iPhone vs. Android: Which is better?
Enough talk. We compared how Android and the iPhone perform 15 basic tasks.
See for yourself how they rank.
1)Login (see picture 1)
The iPhone’s TouchID fingerprint sensor makes bypassing the annoying lock screen a breeze. Samsung has a similar feature. Other Android phones have a face recognition login option, which is less secure and doesn’t work in dimly lit settings.
2)Make a call (see picture number 2)
Favorite contacts are laid out much better in Android — according to the people you call most frequently. But FaceTime is the iPhone’s killer feature.
3)Check the time (see picture number 3)
The iPhone shows you the time when you press the home or lock button. But Android does time keeping better. Motorola, Samsung and HTC have smart covers and sensors that automatically show you the time as soon as you pull the phone out of your pocket. Android also has a super-dim “daydream” clock that stays on when charging on your nightstand.
4)Take a photo or video (see picture number 4)
There are awesome Android cameras, and Android utilizes the full screen for the viewer, but the iPhone’s camera is definitely the best. Yet managing photos is a much better – and cheaper – experience on Android. And Apple’s iCloud is a disaster.
5)Type (see picture number 5)
Android’s stock keyboard is better than Apple’s, including its swipe gestures. It also has punctuation on the same screen as the letters. (Really, Apple, can’t you do that?) Both now have third-party keyboards if you’re looking for an option that better suits your needs.
6)Use apps (see picture number 6)
Apple and Google both have fantastic app stores. But Android is far superior at organizing apps, letting you put important stuff on the home screens and hide less useful apps in the app drawer. Unlike Android, the iPhone’s apps look like a mess when they’re placed into folders. Also, Android’s widgets are much more useful than Apple’s.
7)Get and Manage Notifications (see picture number 7)
The iPhone’s active notifications let you respond from within the notification without opening the app – something Android lacks. But Android still makes notifications easier to use because you can swipe to clear them. Deleting notifications on iOS 8 is a pain in the neck. And Android’s killer app, Google Now, magically notifies you when you need to leave for your next appointment.
8)Listen to music and podcasts (see picture number 8)
Android has an excellent music-playing app in Google Play Music. But Apple has iTunes. Enough said.
9)Check email (see picture number 9)
Apple automatically recognizes your Exchange settings for work email. Android’s mail app isn’t as pretty and lacks some of the controls that the iPhone gives you. Though Android lets you quickly swipe to the next message, it doesn’t thread conversations like the iPhone.
10)Get directions (see picture number 10)
Google Maps is the best mobile app ever designed. It’s available on both the iPhone and Android, but it’s only used natively on Android. That means Siri can’t use Google Maps – only Apple’s improving but still inferior Maps app.
11)Contacts (see picture number 11)
Android’s contacts are much easier to navigate, and its large photos make it easier to find who you’re looking for. The iPhone automatically connects with Facebook and other social networks to populate your contacts’ photos. Most Android phones require a separate app, like Sync.Me, to do that.
12)Search (see picture number 12)
Search is Google’s bread and butter, but Apple did a surprisingly good job updating Spotlight search in iOS 8. Spotlight searches more stuff than Google does: email, podcasts, notes, reminders, calendar events, texts and voice memos. But Google lets you choose your default search engine. With Apple, you’re stuck with Bing.
13)Set to vibrate (see picture number 13)
The iPhone has a physical switch. On Android, you have to turn on the phone, then hold down the power button.
14)Talk to your phone (see picture number 14)
Siri has personality, but she doesn’t really do much. Android’s voice “assistant” has no personality – and it also doesn’t do much of anything. But Android’s voice assistant types as you talk, works offline and can be activated hands-free by saying “OK Google.”
15)Use flashlight (see picture number 15)
Apple has a built-in flashlight, activated with a swipe up from the bottom of the screen. In Android, you have to download an app, most of which require way too many permissions.
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