If you are looking for a smartphone in 2024, you might be wondering which operating system is the best: Android vs. iOS. It seems as if there is no end to the debate between iPhone and Android about which device is the best.
Both operating systems have their own key features, pros and cons, and the decision ultimately depends on your personal preferences. Even though there may never be a clear winner, still comparing the key features they bring to the table is essential.
The newly released iOS 17 and Android 14 operating systems both have unique features that make them stand out. When it comes to design Android offers a wide range of features for users of different tastes, while iOS never fails to captivate its users with sleek designs.
In terms of performance, the iPhone ensures smooth operation with its optimized software and powerful hardware. Whereas Android devices allow for third-party app compatibility and greater customization.
So it will be a long debate topic but choosing a phone is an important decision. That’s why we wil be helping you choose the right one for you by comparing Android vs. iOS in detail.
Let’s get started!
Both iOS 17 and Android 14 are bringing noteworthy features to the table in 2024. Despite their differences, these operating systems will continue to evolve. Whether you are an Android enthusiast or an iPhone lover, there is something for everyone. The recent updates promise to redefine user experience as they bring in new features like enhanced contact information and inline video messaging.
Further, we will be comparing each of the key features one by one. Let’s have a look at them:
Both iOS and Android use touch interfaces that rely heavily on swipes, taps, pinches, and zooms. A home screen appears when the operating systems are booted up, similar to the desktop of a computer.
On iOS and Android, a status bar displays information like the time, WiFi or cell signal, and battery life. On Android, it also displays how many emails, messages, and reminders have been received.
Apple’s iOS home screen consists only of rows of app icons, whereas Android uses widgets to display auto-updating information such as weather and emails. Apps that are frequently used can be pinned to the dock in iOS’s user interface.
Here’s a comparison of some of the features of iOS 17 and Android 14.
Android 14 highlights include:
iOS 17 highlights include:
You get a lot of stock apps when you first power up your phone from Apple or Google. Among the apps you’ll find are ones for email, web browsing, audio playing, video playing, photo viewing and editing, and editing documents, and spreadsheets.
You can not uninstall apps in both systems even if you want but you can replace stock apps with third-party options.
Android lacks a task or to-do app, unlike iOS’s Reminders app, which is slick as can be. However, Google gets credit because Keep is offered as an extra download at the initial setup and does a good job managing to-do lists.
Messages on Android have been overhauled to Rich Communication Services (RCS), which provides more privacy features, such as end-to-end encryption. It’s brilliant that you can pair it with your web browser using a QR code. However, iPhone users who wish to send messages from their laptop or desktop computer must remain entirely within the Apple ecosystem.
It’s worth mentioning messaging apps since they’re a popular smartphone activity. Apple’s Memoji, Animoji, payments, games, and the entire iMessage app store give it the edge over Android here. FaceTime allows you to convert a messaging session into a video call or voice call.
iOS has added many updates to the messaging app this year. The new iOS 17 introduces a new sticker experience with new emoji stickers and the ability to create Live Stickers by lifting subjects from photos. Live Stickers can also be enhanced with effects, and a new drawer in the keyboard organizes all of a user’s stickers for easier access.
Some other Message features that iOS has updated:
Messages also integrate Check In, an important feature for letting family or friends know that a user has reached their destination safely. A user’s friend or family member will be notified as soon as the user arrives after initiating a Check In.
Their location, battery level, and cell service status are temporarily shared with the selected contact if they are not making progress toward their destination. End-to-end encryption is used for all shared information.
Mapping is another important app included with any mobile operating system. Apple has significantly cut Google’s lead over the last few years with the addition of multi-stop routing and transit cards to its map service. integration with the Wallet app.
The Google search engine is still more thorough and up-to-date with local information, and it offers full Street View. There are also directions for driving, walking, and public transportation in addition to biking directions.
