Even the staunchest, most die-hard Apple fan sometimes wonders if the perks of Android phones are worth giving up the iOS.
Choosing Android already means you have more than a single smartphone model to choose from, including what I have to say are some of the most beautifully designed devices available in the market today: Samsung’s flagship phones, the Note 5 and Galaxy Edge. But at the end of the day, your smartphones have to be efficient and powerful, and that means combining exceptional hardware with software technology — something that Apple definitely has down pat.
To be fair however, Android has taken major strides towards this kind of seamless efficiency with their operating system. Here are some of the reasons why letting go of your iPhone might not be as bad as you think.
Customisability
The cult of Apple means you can’t change anything about it. Apart from how you arrange your dashboard and homescreen, you’re pretty much stuck with the Apple aesthetic. Android however, is all for customisation — you can basically skin the entire operating system and customise it by installing launchers, icon packs, lock screens, and even root kits.
Google Now
Android’s version of Siri has been enhanced and now lets you access nearly everything you want. Granted, it doesn’t have the same kind of sassy ‘personality’ that Siri has, but it’s efficient, quick and gets the job done.
Google Services
Here’s what I personally think is the biggest advantage that Android has over Apple: at the end of the day, an Android phone is seamlessly and deeply integrated with the entire milieu of Google services, which most — regardless of whether you use an iPhone or a Samsung or an HTC or a Xiaomi — probably use. Think about it: you have Gmail, Google Drive, Google Maps, Waze, Chrome and Cloud Services, just to name a few, and these are all designed to work perfectly with an Android device.
Cost Efficient
Apple products are expensive. The technology is great, but let’s face it, you’re also paying for the entire branding package that comes with it. Android, given its numerous options, offers something from low-end to mid-range to top-tier devices, depending on what you need.
Compatibility
This is especially true for smartwatches, which are rising in popularity and use day by day. Android smartwatches can run on iOS and Android devices, and similarly, Android devices can run the Apple Watch.
Battery Life
Generally, the battery lives of iOS and Android devices are a toss up, with neither being able to last through the day. But Android devices are actually tailored to manage power more efficiently, especially with the addition of the Doze feature and App Standby option on the latest update, Marshmallow.
Doze works like this: once it detects that your phone has been inactive for a while, it will switch into Doze mode to disable data network and shut down running background processing. Think of it as though you’re switching to airplane mode, while allowing high priority messages and calls to come through. App Standby works similarly by switching running apps off automatically once it notices that you haven’t used them in a few hours.
Impressive Displays
The iPhone screens are great, but then there’s the new Nexus 6P with a 1440p display, or the Xperia Z5 Premium with its 4K Ultra HD screen. Basically, if you want crisper, more precise colours and images, going Android means you have the option to go for these high-def devices.
Bottomline?
If you do decide to make the big switch, you won’t be at the losing end of the deal, especially with the release of the Android 6.0 Marshmallow. As most early reviews have already noted, it looks like the best Android operating system yet, which means you might just be in for a treat should you take the leap.
