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Margot Robbie @lemmy.world

How does everyone feel about iPhones?

Surprise.

Bet you didn't see this one coming.

This week's post has been pretty late. I'm a bit troubled by yesterday's thread on Apple. So, a foreword: It's OK to prefer something over another, it's not OK to say people who like different phones than you are somehow more childish or less intelligent than you. Again, we are going for casual, yet intensely helpful here, so please don't call people names over petty reasons, we have rules here.

Previously on Lemmy:

Past Discussions:

In this post, it's not about saying how bad iPhones are, but I'd just like to hear the perspective on iPhones from Android users. I, for one, had an old iPhone 4 for a long time (call it nostalgia, or laziness, or just being cheap), and it was my general frustration with the device that ultimately led to my preference for Androids, (It was quite a while back though).

  • It was absolutely painful to transfer files from the phone to my computer (Ugh, iTunes).
  • I got it pre-jailbroken and didn't realize you can't just update the system casually, so it was really fun trying to find ways to downgrade the system until I realized that I can't and have to pray for the next jailbreak to get half my things working again.
  • The 40-pin cable wears out so fast, and always in the same spot on the strain relief. I swear I've gone through 3 of these cables in one year just from normal use.
  • All the browsers are somehow flavors of Safari. To do anything, I will have the choice of ad-filled websites, or ad-filled apps.

It always just seemed like I'm fighting against the system. Never did I have that "it just works" moment, until I've got my first Android, and realize I have the freedom to do whatever I want with it, and I can install what I want, and if there's a problem, I can look things up and fix it myself.

(Having a back button is also a game changer.)

Of course, there is a lot that Android manufacturers can learn from Apple as well, one of the most obvious one is the time for software support: I think my old iPhone has gone through like 3 version updates over the years, whereas currently I'm lucky to get 2 out of any Android manufacturer.

But it seems that Android manufacturers are more content on copying things that works for iOS, but doesn't work for Android, like removing the headphone jack. Or big notches. (It makes no sense to do that because of Android's notification system uses the full length of the bar.) It's gotten to the point that I don't think people who makes Android phones actually uses Android but are content to copy superficial features from Apple without understanding why Apple do them.

Like a bunch of lemmings. (Heh)

Again, these are my personal preferences, I have nothing against people who prefers iPhones, nor do I think they are lesser for it, but it's just not for me.

I'd use a one as a work phone/for iMessages though.

130 comments

  • Sideloading:

    1. I'd be restricted to the apps on the app store that have to restrict themselves to the app store policies.
    2. I wouldn't have an alternative way to download an app if it gets banned from the app store for any reason. I remember hearing about Fortnite getting banned from both app store and play store but android users can still play it.
    3. I couldn't use modified apps like revanced.
    4. I think you'd be restricted to region locks in app store which you can circumvent on play store by running a vpn, force stopping play store and then clearing data on it.
    5. Being restricted to app store only means some extraordinary apps wouldn't be developed like the cool apps on android that aren't on play store.
    6. Sometimes developers make different versions of the same apps. One is a bit restricted and is for play store. It's restricted because it has to follow play store policies. The other version ends up having more features. I don't see this happening on iOS. I heard about EU asking them to make a way to sideload, but I also heard that that might be restricted to EU only which means it wouldn't pick up as much as it could.

    Aesthetics:

    Nothing much to say except I don't like the iOS ui. I even fine it ugly. I much prefer the material you thing android is doing.

    Lack of your own choice:

    1. Apple decides for its users. They removed headphone jacks and then the sim card thing in US for no reason. Since they only have flagships, that's all the users are restricted to.

    Android flagships sadly seem to follow their example soon enough

    1. All the browsers on iOS are just reskinned safari.

    General bias:

    I don't like apple handles their things and many of their users. That affects my decision so I think I should put it here as a reason. I don't think I have to mention what apple does but for their users, I live in Asia and a lot of people see iphones as a status thing which I find annoying. Feels like a matter of shoving cash in your face to flex. There's also the bubble thing I hear in US which I find ridiculous.

    Other points:

    1. No back button
    2. No revanced.
    3. Ecosystem locked.
    4. Only expensive phones.

  • I would desperately miss customization, and I'm hoping to increasingly move to open source options, so iOS wouldn't really be a good fit for my needs

  • Why I use Android:

    Sideloading

    • As far as I know, hosting apps on the Play Store (and App Store) costs money. This means that many apps have to be downloaded via other means. Sideloading facilitates this.
    • Piracy isn't possible without the ability to sideload apps.
    • Modifying apps isn't either. This means apps like Revanced can't exist on iOS.

