Apple’s cohesive user experience bests Android

Isaac Yontz

The iPhone, Apple’s flagship device, has revolutionized the phone industry from having the most computing power out of any phone on the market to completely changing how we use phones. From its beginning as the best smartphone available to consumers, the iPhone has continued to break new ground in innovation, leaving Android in its dust.

Beyond the iPhone, Apple devices consistently dominated their respective markets. From the Macbook to the Apple Watch to their line of Beats headphones, Apple has made hits in all markets; this success is in part because of Apple’s cohesive integration between its devices.

Apple features such as AirDrop, which allow users to share photos or videos over bluetooth, makes it easy to share media with other people, or to simply transfer files to other Apple devices. Android’s technologies don’t contain any form of technology like AirDrop.

This integration also applies to Apple’s voice assistant, Siri. For example, if a user wanted to move a file from their desktop to a folder, they could ask Siri on their Apple Watch, and Siri would relay the information to their Macbook. Because Apple has achieved absolute cohesion between their devices, their products are easier to use for all.

This incorporation of products includes Apple’s payment system, Apple Pay, too. Apple Pay is accepted at most stores including massive supermarket chains in Columbia such as Walmart, Hy-Vee and Lucky’s Market, but it’s also accepted at many local businesses like Maude Vintage and B&B Bagel. Apple’s payments are able to made through the iPhone or watch, with no hassle to get out the users wallet.

Most Android devices, however, don’t have easy payment systems, and the ones that do, like Samsung, often do not make an effort to have the payment method accepted at stores. Apple’s flagship payment system, Apple Pay, makes it convenient to make payments at stores without the hassle of getting user’s wallets and having the luxury of paying with the iPhone. 

On top of an easy payment system, Apple is rolling out a new line of credit cards, allowing customers to further ease their experience at checkout lines.

To add on, Apple products are more secure than those of competitors. While the arguments can be made that devices such as the Google Pixel or the Samsung Galaxy are open-ended and can have files edited, it leads to security loopholes and a much higher possibility of being hacked.

In a study conducted by appinventiv, malware and viruses were injected into both Android and Apple devices. 97 percent of Android phones were hacked and zero percent of iPhones were hacked. If consumers want a phone with security as well as not be hesitant to every website they go to, a feeling most people experience, Apple is the clear way to go. More secure phones are more reliable, and everyone wants a more reliable phone.

Finally, Apple’s hardware is simply better. A study conducted by technology news organization CNET concluded that Apple’s iPhone XS and Samsung’s Galaxy S6 were put to the test for which device could compute better on Geekbench,  iPhone scored 11,420 in processing power compared to Samsung’s 10,732. Higher processing power leads to faster phone speeds, faster cellular data, and better graphics on mobile games. Once again, if consumers want constantly reliable, powerful phones Apple is the way to go.

Android fanatics will criticize Apple’s inflated prices compared to many Android devices. The price comes with the prestige of buying into Apple’s company. If customers are looking for consistently reliable customer service, accessories that go with iPhone products, and the ease of absolute integration between devices, the price tag on Apple devices is completely worth it.

Apple is by far the best option if users want a cohesive experience that brings all of their technology together. Apple consistently makes innovative updates to their phones with their sleek designs and pristine operating systems. If a user wants a reliable, reputable company that can go above and beyond the needs of a phone, Apple is the way to go.

Android provides a customization that improves the quality of their phones

Brandon Kim

Android is far superior to Apple because of its flexibility and usability, which are crucial to the user experience. An Android, unlike an iPhone, has the ability to craft how the phone works however one wants. The limited options available to consumers with an iPhone from Apple and its constricting settings pales in comparison to the world of possibilities with Android.

Android has a customizable home screen, where a user is able to change how it looks such as putting widgets on the main home screen. Widgets display things like the weather or the news. Apple, on the other hand, has a separate page for widgets with its iconic translucent boxes tightly packed together.

Apple also doesn’t allow users to change how their phone looks at all, while Android users can get different launchers to change how it looks, like this. A user can even change their home screen to look like an iPhone. 

Android owners can tweak their phone as many times as they want to create the layout perfect for them. Apple, however, leaves users with no option other than a one-size fits all system.

Apple acts like a control freak, locking down its hardware and limiting the widgets available, while Android trusts the consumer to know what’s best for them individually with thousands of options available for customization.

Apple also has taken the right away for users to fix their devices themselves with the newest devices, the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max. It now discourages the use of third-party batteries and screen by displaying a notification on the lock screen and refuses to give any information about the battery until it is replaced with an Apple battery installed by an Apple technician. If the user puts in a genuine Apple battery without an Apple technician, the phone still displays the information and refuses to display any information about the battery or use.

The same policy applies to screens. Apple is now pairing them to the logic board, which is the phone version of a motherboard, or the main circuit board. Iowa only has one official Apple store in the state, and there are not that many Apple stores so people may be deterred from repairing their phone. This is a bigger problem in other countries, where the only Apple support is to mail it in, and that also has risks.

Another reason Android is superior to Apple is the simple fact that it has a USB-C charging cord that accompanies Android phones. This universal cable allows for compatibility across all Android devices. Apple, meanwhile, has a Lightning charging cord, which can only be used by other Apple products. Inside of the US, Apple is more popular (45 percent) and so their chargers are more prevalent, but outside of the US, Android dominates with a 76.67 percent ownership in the world.

Possibly the most compelling bonus of Android is affordability and accessibility. Apple forces customers to pay large amounts of money to use their products properly through piles of dongles and adaptors. For example, to be able to charge your phone and listen to music at the same time, a consumer needs to buy an adaptor. Android phones, however, can easily be used without needing to pay for dongles. It’s like IKEA giving all of the parts, but leaving all of the screws out and charging 10 dollars for each individual one.

There are a lot of phone companies that use Android, and so prices vary among the companies. iPhones are expensive, especially the newer ones. The Google Pixel 3 is around $344, but the iPhone XS can go as high as $1,349.

Android can give users a more flexible price range for a phone. Since Android is an operating system used by thousands of companies, one can’t guarantee quality, but there are quality phones in every price bracket. Not everyone can buy an iPhone, so Android gives everyone the price ranges they can afford because it is multiple companies instead of one company making a few different models and prices very high on purpose.  None of these types of phones are perfect by any means, but Android is better than Apple because it is more customizable and affordable, so it can be used and accessed easily all over the world.  

Do you prefer Apple or Android? Let us know in the comments below.