Android v Apple - The battle of the smartphone

In the early 2000s it was all about Nokia and Motorola, but since the rise of the smartphone the main question everyone asks when buying a mobile phone is: Android or Apple?

It seems that you are either in one category or the other and people have different reasons for their preferred choice. We have looked into some of the common differences between Android and Apple devices to help you decide which you prefer and whether you are ready to make a switch.

Phone availability

The one main difference between the two platforms is that with Android you have a wide variety of phones and manufacturers to choose from. This means that there are some variations to the functionality of the phone, providing you with options depending on what is your priority, for example the quality of camera, budget restraints, or internal storage space. Yet Apple produces only the iPhone, so although they have different version updates of the phone, the basis of each one is very similar, meaning your options are fewer.

Updates

Google decided to have its main apps out of Android, so the mobile OS itself is essentially just the app launcher and the Settings screen. As a result, each app needs to be updated individually. In contrast, iOS updates still include updates to Mail, Maps, Safari, Notes, News and all the other apps you get with the software.

When Apple releases a new iOS update it reaches every iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch owner almost immediately. This is because Apple has complete control over when its operating system updates roll out as there is no intervention from mobile carriers or smartphone manufacturers.

Flexibility

Android OS provides the user with more flexibility over the way that their phone works and looks. For example, you can change the font, lock screen and default apps. However, with iOS you are pretty much stuck with the way Apple chooses to do things.

Security

There has been lots of debate over which of the systems is more secure with Android critics stating that the open-source aspect of the platform makes it a lot more vulnerable. Nevertheless, recently both Android and Apple have been hot on the case of security and are constantly looking at new ways to make sure that their platforms have as few security threats as possible. Unfortunately, as with any online software, the risk of attack is never zero; yet it is clear that both providers see security as a top priority.

Cloud back-up

When it comes to cloud storage both offer some space free of charge. With the Android version of Google Drive you are given 15GB of free space compared to only 5GB of free space on the iCloud. The pricing is reasonably similar to purchase additional storage space.

So from looking at some of the key points above, do you think you would consider changing mobile platform, or like many will you stay loyal to your current provider?