When it comes to finding your next smartphone, there are a lot of things to take into account. Three of the most important, though, are how secure the platform is, the availability of the ecosystem you’re buying into, and how long you can expect the device to be supported. According to experts, these three concerns could be the driving force behind an upcoming surge of Android users switching to the iPhone. “It’s easy to see why people like me prefer the Apple platform over the Android platform. It’s because Apple’s software complements its hardware so well,” Andrey Bogdanov, who has 14 years of experience managing and consulting within the tech industry, told Lifewire in an email. “I love how well all Apple products work across all devices and how well the Apple ecosystem is integrated.”
Less is More
While the connected ecosystem is a nice touch for Apple devices, it isn’t the only company to offer such a thing. In fact, Samsung and Google both offer similar systems on their Android phones, though there are other driving factors that make Apple’s feel more connected. “The first big issue with Android phones is the fact that the system has to be optimized for thousands of different device brands,” Alina Clark, co-founder and marketing director of CocoDoc, told Lifewire in an email. On the other hand, Apple only has to optimize its operating system to work with a smaller pool of devices, each of which shares similarities when it comes to internal structure and how it runs software.
The Big Privacy Push
Of course, Apple could offer the best device available, but if you don’t have the security users are looking for, then they’ll most likely take their data elsewhere. Clark says this is another point of contention for Android owners. While Google has been taking steps, the amount of user privacy Apple provides in iOS over Android has been a talking point, especially since the release of iOS 14. Apple has even more plans to make the upcoming update, iOS 14.5, even more of a push for user privacy by limiting how ads track user data, and by letting users know when apps are using their microphone or camera. Some of these changes are already in place, with more set to arrive when iOS 14.5 releases to the public. These are changes Google also is implementing on Android, though they’re not yet as established as those available in the iPhone.
Always Up to Date
The final reason experts say Android users could be looking to make the switch is device longevity. As Android and iOS continue to evolve, new updates will become available. For Android users, though, getting the latest updates can be troublesome, with flagship devices often being cut out of big OS updates a few years after their release. In fact, Samsung didn’t deliver the last major update, Android 11, to devices older than its Galaxy S10 lineup, meaning those older devices will miss out on Android 12, as well. And even if an update is slated to arrive on an Android device, it often takes months for the operating systems to be bogged down with first-party apps and bloatware before the update is finally available. By comparison, when iOS 14.5 arrives sometime this year, users who own an iPhone 6S or newer will be able to download the update and take advantage of its privacy features. iPhones also release without any of the bloatware often seen on Androids, which can include apps like Facebook, carrier-based apps like Verizon’s Messages+, and more. iPhones launch with first-party apps like Notes and Maps, but they can easily be hidden, removed, or even restricted in different ways. “iPhone releases updates quite frequently, then applies them simultaneously across all compatible devices. While those using older iPhones can access iOS, those using Android devices have to get a new device in order to use Android 11,” Clark said.
