[ Curious ]

Should I stay with iOS or shift to Android?

Diangson Louie August 3, 2012 · 4 min read

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Let me start this article by giving you a brief background on how I started shifting from one mobile ecosystem to another. Like most people, my first love was with Nokia and its Symbian OS. Not because it is a revolutionary OS but primarily because I donâ€™t really have any choice.

On the positive side you get to choose from a wide variety of cellphone models since Nokia led the mobile hardware race back then.

Iâ€™ve had four Nokia phones before with the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic as the last one. It was also the device that introduced me to flashing custom ROMs, it was exciting. However, that excitement ran out when I had my first encounter with an Android phone. My then girlfriend (who’s now my wife) bought a Samsung Galaxy Spica running Android 2.1 Eclair.

I instantly fell in love with it but not because of the phone’s design or the widgets or the fluid interface. I fell in love with Android because of its threaded SMS system. If youâ€™re an experienced Nokia user coming from the likes of 3210 then you’ll understand how wonderful threaded SMS is.

I immediately sold my 2 year old Nokia 5800 and planned to buy a Spica myself but for some reason I skimped and decided to wait for a better Android phone. I then had my sights on the HTC Hero until a friend came along with his iPod Touch 3rd Gen. Iâ€™ve seen the iPod Touch before and considered it as a great device. But I needed a phone, the iPod Touch is not a phone. And the iPhone 3G is too damn expensive at that time. I played with the iPod Touch and I fell in love again. This time because of the apps and the really neat UI. To cut things short, I went for the iPod Touch 3rd Gen and just used a really cheap â€œthat-you-can-toss-it-aroundâ€ Samsung phone that came as a freebie when my mom bought a refrigerator.

I was really satisfied with the iPod Touch and even went for the 4th Gen. If I have the resources Iâ€™d immediately buy the iPhone 4. All the while I kept in touch with Android with my wife’s Spica. I loved the idea on how you can customize Android in different levels â€“ something that iOS cannot achieve even with a jailbreak. Like what I told a friend â€“ â€œIf you want elegant simplicity, go for iOS. But if you want complex badassery, go for Android.â€ I was lucky enough to play both worlds, until I bricked the Spica. Maybe Iâ€™m not badass enough.

And so I stuck with iOS and kept on tinkering with the jailbroken iPod Touch 4th Gen. Currently I have the iPhone 4S and things are great so far. Iâ€™ve jailbroken it and customized it to a point that it’s lagging and crashing. I was forced to restore it to its â€œpristineâ€ state but decided not to completely go back. I want something better. I ended up updating from iOS 5.1.1 to iOS 6 beta 3. It’s neat, it has new features but I wasnâ€™t completely satisfied. The geek inside me is screaming for something more difficult to tinker on. I flashed my wife’s Kindle Fire with a custom Android Jellybean and the voice subsided. What the fuck was that?? Is Android becoming the right kind of dealer for my needs?

I started comparing the philosophies behind iOS and Android. iOS is going for something that really works seamlessly but somewhat capped. Android, however, is accepted to be far from perfect but it is constantly evolving. A smartphone, in my opinion, is more than just a gadget. It’s an extension of who you are and its identity is how you want your life to work. As I remember holding the HTC One X on one hand and the Samsung Galaxy S3 on the other with my iPhone 4S in the middle, I just canâ€™t reject the fact that I needed change. The question now is, it Google’s Android or Apple’s iOS that’s going to give me the satisfaction of change? Should I stay with iOS or shift to Android? To our dear readers, help me weigh in the options. Convince me, entice me, coax me. iOS or Android? Share your thoughts below.

Editor’s Note: At one time or another, we can all relate to this transition and have faced the same dillema. – Yuga

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Diangson Louie

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This article was written by Louie Diangson, Managing Editor of YugaTech. You can follow him at @John_Louie.

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284 Comments

Pio · 14 years ago

iOS! android well its good but I think iOS is better..

Kevin · 14 years ago

I have iphone 4s and galaxy s3. I’ll buy a Windows 8 phone when it is available locally. So there, I am rich ..in smartphone OSes.

lev! · 14 years ago

Android for me, since i bought my very first android phone x10 mini, I already tried almost all of the existing custom ROM for it. It’s like playing with your toy, you have to try and update it to check if it will suit your taste. I love playing with it. Currently I’m using the MINICM7 ver 2.1.5 with NAA kernel and it suits my daily needs. (I found no custom ROM with the stablest camera so far but this ver only. yes it is stable no camera FC’s)

chinitoguy · 14 years ago

Why don’t you consider Windows Phone instead? Right now I own a Nokia Lumia 800 and a Sony Xperia S. I chose Sony because most people in this country owns a Samsung Galaxy line of phones or Apple’ iPhone. I fell in love with Microsoft’s new mobile OS. I heard an update is coming to old Nokia Lumias and new line of Lumias are coming with the new Windows Phone 8.