With Apple’s addition of cycling navigation across all 50 states, it is keeping up with the competition. With iOS 17, users can now download offline maps and access turn-by-turn navigation, see their estimated arrival time, find places, and more while offline. Using Maps, you can discover thousands of trails in parks across the country and learn where charging stations are located in real-time.
Although both iPhone and iPad offer excellent health-monitoring, news, and podcast apps, the iPhone excels in video editing with iMovie and music creation with GarageBand.
iOS 17 also introduced a new app called Journal. It enables iPhone users to reflect and practice gratitude through journaling, a practice that has been shown to improve wellbeing. Personalized suggestions can be provided to inspire a user’s journal entry using machine learning on the device.
With intelligent suggestions based on recent activity, such as photos, people, places, workouts, and more, it’s easy to start a journal entry, and scheduled notifications encourage regular journaling. It is built to protect a user’s privacy by using on-device processing, end-to-end encryption, and the ability to lock the app.
Source: Apple
It is not possible for Apple to access a user’s entries through Journal. App developers will be able to add journaling suggestions with the new Journaling Suggestions API.
In iOS, Siri is a voice-based virtual assistant that understands both dictation and spoken commands. Aside from reading sports scores and standings, Siri can also book reservations at restaurants and find movie times. It is also possible for you to dictate text messages and emails, schedule calendar events, and use navigation and audio in your car.
Recent update: Once activated, Siri can be accessed by simply saying “Siri.” Users can issue multiple commands in succession without reactivating the assistant.
Google Assistant does the same thing as Siri, plus it can keep track of your calendar and give verbal reminders when it’s time to leave. Dictation and voice search are both supported
We often find that Siri doesn’t take action when you ask for it or give an unhelpful answer. You can use her to call someone, but you’ll see web search results instead of app results when you want to open an app.
With every iOS release, Apple claims that its assistant improves, but we’ll just have to wait to see if that’s the case. Despite its lack of personality, Google Assistant demonstrates more intelligence. Voice options offered by Siri are more pleasant than those offered by Assistant.
There are shortcuts and automation available in Siri. Automations launch actions based on triggers such as your location or the weather, while shortcuts are multi-step action recipes.
Google Assistant can perform more than one million tasks, such as ordering a skinny latte from Starbucks or playing a particular show on Netflix. With both assistants, you can access rich smart home ecosystems through Google Home on Android and Siri on Apple HomeKit.
So whichever you have, you’ll be able to adjust the heat, raise the shades, or open the garage door – as long as you’ve got smart appliances. In addition to supporting Google Assistant with Chromecast, the company has released a new model with a Google TV interface based on Android TV.
It’s no secret that Google phones have long been one of the most effective ways to block spam calls. Using Google Assistant’s Call Screen, you can send callers to an automated query before they reach you, forcing them to give the Assistant the reason for their inquiry. When deciding whether or not to accept a call, a transcript can be helpful.
Source: Apple
Despite Apple’s lack of power compared to Google, this new solution should make iPhone users’ lives easier. With its new Live Voicemail feature, you can see a live transcript of what someone is saying, allowing you to decide whether to pick up.
It may take some time before the feature gains traction and is widely available like Google’s local solution.
Applications on Android are isolated from the rest of the system’s resources unless the user explicitly grants them access. Developer confusion leads to many apps asking for unnecessary permissions, which makes the system less vulnerable to bugs.
Android malware commonly sends texts to premium rate numbers without the user’s knowledge and sends personal information to unauthorized third parties. Attackers are more likely to target it because it is the more popular smartphone operating system.
Since Apple reviews all apps and verifies the identity of app publishers, malware writers are less likely to write apps for iOS. A jailbroken iOS device can be vulnerable to malware and attacks if it is installed with apps from outside Apple’s store. Phones can also crash when playing a specific video, which is a type of software bug that has affected both iOS and Android devices.
Software updates are the only thing that can improve the security of a device in the real world. Due to Android’s fragmented ecosystem, iOS shines here. Whenever Apple releases a software update, it makes it available to all iOS devices at the same time.
