Both Google and Apple come up with new features and specifications every year. This year, Android celebrates its 15th anniversary. There is no doubt that the competition between Android and Apple has led both companies to become the most innovative smartphone companies in the tech world. While iPhone models are released in a limited amount, Android smartphones are available from different manufacturers, some better than others.
For you to make the logical choice between the iPhone and Android, you have to know all the technical specs and assess your basic needs for a smartphone. This article covers all the differences between iPhone and Android and will explore 14 aspects of the smartphone experience to see who wins.
iPhone vs. Android: Which is better?
While both iPhone and Android offer impressive features, differences between the two platforms can make one more suitable than the other in certain aspects. Choosing between them without knowing these differences is like buying without being aware of the unique features and functionalities offered by both iPhone and Android before making a choice. Let’s start with the differences between both iPhone and Android.
1- Display
The iPhone display has so many aspects – some are best in class, and some are weirdly below average. Let’s start with the screen-to-body ratio, which is decent but at the same has the most prominent notch that you’ll ever see. We can also say it as it is the only phone in the market right now with a notch. The latest Apple iPhone has the smoothest 120 Hertz display.
Because of the responsiveness and the touch sample refresh rate, it’s very close to what the latest Android releases, such as the Samsung Galaxy S23, has to offer. The iPhone still beats the Android in terms of brightness and brightness.
But if you talk about the overall screen experience, the latest Android smartphone screens feel like a different class. This is because when you are in a bright environment, such as the sun is beaming down on your phone, Android is so bright that it feels like a bright screen, not just a visible screen.
The recent Android release has up to 1080 x 2340 pixels of resolution and a pixel density of around 425 pixels per inch, giving you a visually crisp and clear experience. This means sharper text, vibrant images, and an overall enhanced viewing pleasure, especially for tasks like reading, watching videos, or engaging with high-quality photos.
The recent iPhone release is ahead in the game as it has a resolution of 1179 x 2556 pixels, contributing to a higher-quality visual experience. This resolution is particularly beneficial for tasks that demand precision and detail, such as image and video editing. Additionally, it contributes to a more immersive experience in activities like gaming and supports the device’s overall aesthetic appeal. Assessing all that, both iPhone and Android give a touch of competition, and neither is less competitive than the other. So it’s a tie!
2- Operating Systems
Android phones run on Google’s Android system, while iPhones use Apple’s iOS. They both pretty much do the same things, like having a home screen with your favorite apps for games, calls, pictures, and texts. They use touchscreens; some have extra stuff like accelerometers or gyroscopes for more features.
Apple updates iOS every fall, with more updates during the year. Android used to update less often, but now it’s more regular. Some Android phones, like those from Samsung, have a slightly different version of the system. However, some Android phone makers are slow to update their phones or might not update them. While older phones will eventually miss out on the newest updates, Apple tends to support older phones better than Android, especially since different companies make Android phones.
3- Performance
If you run a Geekbench multi-core benchmark between iPhone and Android, the iPhone scores higher and draws less power. Even if you are a gamer, you not only get games earlier on iPhone than on Android, but these games tend to run smoother compared to those on Android. Regarding performance, the iPhone is a clear winner when you look for specs like smooth feel, frame per second (FPS), and overall power efficiency.
One specification that saves the Android’s grace is that they come with a lot more RAM. The latest iPhone 15 has 6 GB RAM, while that latest Android releases have 8 GB and above RAM. Three gigs of RAM on an iPhone fees like eight gigs of RAM on an iPhone because they fill up the memory and could be more efficient. So, on an Android, you can multitask more not only because of the greater RAM but also because there are features that let you do more.
4- Hardware
The main difference between iPhones and Androids is in the hardware, which is the physical stuff that makes up the phone. Only Apple makes iPhones, so they control how everything works together. On the other hand, many companies make Android phones, like Samsung and HTC so that they can vary greatly in size, weight, features, and quality.
The expensive Android phones are as good as iPhones, but a cheaper Android is enough for you if you’re okay with fewer features. If you’re getting an iPhone, you have to choose which model you want. With Android, you have to pick a brand and a specific model. Some like having more choices with Android, but others prefer the simpler options and higher quality of Apple.
5- Battery
Apple typically designs its iPhones to have good energy efficiency, and iOS is optimized to work seamlessly with the hardware, which can contribute to efficient battery use. However, Android manufacturers also implement various optimizations, and some Android devices come with large battery capacities to compensate for potential differences in power consumption.
The Android battery generally outlasts and performs better than the iPhone’s because iPhones often experience decreased battery health over time. Unlike iPhones, Androids lack specific indications for battery health or a set timeframe for replacement. Both Android and iPhones offer replaceable batteries, providing a solution to address battery issues.
In a recent case study, we found that the iPhone battery lasted about 9 hours and 30 minutes, while that of the Android, particularly the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate, lasted about 12 hours and 18 minutes. Moreover, most Android phones have more battery capacity than iPhone models. For example, the latest iPhone 15 has a maximum battery capacity of 4,422mAh, while the latest Android phone has a maximum battery capacity of 6,000mAh.
6- Charging
There is another side to the battery, which is charging. If we test and charge an Android and an iPhone side by side with the original charging bricks and cables, the first thing one can notice is that the latest fastest Android cables can give up to 65 watts of power while that of iPhone 15 can give up to 29 watts of power.
In the beginning, the iPhone shows faster charging speed, which is strange because the wattage only tells you the maximum charging power the phone can reach, not the power it can sustain. So, as the Android phone keeps charging, it quickly equalizes and even slightly overtakes after just 10 minutes. The final time for the complete charge of one of the fastest Android phones is about one hour and seven minutes, while that of the latest iPhone is one hour and fifty-five minutes.
