Android vs iOS: Is there still a difference?

The first version of Android and iOS was released in June 2007 to accompany the debut of smartphones. In its infancy, the main difference between the two mobile operating systems is a difference in philosophy. Apple wanted to make a smartphone that was easy to use and hassle-free, and to start a cycle of innovation that would benefit its entire ecosystem.

Google is embarking on an adventure with a completely different economic model: It’s not necessarily a matter of producing smartphones on which Android will run. But try to convince most manufacturers to use Android. It is essentially a suite of Google applications that enable the firm to generate value. Android is an open source system based on ARM architecture that manufacturers and users can adapt as they wish.

iOS, closed system, Android open system: really?

In contrast, iOS is a closed and proprietary system and can only be installed on iPhones, iPads and iPods. Of course, from the very beginning this opposition is completely unrealistic, mainly due to jailbreak, which is a kind of root for Apple smartphones. Over the years, both root and jailbreak will become less and less convenient to use whenever possible.

In fact, the truth is often less clear when one is often asked to oppose two operating systems. For example, you can’t change absolutely everything on an iPhone X – you can’t specifically install it. initiator third parties – but on iOS unofficial apps like Tweaker actually let you go too far in customizing the interface. As it can on any Android smartphone. Conversely, you can always root Android smartphones or jailbreak some iPhones.

But in both cases, the procedure is complicated: Google, like Apple, puts a lot of effort into either preventing jailbreak altogether (Apple) or making rooting more complex and restrictive (Google). Some app publishers are increasingly relying on system features developed by Google to detect rooted smartphones and ban apps like Netflix from updating. Both have adopted features that are the main reason for jailbreaking or rooting.

Android and iOS: mutual borrowing

For example, there was the impossibility of walking the tree structure of files in modem mode or iPhone (which is now allowed by a native iOS 11 app). Both systems now have an app store, but were originally exclusive to Apple: the App Store was launched on June 29, 2007, and the Play Store on March 6, 2012. We see a lot of mutual borrowings in the interface: home button, multitasking management, switching to the app while surfing the web on certain pages…

Simplified bluetooth pairing of some Apple products now also has equivalent fast couple on Android. We could even see a newer borrowing that would bring the two systems even closer on updates. Android is far behind Apple but project shrill it should allow Android devices to update much better after all. On the Apple side, advanced users are much less limited than before, including the presence of terminal emulators / SSH in the Store.

On the device side, we’ve seen a lot of action in recent months, but the launch of the iPhone X hasn’t necessarily lost the competition. Already because manufacturers like Samsung have dominated AMOLED technology for much longer than Apple, even because they can offer artificial intelligence, quality photo sensors. At that time, Face ID quickly found its seriousness in facial recognition technology, finally and because it was as successful as it was. competitors, especially on the OnePlus 5T side.

Smartphone Android and iPhone: they all know how to do everything!

And we wouldn’t say the Animoji are a real selling point (especially since we’ll clearly see them coming to the Galaxy S9). All this to conclude: there are things that can be done on an iPhone, not an Android smartphone, and vice versa. The operation of iOS and Android has gotten much closer in recent years. Even in detail Android O has done a lot to better optimize RAM management, for example.

If we consider the performance, we should know how to put the benchmarks in perspective: we do not feel a big difference in use between smartphones under the Snapdragon 835, Exynos 8895 or Apple A11 Bionic, even with the second SoC. gets the best scores. And we find almost the same applications, the same games. Of course, all that is still required in Android is to choose your manufacturer carefully, really know what the support for updates will be, and access the latest features. However, it looks like Treble will eventually put an end to this situation.

And the vulnerabilities exploited to install third-party apps on iOS show that shutting down Apple is as much as turning on Android. And not to mention the sometimes equally shaky security of both systems. You can use few Apple accessories on Android, such as AirPods. And Chromecast solutions on iOS, specifically through Google Chrome. And it could go much further, especially if Apple decides to end certain limitations without technical justification.

Android and iOS: Today’s differences are more voluntary than objective

For example, the incompatibility of Apple Watch with Android and the incompatibility of the latest Apple accessories such as Android Gear watches on iOS, HomePod on Android, etc. In fact, apart from the voluntary incompatibilities often promoted by Apple, there are a few things objectively that really make Android and iOS different. Compared to SMS on Android, the only thing that still makes the user experience different is iMessage, but again with the adoption of RCS, the movement continues.

Note that this shows the exaggerated side of iPhone users’ addiction to the brand’s products. Without making it deadly. In fact, testing a good high-end Android smartphone like the OnePlus 5T, Pixel 2, or Note 8, to name a few, can now entice many users to switch (the reverse is also true, iPhone X for example, provided you’re prepared to bump your budget by two or three) , a real pleasure to use!). With incredible efforts, Google has managed to put itself on an equal footing: unlike Apple, Google is in a highly fragmented and complex environment.

Android and iOS: will the last walls fall tomorrow?

For example, Samsung, one of the world’s largest smartphone vendors, is trying to impose its alternative applications to the detriment of Google. And so it’s all very encouraging. For one thing, today there are no truly special things to one or the other device, whether you have an iPhone X or any high-end Android smartphone. Then and that’s a more personal hope, as it sheds light on the last few walls that still artificially separate the two platforms, which we can see slowly falling.

Do you think the difference between Android and iOS is necessary? As a result, do you think the “last walls” I mentioned will come down? Share your opinion in the comments!