My opinion? Go for Windows Phone.

Sonofa · 14 years ago

buy an android, use both of them for a month… sell one after, thats how I got rid of my iphone 4…

I’m happy using berry android, mahirap maglabas ng galaxy note sa labas…

Migz15 · 14 years ago

Yup you are right, IOS has good features but capped at some point, yet android gives you the freedom and flexibility of the device. (ex. 5MP vs 8MP camera, 3.7 vs 4.3 and up screen size and so on.. DUHH!).

Android= Freedom is endless.
Iphone= Limited/pointless.

Happy HTC sensation XE user here. (+bundled iBeats Audio earphone.) can Apple give you that? :)

AC · 14 years ago

I rather go for Android, it’s the thing for the geeks and those who love to customize.

Jepoiski · 14 years ago

why not have the best of both worlds sir? as much as I enjoy tweaking my GNex, I also cannot deny the fact that I do love having the iPhone 4 around :)

blaze · 14 years ago

android

jay tee · 14 years ago

android! it has freedom , freedom that you need, but eventually will never use after sometime.. at the end you will realize that you want the basic and simple stuffs because its all about the apps you use and how they work on your phone .

jay tee · 14 years ago

then comes….IOS… again :p

Havoc · 14 years ago

Android’s the way to go. Had my first Android phone last year; never had a dull moment with it. Unleash the full techie in you… Android! XD

matt · 14 years ago

Should I stay with IOS or shift to android? The next question is why not have both IOS and android?

Adrian · 14 years ago

Cant see why you cant have both..

iOS is good basically for its apps. so get an iPod touch.
I have my sister’s 2nd gen iPod and I’m still using it as a music player, etc.
you know, that thing you’ll remember to use only when you see it sitting around.

But as my primary gadget, I have Galaxy Nexus. This thing do what my iPod can’t. Text, call, and amaze people.

Patrick · 14 years ago

The article was written not by Yuga. See author at the end of the article. For me, go Android. I would have to agree – iOS is 2007. No significant innovation really from their end since then.

Mickey · 14 years ago

I had a great run with the former big shot of mobile phones which is Nokia. I had an Xpressmusic 5300, which was sooo cool 5 years ago. I think it was the “in” phone to own back then. Then my Mom came back from Dubai with a gift, a Nokia N95 which back then was as expensive as today’s iPhone 4. People bought phones not for their OS, but for how loud can your phone go.

I sticked to my phone for a year or two, then my Mom bought me a Samsung S5230 Star. It was my first touch screen phone, and it sucked. I didn’t like the pixelation of the screen, but ended up sticking to it. Christmas in 09 I wanted an iPod 4G, and obviously I got it. This time I was sure what I want. I was gaining knowledge from the mighty internet what to buy and check for reviews this time.

The first time I held the iPod on my hand I was scared I might drop it. Just because of how thin the device was! My mind was blown with the iPod’s resolution and how high the PPI was. iOS was superb, just the transitions from page to page was butter. I instantly became a fanboy of Apple, Steve Jobs was God. Let’s do a recap, Nokia 5300, Nokia N95, Samsung Star and the iPod. I have been using the iPod for 2 years now. For me, iOS is getting boring, and I’m not even interested in iOS 6. The UI looks like the same for years and I think it won’t change with the iOS 6.

This is why I switched to Android. I’ve been using the SG3 for a month now and it is awesome. Android is totally different, it’s much more customizeable. Flash ROM’s, APK’s, Hacks it’s all there. iOS is more restricted which is boring. Although you can also do those stuff with iOS, it’s still getting boring.

From an iFanboy to a Droid.

