was frustrated with the lack of fingerprint scanning support in Android versions of his financial services apps and we both missed iMessage. I missed Apple news app and its notifications integrating so well with all of my iOS devices. And I missed my Apple Watch. My husband and I also found our S8+’s prone to lagging. We could clear it up, but it does involve keeping on top of misbehaving apps.

 

[woozor1]

I have a similar story to you, bounced around a couple different android devices most recently an S8+ but android apps are still no where near the quality of iOS apps in my opinion. some were nearly as good and others I couldn't find a comparable replacement on android. I ended up deciding to sell the s8+ and I am now anxiously waiting to pre order the X

which apps were the bad ones? Was there any apps that are better on android than apple?

 

[convergent]

which apps were the bad ones? Was there any apps that are better on android than apple?

I've not run into any apps that were functionally lacking per se. Things I have noticed:

• Some banking apps that had finger print security on iOS don't on Android, but some do. Not sure why.
• I use 1Password for storing IDs/passwords and it works pretty well in Safari, but its a bit awkward and not as good in Android. I've not had a chance to go looking at alternatives. 1Password started as Apple only, and all the non Apple pieces are not as good.
  
• iMessage - if you are living in a blue bubble world, its not quite as cool to have a green bubble. But even with group messages, I've survived without anyone screaming at me thus far!

 

[Fernandez21]

If it's the apps that are keeping you away, I will say that I have noticed that apps work better on stock Android. On both my pixel and essential, the app experience was better than I've had on my Galaxy devices.

Design and feature wise, it depends on the app. Some are better on iOS, but others are better on Android.

 

[AustinIllini]

So don't buy an X and get a used or midrange Android phone, find the apps you need and used it. If it doesn't work for you sell the phone and you're only out a few dollars.

I can't believe it, but Google is still selling the last gen Pixel. That's worth a shot.

 

[JackieInCo]

If it's the apps that are keeping you away, I will say that I have noticed that apps work better on stock Android. On both my pixel and essential, the app experience was better than I've had on my Galaxy devices.

Design and feature wise, it depends on the app. Some are better on iOS, but others are better on Android.

I honestly think the Android versions of the same app that I used on iOS are much better on Android these days. The quality is amazing and many times, the Android versions can do much more because there is no Apple telling them what they can and can't do.

 

[Puddled]

I've not run into any apps that were functionally lacking per se. Things I have noticed:

• Some banking apps that had finger print security on iOS don't on Android, but some do. Not sure why.
• I use 1Password for storing IDs/passwords and it works pretty well in Safari, but its a bit awkward and not as good in Android. I've not had a chance to go looking at alternatives. 1Password started as Apple only, and all the non Apple pieces are not as good.
  
• iMessage - if you are living in a blue bubble world, its not quite as cool to have a green bubble. But even with group messages, I've survived without anyone screaming at me thus far!

I think, perhaps that you may be still stuck in ios mode.

Google has smartpass for web passwords and samsung has the pass app for using the FP. Both work fine. Samsung pass is fantastic.

With regards to apps working better on IOS, i think that is very much old news now and android is perhaps a victim of its own openess and flexability.

 

[convergent]

I think, perhaps that you may be still stuck in ios mode.

Google has smartpass for web passwords and samsung has the pass app for using the FP. Both work fine. Samsung pass is fantastic.

With regards to apps working better on IOS, i think that is very much old news now and android is perhaps a victim of its own openess and flexability.

For passwords, I want something that works cross platform - Windows, Mac, Android, iOS - and cross browser - Firefox, IE , Safari, Chrome, Edge, and that is secure and syncs between the systems.

 

[tbayrgs]

For passwords, I want something that works cross platform - Windows, Mac, Android, iOS - and cross browser - Firefox, IE , Safari, Chrome, Edge, and that is secure and syncs between the systems.

I’m right there with you regarding 1Password—my preferred password manager as well. It certainly isn’t as seamless when browsing the web on Android but it’s getting better with the new sharing feature added to Oreo. Where it actually surpasses iOS is with the auto fill and/or 1Password keyboard that allows better use with other apps. On iOS far too few apps take advantage of having their app directly link to 1Password or LastPass so filling passwords subsequently requires manually switching between the app and 1Password to fill both fields. I do prefer its integration with Safari though...much easier to fill and save new passwords.

