Cloud Hosting

You've read the articles, you've seen the reviews, and you've finally made up your mind about ditching iPhone and switching to Android. You're looking forward to exploring everything that Android has to offer and experimenting with all those fancy features fans keep talking about.

However, do note that Android comes with its own pros and cons just like the iPhone. This guide will help you know what you can realistically expect when switching to Android.

While iPhones usually start at $799, Android phones are available at every price point so you have more control over how much to spend on a new phone. Granted, there's the iPhone SE series which is more affordable, but it's dwarfed in terms of specs, features, and design when compared to similarly priced Android mid-range phones.

When switching to Android, you'll find it difficult to let go of the Apple apps you are used to enjoying on the iPhone, especially iMessage and FaceTime. Doing so is even harder if you've subscribed to Apple services like Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple Music, and Apple Fitness+.

As a new Android user, you'll find it rather disappointing that although you have more freedom now, the Android ecosystem is a bit messy and scattered. That means there isn't just one place you can go to for all your technology needsa major pain for non-tech-savvy users.

One thing you'll notice immediately after switching to Android is that there are a lot more apps and features here than on iOS. This is because iPhones (and Apple products in general) prioritize simplicity and usability, whereas Android phones prioritize functionality and utility.

You'll find features on Android that you never knew you needed. In fact, manufacturers also add a custom "skin" on top of the Android OS to differentiate their products from other brands.

For example, some of the best features on Samsung phones are Edge Panels, Secure Folder, and Modes and Routines. Pixel phones boast Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, and Call Screen. You won't find them on other Android devices.

While exploring all the apps and features on your new Android phone, you'll also discover that there are sadly more bloatware apps and system ads too. This is especially true for heavier Android skins like Samsung's One UI or Xiaomi's MIUI.

To be fair, you can delete these pre-installed apps from your phone and turn off system ads, but having them there in the first place is an annoyance you wouldn't want to deal with.

One area where iPhones have not made progress in a very long time is charging speeds. While Android manufacturers today offer crazy-fast speeds like 65W, 100W, or even higher, iPhones are still stuck at under 30W. That means iPhones take around one-and-a-half to two hours to fully charge, but some Android phones can do so in just around 30 minutes!

Switching to Android makes even more sense if you own a Microsoft Windows computer. You probably already know that Apple MacBooks don't play nice with Android, and this can interrupt your workflow and slow down productivity.

Thankfully, you can easily link your Android phone and Windows PC using the Microsoft Phone Link app. With it, you can access your phone's apps and photos on your PC, share files between the two devices, read and respond to messages, make and receive calls, and receive and manage notifications.

An annoying thing about Android is that you have to manage more accounts. Aside from having a Google account, you'll also have to create a new account with the manufacturer you buy the phone from. This is necessary for backing up your data and using their Find My Device services (except if you're buying a Google Pixel phone).

This is even worse when you're buying a Galaxy phone because Samsung outsources some of its cloud storage requirements to Microsoft to back up your photos, videos, and files. That means you'll now have to have a Google account, a Samsung account, and a Microsoft account. A nightmare indeed.

Another complaint with Android is that software bugs usually take longer to get fixed than on iPhones. This is because, unlike Android which is open source, iOS is proprietary software that gives Apple complete control over the software running on iPhones. This allows the company to quickly spot bugs and roll out a patch to fix them.

Also, since Android phones come with custom skins, it's even harder to find and fix bugs as you have to figure out whether the problem is with Android itself or the skin you've put on top of it. It's also why software updates in general are slower on Android phones.

Android offers you more control over your device, and you'll notice this in multiple ways. For instance, there are more options for customization, more tools for multitasking, and more ways to manage your storage.

As a former iPhone user, you'll also appreciate the better file management on Android and the ability to run third-party launchers and to be able to force-stop apps and clear their cache.

Since Apple only releases a couple of iPhone models in a year and doesn't change the design much with each generation, companies find it easier to make accessories like cases, stands, wireless chargers, car mounts, and more for the iPhone.

In comparison, there are hundreds of Android phone models launched in a year, and so companies find it difficult to keep track of them all, let alone build accessories for them.

Just like iPhone, Android has its pros and cons. But depending on who you ask, one surpasses the other. As a new Android user, the one thing that you'll enjoy the most is that Android adapts to you and not the other way around.

You can customize and personalize your Android phone in whatever way you like so that it best fits your unique needs, style, preferences, and lifestyle. Such is harder on iPhones.

More here:
10 Things You'll Notice When Switching From iPhone to Android - MUO - MakeUseOf