Moving from iOS to Android (my experience)

[MrRockliffe]

Hi all

Bit of backstory.


Been an android user since my first proper smart phone, which was an HTC Desire HD. Went through many different phones, but the turning point for me was Pixel 2 XL.



I’d been trying to find an android phone which has clean software, and great cameras. On paper, the Pixel should have been perfect, but I had many software and hardware issues with it. So I switched to the iPhone XS Max.


Other than a brief flirt with the OnePlus 7T, I haven’t been using an android device as my primary phone since. I’ve been using them for work, but I don’t have the same usage requirements and so isn’t representative of how I use my phone.




This last 3 months have been the worst I’ve had in a while for iOS. Perpetual bugs and issues I can’t resolve, even after resets and starting from new. In addition, I’ve had some poor quality issues with the 15 Pro Max, and I’m currently on my third one. It also has issues, and I’ve been in contact with apple since October trying to resolve them (with no luck - this time they’re being extremely difficult and not willing to replace the device without find the exact cause first, also winding me up as they usually do an express replacement as an AppleCare+ buyer).


This got me thinking of trying Android again. I had a Pixel 8 for work, and it was great. Really nice device.



Which device I’ve ordered


I wasn’t sure which device to go for, so I’ve ordered an 25 Ultra and a Pixel 9 Pro XL.



What I’m looking forward to


Keyboard 100%. I’ve always just about tolerated it. After the promises of the iOS 18 improvements, I was hopeful, but it feels every bit as annoying and stupid as before. If you’ve never used the keyboard on android, you’re missing out.

Notifications. They’re fine on iOS, but android has so much more control over how they’re delivered, when they’re delivered, and generally better handling of them.

3rd party app integration. iOS has always been pretty poor at letting you use alternative options for apps, especially for setting default apps. Will be nice to backup everything to an app of choice.

Camera. It’s fine on iOS, but Pixel shots still look killer when I compared back to back.



What I’m going to miss


Handoff/continuity. It’s a feature I use a lot - cutting and pasting between devices is so helpful, as someone who has an iPad and had a MacBook. This could be the one thing which keeps me on iPhone. Or receiving texts / OTPs on other devices.

FaceTime. I use it frequently for phone calls, which sounds weird but phone signal at home is non existent, and for some reason WiFi calling hasn’t ever worked properly for me. It makes the audio quality poor. So I use FaceTime for making audio calls quite a lot.

App APIs. Apple get their new features working within other 3rd party apps so well. In my past experience with Android, it wasn’t great. Things like the fingerprint sensors not being usable within banking apps, or any apps, as an example.

App refinement. iOS apps are typically better optimised than Android equivalents. Same kinda situation as Xbox/Playstation and PC.

Video quality. Camera is say, 8/10 but video quality is nuts on iPhone.

Battery life. It’s why I stayed with iPhone for all this time. Consistently all day battery life.






If anyone has any suggestions to get around the potential challenges, I’d massively appreciate it. Continuity features would be most helpful.



I’ll update my findings

 

[Kanpai]

but android has so much more control over how they’re delivered, when they’re delivered, and generally better handling of them.

I think you are going to be a bit let down here with delayed notifications but as someone who has switched back and forth between iOS and Android I'd say keep an open mind with Android and try not to think or wish certain things would be done the iOS way or so.

In terms of handoff/continuity if you keep the S25 and then later add more products in the line i.e. tablet/headphones etc you'll be pleasantly surprised I think - Samsung have done a good job at this.

 

[MrRockliffe]

I think you are going to be a bit let down here with delayed notifications but as someone who has switched back and forth between iOS and Android I'd say keep an open mind with Android and try not to think or wish certain things would be done the iOS way or so.

In terms of handoff/continuity if you keep the S25 and then later add more products in the line i.e. tablet/headphones etc you'll be pleasantly surprised I think - Samsung have done a good job at this.

I don’t think I explained it well, but I think Android does it better. It has always been a bugbear of mine how poor it’s handled on iOS.

 

[Kanpai]

I don’t think I explained it well, but I think Android does it better. It has always been a bugbear of mine how poor it’s handled on iOS.

I'm talking about actual delivery of notifications on time, you'll have delays once doze kicks in. I agree the actual sorting and arranging of them are better on Android.

For example, if I receive an email I'll get the notification instantly on iOS whereas on Android once doze kicks in that email will stop arriving on time. It's not just notifications from emails but applies to many other apps.