    Rooting

    • I use Viper4Android, an amazing equalizer app that only works on rooted devices. Wavelet is a non-root alternative by the same developer, but it lacks many features and has some technical limitations.
    • I take care of my phone's battery by limiting how full it charges overnight. This is only possible on a rooted device (or on Samsung, but 85% is the only option).
    • I want the ability to uninstall system apps. They consume resources in the background and take up unnecessary space. I imagine people with more powerful (expensive) phones don't necessarily desire this ability.
    • I want to be able to customize the UI. I don't want an alarm clock icon, a vibrate icon, two signal bars, a 4G or wifi icon and the battery icon taking up half the status bar.

    Custom ROMs

    • With an open-source custom ROM, I can be sure that my device doesn't have any spyware as part of the operating system.
    • Custom ROMs often allow more customizations and use less memory because they aren't cluttered with useless OEM stuff.

  • besides the price being outrageous, dealbreakers for me are forbidden sideloading and no usb-c cable support. when the eu law requiring both kicks in i think iphones could be fine.

  • I worked at AT&T when iphones first were a thing. Everything was proprietary (still is) with them, and employees weren't allowed to own phones for the first few years on employee accounts for some unknown reason. When I became a case manager for the executive response team, I finally got to have an iPhone. And... It was boring. I couldn't customize it (granted this was the iPhone 3G in 2008) and it just really didn't excite me. Then I got an Android phone on a whim, and fell in love. All the options!! The things you can do or choose not to do! Amazing! And still to this day whenever I play with an iPhone... It bores me to death.

  • I like them, but I like Android more, I was an iPhone user since the 4 model up to 6s, my girlfriend still is, she currently has an iPhone 13 and I am amazed of how well iOS feels and behaves, we also share an iPad it’s so good to use and with Apple you get a shit ton of versions support as well.

    The iOS apps also have its charm, I think many of them are better crafted on iOS than Android…

    I like Android for everything that has been discussed here already, but who knows if I go back someday to iOS, still need to improve, for now I think it is that good that jailbreak does not feels like a necessity like back in the days…

  • I admit I didn't read many replies due to time. But to add to them, the more I deal with my mother who is becoming more technologically challenged in her years, I constantly get to hear about how confusing her Android is sometimes, I sort of wish she'd switch to Apple for it's simplicity! I used to have an iMac and was gladly part of the eco-system for a while and enjoyed how intuitive it was. With that said, when the time came for me to join the Smartphone world in '10 or so - I went Android and haven't looked back.

    We've looked at them in the past and while they make solid quality phones and easy to use phones, from what I understand, the battery life is somewhat to be desired? (as of a few years ago). The formula they use to make everything stay within their Eco-system seems to be working for them. After all, if you have an iPhone, then it seamlessly works with your Mac, or other Apple Devices. There's more control over it.

    For the best flexibility with our family, we use Android and will for the time being. Not to say though that the newer Linux based phones (PinePhone,Librephone etc) aren't catching my attention because they are and I'm a die hard Linux user! :)

  • My first contact with iOS was with an ipod touch 4. I was very excited to finally try it as I had never used one nor any smartphone before and I used to follow a lot of tech folks who constantly praised iOS and mocked android left and right.

    My first reaction was disappointment. I couldn't believe that was the OS that I had read so many positive reviews of. It felt like it did nothing. Even just browsing the web on it felt so much worse than even the hacked Nintendo DS I had put a browser on. Apple claimed it could multitask, but their idea of multitask was to hibernate an app so you could launch another, then hibernate the second to go back to the first. Apps couldn't process anything unless they were in the foreground. I soon gave up on trying to use multiple apps at the same time.

    I later got my first smartphone and I decided to try android, even though I had read so many bad things about it. The experience was the complete opposite. I expected nothing and received an OS filled with every sort of thing I could imagine. It was slow and sometimes it would crash or have other problems, but at least it could do stuff. I loved it.

    As the years went by I eventually had to work with multiple apple devices, including iPhones and iPads. Everytime I did, I continued to have the same impression I had back then: "other than it's main basic purpose, I can't think of anything to use this device for".

    I had a few android tablets over the years that I always used to write notes (with a pen), browse Twitter side by side with some streaming service, access my computer remotely to load some file I might have forgotten, use as a remote control for playing music on other devices and a lot of shit like that. The iPad I was being paid to create an app for could do none of those things.

