It’s clear that Apple and Android are dominating the mobile market. What’s less clear is which one you should go with. Really, there’s no one best answer. Both Apple and Android have a lot of great features to offer, and the choice depends on which features are most important to you. Let’s take a look at how their mobile phones compare.
Devices
The main difference between Android and Apple is this: Apple produces and controls both the hardware (iPhone, iPad) and the software that runs it (iOS). Android, on the other hand, is only the software phone manufacturers license to use on their devices.
What does this mean for the consumer? With Apple you have only one choice – the iPhone. Apple claims that because they make both the hardware and software, both are designed to work together perfectly. (1) With Android, you can choose from a variety of phones including Samsung, LG, and Motorola.
Home Screen
The first noticeable difference in the Android and Apple mobile phones is the home screen. Android allows you to customize almost anything while iOS is very limited.
Something you’ll only get with Android are widgets. A widget is an auto-updating program that lives on your home screen. For example, you can display the weather, your Gmail account, or the stock market. Apps are displayed in the app drawer, which is a button found at the bottom of the screen. You can add icons for your favorite apps to the home screen. This is similar to the way Apple allows you to group apps in folders, but still, you have a bit more control with Android. Android also lets you create contact shortcuts. Add your favorite people to your home screen so you don’t have to search through your contact list each time.
Search bar
Android uses a Google search bar. It’s right on the main screen, which makes it fast and easy to find…well anything. Need to find a store, movie times, or just one of the many apps on your phone? Simply type in what you’re looking for and it will search both your apps and the internet.
Apple’s search feature is called “spotlight.” Swipe down to reveal the bar at the top of the home screen. Begin typing and the device will display content on your phone that matches. Unlike the Android, spotlight doesn’t search the internet.
Video Chat
Android uses Google Hangouts to video chat with friends and family. Because it’s linked through your Google account, you can chat with anyone on any device, including an iPhone or computer.
Apple uses FaceTime. However, it only allows you to video chat with other iOS devices.
Keyboard
Those small buttons can be awfully tricky to hit just right. That’s why the Google keyboard allows you to glide your finger from letter to letter when typing instead of lifting up between letters. It’s called gesture typing and is quite good at recognizing words.
Apple still requires you to punch in letters one by one. However, they both have auto correction and both systems allow you to dictate your messages by speaking into your device.
Voice commands
Both systems have a built-in voice recognition system that allows you to speak commands into your phone. Ask it to look up local movie times, book a restaurant, or check sports scores. You can also dictate messages and schedule calendar events.
Android uses Google Now. One of its added features is that you can set up calendar events with verbal reminders. When it’s time to leave, your phone will “tell” you. To access the voice feature on Android you must tap the microphone button or slide your finger across the keyboard.
Apple’s voice recognition system is completely finger free; just start talking from anywhere. “Siri” is her name.
Backing up information
Our entire lives are basically programmed into our phones, so it’s important to know what happens to all that data should anything go wrong.
Android uses your Google account to backup your phone’s settings and keep track of installed apps. Some apps are included with your phone such as Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Contacts. These apps are also linked to your Google account.
How does this help? If you lose your phone, get a new one, or restore your current phone to its default setting all your information is backed up in your Google account. All you have to do is log in to recover it.
There’s more; Android can automatically upload the photos you take on your phone to a private album on your Google Plus (2). Linking your Google account to your Android phone is optional.
Apple has a similar program called iCloud that automatically backs up your data each day. If you get a new Apple device, you can upload your data from iCloud so you don’t have to download it all again. (3)
A bonus feature of iCloud is that whenever data is added to your phone, such as apps, photos, and music, it’s automatically uploaded to your iCloud account and synced to any other devices you have with iCloud.
Security
Android and iOS both give you the option of setting up a password using numbers and letters. Android also includes pattern unlock in which you swipe your finger to connect dots on the screen. The pattern you choose is your code.
The iPhone 5s now has a fingerprint device built into the home button, adding an extra level of security. Use your finger to unlock your phone or to authorize purchases through iTunes.
Android or Apple?
Both systems have all the usual features such as web browsing, email, GPS, editing photos, streaming videos, playing games, and more. As long as there’s an app for it, you can do it. Some may argue over who has more available apps. But since both iOS and Android have hundreds of thousands of apps you’re pretty much guaranteed to find what you want. Find a few friends with different phones and play around to see what you like.
(1) www.apple.com
(3) ipod.about.com
