You’ve read the articles, you’ve seen the reviews, and you’ve finally decided to ditch the iPhone and switch to Android. They’re excited to explore everything Android has to offer and experiment with all the fancy features that fans keep talking about.
However, keep in mind that just like the iPhone, Android has its own pros and cons. This guide will help you know what to realistically expect when making the switch to Android.
1. There are cheaper options
While iPhones typically start at $799, Android phones are available at any price point, giving you more control over how much you spend on a new phone. Granted, there’s the iPhone SE series, which is more affordable but dwarfs similarly-priced mid-range Android phones in terms of specs, features, and design.
2. Apple services are hard to let go
When you make the switch to Android, you’ll struggle to let go of the Apple apps you’re used to on the iPhone, particularly iMessage and FaceTime. This is even more difficult if you have subscriptions to Apple services like Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple Music and Apple Fitness+.
As a new Android user, you’ll find it quite disappointing that although you have more freedom now, the Android ecosystem is a bit chaotic and scattered. This means there isn’t just one place to go for all your technology needs – a big problem for non-technical users.
3. Android has more apps and features Photo credit: Yuri Samoilov/Flickr
One thing you will notice immediately after switching to Android is that there are many more apps and features here than on iOS. This is because iPhones (and Apple products in general) prioritize simplicity and ease of use, while Android phones prioritize functionality and utility.
You’ll find features on Android you never knew you needed. In fact, manufacturers also add a custom “skin” to the Android operating system to distinguish their products from other brands.
For example, some of the best features on Samsung phones include Edge Panels, Secure Folder, and Modes and Routines. Pixel phones offer Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur and Call Screen. You won’t find them on other Android devices.
4. Android phones have more ads and bloatware
As you explore all the apps and features on your new Android phone, you will also find that unfortunately there are more bloatware apps and system ads as well. 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 disable system ads, but having them there in the first place is an annoyance you don’t want to bother with.
5. Android phones charge much faster
One area where iPhones haven’t made any strides in a very long time is charging speed. While Android manufacturers are now offering insanely fast speeds like 65W, 100W or even more, iPhones are still stuck at under 30W. That means iPhones take around an hour and a half to two hours to fully charge, but some Android phones can do it in just 30 minutes or so!
6. Connecting to Windows is easy
Switching to Android makes even more sense if you have a Microsoft Windows computer. You probably already know that Apple MacBooks don’t work well with Android, and this can disrupt your workflow and slow down productivity.
Luckily, you can easily connect your Android phone and Windows PC with 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 reply to messages, make and receive calls, and receive and manage notifications.
7. You need to create more accounts
Annoying thing about Android is that you have to manage more accounts. Aside from a Google account, you will also need to create a new account with the manufacturer you buy the phone from. This is required to back up your data and use the Find My Device services (except when purchasing a Google Pixel phone).
This is even worse if you’re buying a Galaxy phone, as Samsung outsources some of its cloud storage requirements to Microsoft to back up your photos, videos, and files. This means that you must now have a Google account, a Samsung account and a Microsoft account. A nightmare indeed.
8. Bugs take longer to fix
Another complaint with Android is that software bugs usually take longer to fix than 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 identify bugs and release a patch to fix them.
Additionally, since Android phones come with custom skins, it’s even harder to troubleshoot and troubleshoot as you need to figure out if the problem is with the Android itself or the skin you put on it. Because of this, software updates are generally slower on Android phones.
9. You have more control over your phone Image Credit: Lukmanazis/Shutterstock
Android gives you more control over your device, and you’ll notice it in a number of ways. For example, there are more customization options, 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 force-quit apps and clear their caches.
10. There are fewer accessories to buy
Because Apple only releases a few iPhone models in a year and doesn’t change the design significantly with each generation, companies are finding it easier to make accessories like cases, stands, wireless chargers, car mounts, and more for the iPhone.
In comparison, hundreds of Android phone models are launched in a year and as a result, companies find it difficult to keep track of them all, let alone build accessories for them.
Android adapts to you
Just like the iPhone, Android has its pros and cons. But depending on who you ask, one outperforms the other. As a new Android user, you will get the most enjoyment from the fact that Android adapts to you and not the other way around.
You are free to customize and personalize your Android phone to best suit your unique needs, style, preferences and lifestyle. This is more difficult on iPhones.