P.S. Sorry for some crappy grammar and everything with the word “tions”. ex cotations

I haven’t slept yet. Insomnia, you know how it is.

techie05 · 14 years ago

luckily for me, i have experienced using several mobile OS.. Simplicity of IOS makes it rock solid. android’s flexibility makes it loved by many..including me.. but after i had a windows phone 7, i forgot IOS. a lot will disagree to me. but i believe microsoft has something to show more when windows mobile 8 comes.. windows mobile connection to social networking is way better than any mobile os.. and the simplicity of it comes way better than ios.. slick and fast. just have a look :)

jr · 14 years ago

both my parents have iphone4s and i own a samsung galaxy s3.im a iphone user before long long ago and still have my iphone 2g.but if you ask me i’ll go for the samsung galaxy s3 (android) because they have more options and i love the “widgets” and how you can tweak your phone the way you like it to be, like what icons and widgets you only want to display on you home screens” in my opinion iphone is a very decent phone, but now that i think of it i cant imagine my self using an iphone 4s, especially when i hold one now that im used to my big galaxy, it feels like a small toy for me and the ever simple just icons display are too simplistic for my taste.

giogagz · 14 years ago

iOS s so boring. Like you said sir yuga nageevolve ang android.iOS nageextinct. Hehehe

Levite · 14 years ago

I symphatize with your situation. IOS is already becoming boring with the same UI since Iphone 3. Android is not complex for me as I was used to the same customizability of WinMobile but seems very inconsistent and always problematically laggy.

I suggest you go for Winodows Phone 8 when it comes out for a fresh look and experience. I think this platform is very promising especially that it will share core kernel with Windows 8 RT.

H · 14 years ago

never. you will never be satisfied. there will always be a feeling na something kulang. its a never ending thirst.

Ren · 14 years ago

Thank you for this article! I thought I was the only one with the same thoughts. I remember I had both ipod touch 1st gen and iphone 3g on its early years. Some ios apps don’t support our country. Now i have samsung galaxy tab7 which even shows peso amount on paid apps! Leave apple products in the US, love android which fully supports SEA consumers!!!

boofman · 14 years ago

Do you still have your Spica? Planning to sell it? How did you brick it?

We got ZTE Blade, a Spica, Optimus One, SGS III, Hyundai A7HD in the family, and another Spica if you sell yours to me..

Oh, and Linux and Android all the way!!! Sharing is the concept behind all these, unlike others that are proprietary and locked down despite whatever jbreaks you do..same with their other devices..

Cxian · 14 years ago

why not fit in 3 ecosystem? (Apple, Google and MS)

Anonimi · 14 years ago

In my opinion, almost, if not, all the features present in the iOS are also available or better on the android or can be made available by some mods. Go for android, you’ll never regret it if you are into modding to satisfy your techie mind. Just choose the right unit which has the most development support.

iOSlovesAndroid · 14 years ago

Based on your article, you’re really into customizations and so on, go for Android. :)
But honestly, iOS has far more dedicated apps and games which runs really smoothly compared to Android based on my experiences as well.

iOSlovesAndroid · 14 years ago

Based on your article,you’re really into customization and so on,go for Android. :)
But honestly, iOS has far more dedicated apps and games which runs really smoothly compared to Android based on my experiences as well.

JVL · 14 years ago

^ Agree, iOS (Smooooooooooooth)

Kamote · 14 years ago

If you want a phone that can play games, go for IOS. But if you want a true SMARTPHONE, Android is the better choice

Mr. Serious · 14 years ago

Ah… ANOTHER android vs ios post.

I have been a long-time ios user (never owned a mac), and also am an android developer. It really depends on your wants and need.

If you’re looking for content that can be provided to your phone (apps, movies, songs, tv series etc..), then you go ios. because the googleplay store can’t even touch the amount of content on the itunes store. (Amazon has even more content on their store than googleplay).

If you’re not looking the content, but for a great phone, in paper atleast, itself. Then you go android.

Much comparison have been made, but what they really focus in their platform is different.
iOS focuses on a seamless experience, they rarely release features that are half-baked. They play it safe. They offer a great experience with not so much technical aspect to it.
The Problem: It can be boring for people who likes to tinker with their handsets.
Possible Solution: Jailbreak.

Android on the other hand is aggressive. They give you options. They release feature after feature, OS versions after another. And OEMs also release different handsets like crazy.
The Problem: No support. With the amount of phone models and custom UI they release, they can’t continue to support all of them.
Possible Solution: Custom ROMS.

If you’re more on the adventurous side, then you can go android because it provides a wide room for tinkering. BUT if you’re more of a conservative user who simply wants a phone that can do its job well, (a little tinkering as well) then you can go ios+jailbreak.

Just my 2 cents.