7- Audio
Undoubtedly, the speaker quality of the newest iPhone is super impressive, making its name one of the best-sounding phones on the market with a powerful combination of the bottom-firing speaker and its vehicle speaker on the front. But the newest Android releases have also given tough competition to the Apple iPhone with their robust audio quality.
iOS excels in supporting near-real-time audio output, a feature that Android lacks. Apple has a robust track record of collaboration with the music and audio industries, consistently providing APIs and hardware support for high-quality audio, making it a cornerstone of their platform. But the newest Android phone, such as the Rog Phone 7 Ultimate, takes speaker quality up by incorporating an additional third subwoofer dedicated to delivering powerful bass. This enhances the audio experience, especially for deep, low-frequency sounds.
8- Camera
For most people, the camera is one of the main reasons they buy iPhones. iPhones usually come with superior lenses and higher-resolution sensors than Android phones, resulting in sharper photos with more accurate colors. iPhones also tend to have better digital zoom capabilities.
On the other hand, Android phones boast more extensive native camera apps with numerous features. If you enjoy having various camera options, Android might be the better fit. However, the iPhone is a solid choice if you prefer a phone that provides a smooth overall experience while still capturing excellent photos. Focusing on what suits your needs is essential rather than sticking solely to a brand preference.
Still, the iPhone wins in the camera department. The Android has more natural background blur when you are taking selfies and is just as sharp in 98% of the situations. It is extremely good at those difficult dynamic range situations, arguably better than the iPhone. Not to mention that it has the power to shoot complete 4K slow motion, which is far beyond the 1080p that Apple can do.
But what put Apple ahead is its intelligence. It’s how it identifies and treats faces so that they are the center of attention and uses all of its sensors to focus on subjects instantly, even for finicky, difficult objects that most phones would struggle with. The video requires far more advanced processing to be able to pull off well than a simple photo, and this is where the years that Apple has spent refining its cameras really pays off.
9- Apps
The Apple App Store has fewer apps than Google Play, but there are more important things. Apple is strict about which apps it allows, making it less likely for you to download harmful stuff. Apple also checks that everything in their store works with their devices.
On the other hand, Google lets in more apps for Android, which means more choices, but it also means there’s a higher risk of downloading something bad. Plus, with Android, you can get apps from places other than the main store, giving you more options and uncertainty about whether the app will work well on your phone.
10- WIFI
One of the interesting experiments that can give another aspect as to which is better, iPhone or Android, is testing the WIFI speeds. This is because most of the user’s activities are internet related. Recent tests, surveys, and studies show that Android phones offer faster internet speeds than iPhones.
The median load times are generally quick, especially when tested over a fast WiFi connection with minimal network activity. In the study, Android outperformed the iPhone in 84% of the tested websites, while iPhone surpassed Android in 16% of the cases. It’s worth noting that these results are based on specific conditions, and actual performance may vary depending on factors like network conditions and usage scenarios.
11- Default Platform Assistant
The future of smartphones is going to be all about artificial intelligence (AI) and talking to your phone. Android is ahead in this area. Google Assistant, the smart helper on Android phones, is really powerful. It uses all the information Google knows about you to make things easier, like telling you to leave early for a meeting if there’s bad traffic. Siri is Apple’s version of Google Assistant. It’s getting better, but it still needs to be more smart. If you don’t like Siri on iPhone, you can use Google Assistant, but Android users can’t use Siri unless they have an Apple device.
12- Games
The games on iPhone are more optimized on average than games on Android. Casual gamers who stick to popular cross-platform titles often find the iPhone delivers an excellent gaming experience. However, Android, especially with devices like the Galaxy S23 Ultra, offers more customization options, supports mods, enables emulation, and facilitates cloud gaming.
Additionally, the broader range of Android devices gives gamers more choices at various price points. The preference for Android in gaming stems from its compatibility with diverse hardware, allowing games to run with higher frames per second (FPS) and better graphics. Yet, this versatility can be a double-edged sword, as a game may look fantastic on one Android device but run too slowly on another, depending on its specifications.
The study found that iPhone users encounter smoother gaming experiences with fewer operating system problems than Android users. In essence, gaming on iPhones is more seamless and less prone to issues related to the device’s operating system.
13- Security
In terms of security, the iPhone is a more secure smartphone than Android. Here’s why: Apple makes sure that your messages are super safe by using something called “end-to-end encryption.” It’s like sending a secret message only the sender and receiver can understand.
Android also protects your info while it’s moving, but it might be less safe when it stops at places like Google servers. Apple also watches out for bad stuff you might download. They control where you get iPhone apps, making it harder for harmful software (called malware) to sneak in. Android is more open, which can sometimes be a problem for security. But remember, no phone is entirely safe – iPhone is just less likely to be targeted than Android.
14- Serviceability
Apple focuses on making the iPhone look and feel elegant and simple. This is why users can’t easily add more storage or change the battery on their own. If you need a new battery, you usually have to go to someone trained to do it. On the other hand, many Android phones allow users to change the battery and add more storage. The trade-off is that Android phones might seem a bit more complicated, but it could be worth it to avoid running out of storage or having to pay a lot for a new battery.
Conclusion
The choice between iPhone and Android ultimately depends on individual preferences and priorities. While iPhones offer a seamless and secure experience, superior camera quality, and optimized gaming, Android provides greater customization options, diverse hardware choices, and faster internet speeds in certain conditions.
Both platforms continually evolve, with each having its strengths and weaknesses. Whether it’s the intuitive iOS or the versatile Android system, you should consider your specific needs, such as display preferences, performance demands, and desired features, to make an informed decision in the ever-evolving landscape of smartphone technology.