Moving from iOS to Android (my experience)

MrRockliffe

MrRockliffe

MrRockliffe

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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
 
MrRockliffe said:
but android has so much more control over how they’re delivered, when they’re delivered, and generally better handling of them.
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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.
 
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Kanpai said:
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.
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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.
 
MrRockliffe said:
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.
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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.
 
Kanpai said:
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.
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Ah I see

Yes that was always an annoyance for me on the android devices I’ve had in the past.
 
For the notifications delay, unfortunately it can get even messier depending on which variant of Android you go for (eg Samsung's OneUI, OnePlus's OxygenOS, etc.): https://dontkillmyapp.com

Then in general for some weird reason Gmail + Doze/adaptive battery delays it even further. I found other email apps to work completely fine, although you do lose the push sync if you use gmail since it forces you to use IMAP/POP3 for other apps... although to be fair with a low enough sync time, it seems more consistent than the Gmail app.

For handoff/continuity, if you're using the Google Messages app, you can access your texts using this site. If you're using a Windows PC, there's a link to Windows app which can also sync texts, calls, and photos over. If you have a Samsung phone, OneUI has tighter integration that syncs the clipboard (copy/paste) and even allows you to mirror the phone screen to the PC. Don't think I've seen any equivalent for Macs however.

WiFi calling heavily depends on your network. Some networks prioritises your mobile signal first, even if it's weak (3 I believe does this? Haven't tried them in years). Other networks can be the other way round, I'm currently with EE and it always uses WiFi calling first. An alternative is WhatsApp calling for example but that will rely on the other person needing WhatsApp as well.

Battery life in recent Android phones have been quite consistent, so you should see it being similar to iPhones, depending on which phone you pick.
 
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You’ll find bugs which ever OS you land on. Sounds like you are having a bad time with the 15 PM and if that went away you wouldn’t be looking at Android. Personally I wouldn’t run an iPad and MacBook with an Android.
 
LiE said:
You’ll find bugs which ever OS you land on. Sounds like you are having a bad time with the 15 PM and if that went away you wouldn’t be looking at Android. Personally I wouldn’t run an iPad and MacBook with an Android.
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The problem is that I’ve been having the issues for over a year, and haven’t been able to resolve them.

Some issues I’ve been having for 2 years.


The keyboard has been rubbish since my first iPhone :P




I’ve got the S25 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro XL.



First impressions are:

P9P XL is much more ergonomic of the two, but it’s quite heavy. Squared edges of the S25 Ultra make it really difficult to use one handed


Fingerprint sensors are just better. FaceID has gotten good, but they’re still compromised.


Display on S25 Ultra is nuts with the low reflectivity. It’s such a step up from the iPhone and Pixel.


S25 Ultra is the most Apple like. They way in which it works is very familiar coming from an iPhone. Small things like the quick settings.


Pixel feels more fluid over S25.


I’d forgotten how much crap is included on Samsungs by default.
 
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MrRockliffe said:
I’d forgotten how much crap is included on Samsungs by default.
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This was a deal breaker for me. Pixel would be my pick. The regular 9 because it’s lighter, doesn’t have gloss side rails and I rarely zoom.
 
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Best thing to do is try it for yourself.

Returns are usually easy ... and there's no replacement for first hand experience vs taking someone else's word for it.
 
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Finding the fit and finish on the S25 Ultra a bit poor.


Example 1: “Samsung” lettering is fuzzy on the back, and on further inspection seems to be misaligned.

Example 2: because the corners are now curved slightly compared to last year, the S Pen sticks out slightly on one side - they haven’t added a curve to it.

Example 3: USB C port seems a little loose and cables a bit more wiggly than I’d like. Same cable in the pixel is rock solid.




Doesn’t feel like a £1200 phone. Then again nor does the iPhone at the moment - I’ve had two units where the frame has separated at the antenna line.




The Pixel is by far the better built device, but I cannot get over how good the display is on the S25! The super low reflectivity, without making blacks look grey, is stunning.
 
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Does the anti reflective coating not wear off over time and make a mess of the screen? I know this can happen on oleophobic coatings.
 
LiE said:
Does the anti reflective coating not wear off over time and make a mess of the screen? I know this can happen on oleophobic coatings.
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My understanding is that it’s a characteristic of the glass itself, not a coating.



Pixel battery life seems a bit pants. I fully charged it last night, no sim in. Haven’t really been using it but just picked it up and its on 80%.


Apparently Google Photos has been doing something in the background and munched on the power for some reason. Haven’t missed this aspect of Android.
 
MrRockliffe said:
I fully charged it last night, no sim in. Haven’t really been using it but just picked it up and its on 80%.
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Is this bad? Surely, no SIM won't make much difference if you're on WiFi? Apps, processor and screen are still going as normal. So, we're talking about 1% per hour? Surely that's not a concern? (Genuinely asking, I don't often have a phone with no SIM and of course, not sure what your usage actually is in this case)
 
AndyCr15 said:
Is this bad? Surely, no SIM won't make much difference if you're on WiFi? Apps, processor and screen are still going as normal. So, we're talking about 1% per hour? Surely that's not a concern? (Genuinely asking, I don't often have a phone with no SIM and of course, not sure what your usage actually is in this case)
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No sim means the modem shouldn’t be working. I’ve got poor/no signal where I am so the modem usually works overtime to try and retain some signal.


Came off charge at 11pm so by 4pm it was on 80%.



I’m not even logged into all my apps yet, just the google services.


By comparison, iPhone 15 Pro Max charged last night too to 80% this morning. Been using it all day including music for gym and it’s on 65% right now.


Pixel has had 5 minutes of screen on time in that time.


Haven’t charged the Samsung since I got it yesterday morning, and it’s on 47%, and I’ve been using it a lot more (over an hour of screen on time).
 
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