Edison Evasco · 14 years ago

i think i’m the only one whose gonna dare… hihihihi for something new… go Windows Phone… :D

jojolemuelramos · 14 years ago

yuga, go android, you can never be at peace with a handicapped software.

im a die hard iphone loyalist back then, but that relationship drastically ended when one day gf gifted me a desire hd. then on smartphone has never been smarter in that sense.

WHEN YOU FEEL SOMETHING’ KIND-OF-BIT-WEIRD wrong, GO and make the move. You deserve something better and ye kno’ that dude

zgbien · 14 years ago

stay with ios… the next version will have bluetooth

andy · 14 years ago

Android. I started with Spica too. I want freedom.

Gingerbread and up are the standards. Lags come from poor hardware, not optimized code of app/poorly written, or both.

Iyan Sommerset · 14 years ago

Android, one-word-reason:

FREEEEEEEDOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!!!!

rixter · 14 years ago

I have an iphone 4s which is my second phone. I am using the galaxy note as my main phone. Just like you the geek inside me wants more than what the ios can do. I had to buy a really good android phone. I dint wait for the galaxy s3 though but my note is already more than perfect. I use its glorified features alot especially in my masters. And whats getting me more excited is jelly bean. Knowing apple’s history, they will always be limiting so i say get an android. Need i say more?

hapismiley · 14 years ago

Dear Louie,

I extensively compared both os’s when i finally decided to settle with galaxy nexus, for the ff. reasons:

1. As for the UI, there’s nothing android cannot do that ios can, but there’s a lot of customization that you can do on android but not with ios (i.e. Keyboard – swype is ghe best fo onscreen
keyboard followed by SwiftKey, home screen layout, etc.) However, as for the smoothness of some apps, truly, its ios hands down.

2. You have a variety of handsets to choose from and based on your need you can choose a phablet phone, like the Samsung note, which is best for gaming, videos and web surfing. Or one which you can operate comfortably with one hand like those with 3.7″ to 4.3″ screen. Or perhaps, one with physical keyboard for quick typing.

On the other hand, since android is the fast evolving os at present, the value of your smartphone depreciates very fast. That’s why its really a good a idea to choose an android smartphone that has the latest os, just to future proof your investment for the next 2 years.

This is just my opinion, hope i was of help :-)

Dean · 14 years ago

iOS is sooo 2007. Nuff said.

dex · 14 years ago

“I just can’t reject the fact that I needed change.” <– you answered it yourself, so ditch iOS and go Android… I'm an iphone 4 owner and I started with ipod touch 2g way back 2009 and from the looks of it I'm also bored with iOS (jailbroken), even with the upcoming iOS 6, it does not bring anything new. Also I miss bluetooth transfer and easy to load music without using itunes which an android can do.

I've tried S3 from my officemate and I definitely say that I want to taste android in the near future. Very smooth interface and the screen size is just perfect.

The only good thing I see with iOS and all other apple products are it's resale value, great international warranty and lots support form other iOS users if ever you encounter a problem.

Nevertheless if I'm in your situation now, I'll definitely give Android a go.

hehehe · 14 years ago

MAKE YOUR OWN PHONE!!!
Make your own mobile OS!!!
Thats the best solution…
the disadvantage is
your the only ONE using it…
hehehe

Taz · 14 years ago

If you have the means, then why not have both.
I own Nexus S (though nasa Samsung repair shop siya ngaun at sana makuha ko na mamaya dahil taon ng aking kapanganakan bukas hehehe) and I must admit there were lags and all but I’m still satisfied with how much customizable the phone can be. Same with you, I also get to hold an Iphone 4S and I must as admit that its damn smooth. Well Nexus S is mid-range android phone so I cannot complain. With project butter and all, i dont think this should something to worry about specially if you buy a galaxy nexus though thats not advisable as we are just few months far from seeing the light of the new galaxy nexus.

So if you want the smoothness of iOS and the customizability of Android, then buy the best google android phone (not just android) out there. You’ll never regret it.

gboy · 14 years ago

Im no fan of iOS but im a android lover.

I didnt owned a iOS phone but i love the physical design of it like “premium”. But i hate their OS which is close source.

I really love android because it gives me what i want of my phone. The exciting part is flashing some custom ROMS. i ownned samsung galaxy mini and ACE. Even if its a lower end phone but android expands the usage of my phone.

TRUE. If you want simplicity and premium like go for iOS. But if you’re geek enough go for Android.

Roli · 14 years ago

Go for an android. You know YOU WANT IT.