For Nexus devices running Android, Google releases software updates and security patches. Since other manufacturers must apply these security updates to their own devices “in the wild”, their products lag behind. It is a problem faced by virtually all manufacturers. Patches are rarely released for devices older than 12-18 months. Occasionally, Nexus devices receive security updates months after the updates are released.
As part of iOS’s recent privacy update, communication safety has been expanded beyond Messages to help keep kids safe when sending and receiving content via AirDrop, Contact Posters, FaceTime, and Photos Picker. Video content is also included in addition to still images. Adult users can now avoid seeing unwanted nude images and videos thanks to Sensitive Content Warning. The content for Sensitive Content Warning is processed on the device, as with Communication Safety.
Source: Apple
There are a lot of privacy and security features in Android 14. We’ ve listed all the major changes, some of which are likely to spark controversy.
The Android Settings app gives you the option of disabling animations when you enter your PIN. In this way, “shoulder surfers” will have a harder time memorizing your PIN. A small change like this could make a huge difference in the ability of someone to access your phone. Current settings for this feature are “off.”.
In addition, Android 14 eliminates the need to hit the “OK” button after entering your PIN. You can simply enter the number, and your phone will unlock. You must have a six-digit PIN or greater in order to use this feature. A six-digit or longer PIN will automatically activate the feature. You can manually institute the “OK” button if you want it back.
The option to allow an app access to your photos and videos is either “yes” or “no” on Android 13 and earlier. Android 14 gives you more control. With the permission notification as seen below, you can grant apps access to some photos and videos.
In this way, you can be sure that apps will only see the pictures and videos that you want them to see.
Say you install an app on Sunday. By using that app, you accept its permissions and privacy policies. In the meantime, the app changed its terms on Tuesday. Before now, you wouldn’t have known about this unless the company contacted you directly. Android 14 will change this, as you’ll receive a pop-up telling you when an app has been updated as seen below.
The new update blocks older Android apps from being installed, which is one of the biggest differences between Android 14 and Android 13. As a result of this change, Google says it will only impact apps built with Android 5.1 Lollipop APIs and older.
Google argues that malware targets old API levels that are unprotected against modern security and privacy threats, which is a pretty big change.
On Android 14, abandoned apps (e.g., old games and niche apps) can’t be installed. The good news is that if you upgrade to Android 14, older apps will still be available on your device. Devices launching with Android 14 out-of-the-box, however, won’t experience this problem.
Additionally, Google is tweaking the intent system and dynamic code loading to fight malware and exploits. Although neither of these features is user-facing, they can still provide defense in depth against malware and vulnerabilities. With Android 14, Passkey support is also enhanced, bringing us closer to a future without passwords.
Even though Apple’s continuity features are unbeatable, Windows Phone Link and Android’s cross-device connectivity enable you to access your PC just as effectively. It even allows you to make phone calls. Phone capabilities vary depending on the model, with Samsung units having a slight advantage. Android does not earn full points for Microsoft’s work, but SMS messaging is a handy Google feature that Android makes available.
There is more to Apple’s device ecosystem than laptops and phones: iOS is integrated nicely with Apple TV, iPads, the HomePod smart speaker, and Apple Watch. There is a Wear Watch OS from Google, but it is far less prevalent than the Apple Watch, and Android tablets lag far behind iPads in terms of popularity.
PCMag’s ratings of the Google Nest family of smart speakers and screens generally exceed Apple’s Siri-based devices, and Bose and Sonos offer third-party Google Assistant speakers.
Apple’s iOS 17 will be compatible with iPhone models ranging from the iPhone XR/XS to the iPhone 14 Pro. Through partnerships with Qualcomm, T-Mobile, and Huawei, it introduces satellite connectivity. Using this feature, users will be able to communicate seamlessly. From the Pixel 4a 5G to the Pixel 7 series, as well as Samsung’s recently released smartphones, the OS is compatible with Pixel devices.