 

[convergent]

I’m right there with you regarding 1Password—my preferred password manager as well. It certainly isn’t as seamless when browsing the web on Android but it’s getting better with the new sharing feature added to Oreo. Where it actually surpasses iOS is with the auto fill and/or 1Password keyboard that allows better use with other apps. On iOS far too few apps take advantage of having their app directly link to 1Password or LastPass so filling passwords subsequently requires manually switching between the app and 1Password to fill both fields. I do prefer its integration with Safari though...much easier to fill and save new passwords.

What are you using as a browser in Android? Every time I try to fill a password in Firefox, it takes me into 1Password and is looking for a password to Firefox.com instead of the site I'm on.

 

[lowendlinux]

I can't believe it, but Google is still selling the last gen Pixel. That's worth a shot.

Yes they are and on the used market they're reasonably inexpensive

 

[zone23]

which apps were the bad ones? Was there any apps that are better on android than apple?

I don't like AccuWeather on Android.
[doublepost=1508242348][/doublepost]

For passwords, I want something that works cross platform - Windows, Mac, Android, iOS - and cross browser - Firefox, IE , Safari, Chrome, Edge, and that is secure and syncs between the systems.

LastPass works pretty good.

 

[Knowimagination]

which apps were the bad ones? Was there any apps that are better on android than apple?

For me generally design wise there weren't any apps that I remember being better on android. Usability wise I think a lot of what I didn't like happens because of the onscreen buttons (back, home, multitask) because of these persistent elements a lot of apps that have the useful buttons located on the bottom of the display in iOS have to move them to the top of the display on android. Basically all of the social media apps do this and it is just a worse design, it means that buttons that I interact with most like my social media feed stuff, email archiving and deleting etc. requires a far greater reach on android than on iOS.

Also as much as people praise the dedicated back button I find it's implementation to be really poor. I understand some of the decisions made with it, but for instance if I check an email from my notification center it pulls me into that specific email which is great. If I want to go to my inbox however it would make sense that I would click the back button to do that, but this would take me back to my home screen or previous app on android. For me the implementation of swipe to go back on iOS is much more consistent and just seems to make more sense in how it works.

 

[convergent]

For me generally design wise there weren't any apps that I remember being better on android. Usability wise I think a lot of what I didn't like happens because of the onscreen buttons (back, home, multitask) because of these persistent elements a lot of apps that have the useful buttons located on the bottom of the display in iOS have to move them to the top of the display on android. Basically all of the social media apps do this and it is just a worse design, it means that buttons that I interact with most like my social media feed stuff, email archiving and deleting etc. requires a far greater reach on android than on iOS.

Also as much as people praise the dedicated back button I find it's implementation to be really poor. I understand some of the decisions made with it, but for instance if I check an email from my notification center it pulls me into that specific email which is great. If I want to go to my inbox however it would make sense that I would click the back button to do that, but this would take me back to my home screen or previous app on android. For me the implementation of swipe to go back on iOS is much more consistent and just seems to make more sense in how it works.

Not sure what the issue is. If you want to go back to your notifications, you can just swipe down from the top of the screen. If you want to go "back" as in back to a prior screen in an app, then you hit the back button. Its always in the same place. I think with any environment, you just need to get used to the way it works.

 

[Knowimagination]

Not sure what the issue is. If you want to go back to your notifications, you can just swipe down from the top of the screen. If you want to go "back" as in back to a prior screen in an app, then you hit the back button. Its always in the same place. I think with any environment, you just need to get used to the way it works.

What I am saying is that if I click the email app and open it, then I click an email read it and want to go back to my inbox the back button works in a logical way, it takes me back to my inbox.

If however I click a notification that takes me directly to an email and then want to go back to the inbox the back button does not achieve this. This inconsistency is one of the things that bothers me about android. I understand that it could be considered a personal preference thing and I am fine with that, but my preference is for a consistency in the back action which iOS achieves really well with a swipe and android handles inconsistently in my opinion.