The debate over which Apple or Android smartphone is superior still rages, especially with the introduction of the new iPhone 13 and Samsung Galaxy S22. Both have garnered loyal supporters willing to defend their phone from criticism and argue that their phone is more capable and advanced than their counterparts.
But which phone is actually the best? In this article, we will assess both phone’s functionality, security, accessibility and most importantly of all, the price.
Ease of Use
Apple’s attempts to create a simplified ecosystem across all of their products is a core feature which has attracted a large consumer base.
The seamless transition of data, contacts and work across iPhones, MacBooks, iPads and Apple Watches is aimed to entwine your personal and professional life with Apple. Another example of this is Apple Pay on an iPhone and Apple Watch; removing the need for you to carry debit cards, essentially, streamlining aspects of your life to keep you within Apple’s ecosystem.
On the other hand, Android, while significantly enhancing their ecosystem’s interactivity in recent years, lacks the depth that iOS and MacOS has, possibly due to the fact that multiple phone brands utilise the Android operating system such as Samsung, Google and Microsoft. Nevertheless, Android utilises cloud integration with Google’s services better than Apple, and integrates well with the Xbox game console as it is owned by Microsoft.
Remember, which phone is better for ease of use may depend on what you are using your phone for. If it’s for web browsing and email, then Apple is perhaps more intuitive, whilst for busting out the latest Candy Crush or new online slot sites for HTML5 casino games the Android just edges it.
Our Choice – Apple
Apps
Outside of the standard apps, both systems have very dedicated and talented developers who generate fantastic third-party applications.
The Google Play store has more apps at 3.5 million whereas Apple has 2.2 million on the App Store, but Apple has a more scrutinous system whereby developers have to go through a series of long security checks before their app can go live, improving the quality of the app store as a whole by reducing the chances of malware and viruses.
Our Choice – Apple
Camera
With the nature of smartphones being incremental in their development, in-built cameras receive a significant amount of innovation with each release as being a well-publicised tool for gaining an advantage over competitors in the race for your wallet.
The new generation of smartphones are no different; the Galaxy S22 features a triple 12MP (megapixel) ultra-wide camera, 50MP wide with optical image stabilisation, and a 10MP telephoto with 3x zoom. The front features a 10MP camera at the top of the phone’s display.
On the other hand, the standard iPhone 13 has two cameras, one 12MP with a 12MP ultra-wide camera. The front of the phone also has a 12MP camera, alongside face recognition sensors.
The new Google Pixel 6 has a heavy focus on its camera’s features and abilities such as the “Magic Eraser” which allows users to tailor their pictures by cutting out unwanted objects or people, a feature which Apple has not developed.
Our Choice – Android
Security
As mentioned before, Apple’s focus on fostering a safer app store environment has led to less users experiencing malware and virus issues, whereas Google has reported that 0.16% of all it’s apps contain malware.
Apple’s integrated OS ecosystem is very restrictive to external operating systems and features, but this gives their products a tighter control over security vulnerabilities and therefore makes malware issues extremely uncommon. When it comes to updates, Apple can push new updates with regularity and ease, due to their streamlined ecosystem; whereas Android struggles to keep all of its users on the same level of security, due to the various manufacturers and systems which operate on Android.
Android’s OS can be operated on multiple systems such as phones, PCs and consoles, and while this is beneficial in terms of wider usability, it leaves itself exposed to viruses and malware issues.
In terms of hardware, Apple has focused heavily on standardising their security features across most devices, with most phones now featuring facial recognition systems whereas Android devices can vary from retinal systems, fingerprint scanners to conventional patterns and passwords.
Something else worth considering – due to the nature of Android phones being more popular than iPhones, Apple benefits from the fact that hackers may focus their attention on the wider user base – that being Android devices. However, at the same time, Android’s focus on an open marketplace gives its users a better access to third-party security applications which Apple does not allow.
Our Choice – Apple
Battery Life
Making comparisons between an iPhone and Android’s battery life can be difficult as there are multiple phones which operate on the Android OS.
If we compare the two leading smartphone manufacturers: Apple and Samsung, then Apple’s latest and best iteration, the iPhone 13 Pro Max outlasted the Samsung Galaxy S21 by 2.5 hours according to a test done by PhoneBuff, albeit the S21 had a larger display at 6.8 inches and a greater resolution.
Our Choice: Apple
Price
The big question with every new release of a smartphone is usually related to the cost of the phone. In 2018, Apple became the first phone manufacturer to break into the £1000 price range and since then, their top of the line phones have broken this boundary, followed suit by Android phones such as Samsung.
Both the iPhone 13 and Samsung Galaxy S22 have a base price of £799 that comes with 128GB of storage. The iPhone 13 does have a mini version which ranges from £699-£999
For the top of the line iterations of the phones, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus can range from £999-£1049, whereas the iPhone 13 Pro has a base price of £999 and a max price of £1499 for 1TB of storage.
Our Choice: Samsung
The Final Verdict
So, after that analysis, where do you land? Apple or Android? Ultimately, it’s a choice that may depend on where your priorities lie. If you are seeking the best camera, Android currently offer the best hardware, but if you want a system that’s real intuitive, easy to use, and boasting the strongest battery life, then Apple takes the prize. Of course, for many of us, the final decision may come down to price, which puts Android just ahead right now, and in these times where cost of living is affecting us all, perhaps that swings the deal in Google’s favour overall.
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