In recent months, new smartphone and mobile OS releases have been focusing heavily on the cameras on smartphones as well as their photo-processing apps. Both systems come with excellent camera options including multiple-camera systems.
Although some phones boast high megapixel numbers such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra shoots at 200 megapixels. But you don’t have to worry about megapixels when choosing a phone because sensor design is more important.
Additionally, both OSes have impressive photo enhancement software to enhance the quality of your pictures even further.
They both have bokeh background blur features, as well as low-light, slow motion, time-lapse capability, and panorama. Users of iOS need a second app to take 360-degree photos, while Android users can use photospheres. In terms of photo functionality, Android and iOS are similar.
There is no need to use third-party applications such as Adobe Lightroom Classic because both OSes let you save raw camera files (which photographers will certainly appreciate).
iOS 17 didn’t bring much change to the Camera app, but Apple did make one helpful improvement. Separate grid and level tools have been added to the Settings app.
You will see a thin line on the screen if you enable the level. The line is very narrow and changes to yellow when you are level with the horizon.
It is best to shoot straight-on so that the line doesn’t disappear if you move the camera too much up or down.
Source: Appleinsider
The “People” album is now called “People & Pets” where your furry pals will be listed along with your human companions. It will immediately identify all your family dogs and cats, then you can also name them.
Source: Appleinsider
Android 14 upgrades Camera Extensions, allowing apps to handle longer processing times, and enabling improved images when using compute-intensive algorithms like low-light photography.
It supports high dynamic range (10bit) images, including Ultra HDR images. Apps that work seamlessly with HDR images can take advantage of the format’s backward compatibility with JPEG.
A major change was introduced to Apple’s lock screen in iOS 16 in 2022. In this year’s Android 14 launch, Google is trying to stay ahead of the competition.
At Google’s I/O developer conference, the company unveiled a few custom clocks that can be switched out for the boring mono-color dual-line clock on Pixel phones.
As part of the update, the company also added emoji wallpapers and cinematic wallpapers that add an intriguing 3D effect to existing photos. Having your wallpaper overlaid with your clock is a perfect counterpoint to Apple’s solution.
On the iOS 17 front, Apple is tying up loose ends, such as allowing users to “uncrop” pictures on the lock screen, as seen by @AppleSnob on Twitter.
It appears as if the image was meant to be cropped this way using intelligent color fill. Because most photos aren’t taken keeping the iPhone’s aspect ratio in mind, it’s a small but important addition.
Despite Google’s efforts, lock screen widget support has not been added, or rather, re-added. Android phones used to have that option for years, but it disappeared from Google phones a while ago.
There is at least a small selection of other actions that you might find more useful than the predefined home controls and wallet shortcuts. Whereas, widget support in iOS 16 and 17 offers more customization options than ever before.
Both systems have introduced many additional features that we will have a quick look at in this section.
Source: Apple
Source: Apple
When living in the US, Europeans might want to use Euro-style measurements and calendars. Android 14 will make that possible. For example, you will be able to convert temperature units into Celsius and make Monday the first day of the week.
There is no doubt that both OSes can serve you well. The decision between Android vs.iOS will ultimately depend on your work and social circles, as well as your personal preferences. Google’s Android operating system offers several customization options and supports many languages.
Users can manage their files conveniently through a USB port and the Android File Transfer desktop application. In addition to providing reliable navigation services, Google Maps is the default mapping app for Android. As a virtual assistant, Google Assistant is also a great option for Android users.
In contrast, Apple Inc.’s iPhone offers a closed software system with limited customization options unless the device is jailbroken. Despite this, its iOS operating system provides a seamless user experience and is stable and reliable.
Users of the iPhone can use Safari as their default browser and Apple Maps as their default navigation app. With Siri, iOS devices have access to a wide range of features.
Clearly, this is a close race. The iOS operating system ultimately wins, but by a slim margin. With years of match-ups and polishing of their interfaces, it is not surprising that these two platforms have reached near parity.
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