Chris Tenchavez · 14 years ago

I’d say both if you have the capacity to buy phones with Android and iOS- just to eliminate the endless curiosity of the feel and what not of both OS’.

I’ve been with the iPhone for 3 years now and I have no problems with it. I also handled several android phones – Samsung Ace and Young – and believe me, when it comes to capabilities, they have the edge since you can fully customize it in infinite number of ways. HAHAHA where am I going?

If you want to KISS (Keeping It Short and Simple) – go for iOS! It’s a dumb man’s smartphone! (not in an insulting way)

If you want to maximize its capabilities and unleash your inner IT side -go for Android devices (and I would recommend the best ones)

MJ · 14 years ago

Shift to android. im like you yuga, i tinker a lot with my phones, i like the installing custom roms, “extending” the lives of my phones because i get to install android versions like Jelly Bean even if it’s not officially supported by the phone. i like troubleshooting, i like getting new features like google now even when almost all phones dont have it yet. i always like something new, without the spending for a new phone. installing a custom rom gives you the feeling that your phone is a spanking brand new one, eventhough it’s already a year old. i like overclocking my phone, seeing if it can run the amazing spiderman flawlessly when it’s at 1.6ghz. i like playing my games with a bluetooth ps3 controller, etc etc etc.

i have been an ios fanatic myself, i have jailbroken my 3gs, installed numerous homebrew apps, had installed gestures and stuff way before apple introduced the “persistently on the foreground circle accessibility thing”. but when i got to android, i found it better.

not only are my geekiness appetites satisfied, but my productivity appetites are also being served well. say i have a ppt file to show, it is VERRRRYYYYYY easy to save it locally and show to others with an android, even if it is not rooted. i tried doing that with an ipad 2, and after an hour, i only had 1 or 2 options to show the ppt, and i didnt even like it.

OH plus one more thing, i read days before, that one thing that beats ios flat is android’s notification system. nothing beats a notification bar on top, wherein you get updated at a glance alone. unlike with ios, where you still have to make an effort to slide it down.

i am not someone who has all the free time in the world. i am no longer a student. i am already working, 5 days a week. was a management trainee. yet because this is my passion, which i believe is yours too, id still give it time. even if i dont get enough sleep sometimes, it makes me happy.

go for android. ios is boring.

tipler · 14 years ago

You’re choosing between iOS and Android. You have an iPhone 4S. You just canâ€™t reject the fact that you needed change.

Sounds like you want us to convince you to go android. Anyway I suggest a Nexus or a proofreader >:D

hakov · 14 years ago

android is not as good as ios in terms of stock roms.. but a fully customized android vs a fully customized ios, that’s different thing.. :) if you know what i mean..

Gio · 14 years ago

Stock roms? When you buy your smartphone it comes with a stock rom. If you want to change the rom, you pick a better rom one that suits your needs. If you buy an iPhone you get your stock rom and you are stuck with it for all eternity. See the difference? Iphone is boring.

wosniyak · 14 years ago

WP8! nyehehe

Jomar · 14 years ago

“A smartphone, in my opinion, is more than just a gadget. Itâ€™s an extension of who you are and its identity is how you want your life to work.”

AMEN to this~!

I’m a person who truly loves to innovate and try new things, and a closed ecosystem like Apple will never work for me. And lastly, I could never support the ‘evil’ actions that Apple has been doing for the past few years. They went from underground hero to a massive corporate monster.

If you love to tinker, you’ll never go wrong with Android.

Lucien Tiojanco · 14 years ago

If you like the simplicity and stability of Apple iOS and the strong capabilities and hardware variety of Google Android, Windows Phone 8 may be just that. I suggest you wait for it and see. After all, I don’t see you using a Google OS on your desktop anytime soon, do you? Plus, do you really feel comfortable with how Google handles your personal information?

We don’t know all the features Windows Phone 8 will bring, Joe Belfiore made it clear that what they revealed back in June were not all there is to it.

Levite · 14 years ago

I agree with you Lucien. WP8 is the way to go. Actually there has been a lot of leaked consumer features detailed since Joe Belfiore presented in the WP Summit.

More especially, stick to the Nokia Lumia series of WP8 or wait for Pureview version of WP8 it will be so totally cool. I hate Google snooping on my data for advertising purposes and I feel Iphone UI is already boring even as IO6 does not bring any innovation in that department.

Windows Phone 8 is the game changer I feel.