    Now it's been over a decade since I last tried any Apple product , so I don't really know what the current experience is, but I've dealt with apple in other ways and it only feels like they are always doubling down in being that way.

    BTW I also used to have a windows phone device and at the time it felt like the combination of all the good things about android and iOS without their bad things. I'm still sad it didn't survive long.

  • I use both devices and to me I prefer the iPhone for its simplicity in UX of things such as audio handoff between devices with airpods, the ease of using their “Find My” network. And being able to use iMessage/FaceTime seamlessly with other apple users without them needing another account to use Wi-Fi calling/messaging. The camera/photos/iCloud integration is much better too.

    Android is much better for various little apps. They are more permissive on the App Store and even if they weren’t you can easily side load. Things like emulators are way more convenient as well as various other self hostable projects that can extend the life of the device even when it’s no longer adequate for communications.

    Personally I prefer the ubiquitousness and of the apple ecosystem and I prefer the smaller form factor for phones and so the iPhone 13 mini is my preferred device. If there isn’t another small form factor phone from apple when it’s time for me to upgrade then I’ll probably try to look into whatever the latest fairphone at the time is (if it’s still supported in the US)

    If the manufacturers would stay out of Google’s way and let there be a unified android experience without manufacturer bloat then it’d probably be the best as pixels are fantastic phones with good support, they are just a bit too big for my liking

  • I thought they were neat when they were the first smart phone I handled. But when I got to try out some 'droids at the store when buying my first device, I liked the interface better and knowing they were more open and customizable, not to mention way fucking cheaper, it was no contest. The only Apple product I ever really thought had no equal was the first couple generations of iPod.

  • I'm so used to Android that when I try to use a friend's iPhone it just doesn't seem intuitive to me. But to be fair the same happens with heavily modified versions of Android, like MIUI.

    I think iPhones are mostly ok, but I can't stand the fact that something so expensive feels so laggy because of the 60Hz refresh rates.

    They have pretty damn good face recognition though, but at the price of a gigantic pill/notch on the screen.

  • I see iPhones as remarkable feats of technology shrouded by greedy business practices and a cultish fan base that alienates everyone that doesn't conform to the Apple way. If Apple had an execute shakeup and started becoming pro-consumer instead of pro-shareholder then the Apple ecosystem could be an amazing tool that everyone can use, not just iPhone fanatics. I'd love to bring a Macbook around with me because of the portability and reliability, but the cost and lack of support for anything non-apple makes me consider other options, like Framework, Samsung or Lenovo, which I'm fine with. They all build fantastic machines, but they're limited by the instability of the operating systems I can choose from.

  • I had no small amount of issues with the one iPhone I ever owned, and have had no interest in trying a new one since switching to android. I'm further discouraged from even giving one a shot because of how difficult Apple made it to switch to android the first time, so if I didn't like the phone I'd have to jump through hoops to switch back. That being said, I will never care what kind of phone someone else uses. If you've had great experiences with iPhones, I'm happy you found something you like.

  • At first it was cost. Android phones and tablets were (and mostly still are) less expensive. Now that I have used both, I very much prefer Android devices.

    For most people I'm sure the difference is negligible or maybe they even find Apple devices easier to use. For me iOS has always been a struggle between what I want to do and what the software requires before it will do it. Although Android devices are not as open as they once were, they are far more customizable than the iPhone.

  • Over the course of 14 years, I had five different iPhones: 3GS in 2009, iPhone 4S in 2011, iPhone 6 in 2014, an iPhone XS in 2018 and now a work-only phone owned by my company which I don't know the model of - I barely use it. I also had a brief Android-spell from mid-2010 until the release of the 4S with an HTC Legend which was a truly awful experience, and turned me off from Android for a long time until I bought a Fairphone 4 for personal use end of last year and installed CalyxOS on it. No regrets making the switch.

    But yeah, I liked iPhones for a while. My prejudice against Android was unfortunate, but HTC Legend was a truly awful phone that lost support for updates quickly after I got it, and was also not prioritized by the modding community. I was going to get an HTC Desire, but they were sold out at the time, and I was about to go into the military, so waiting was not an option. If I got the Desire, I think the experience would've been better, but instead I sat with the impression that you could not count on long-term support for Android-devices, and that the hardware was rubbish.

    I adopted iPhones at the same time as I departed from my teenage more tech-oriented years in favor of more social stuff at high school and university, so avoiding spending time on customization through the whole "you get what exactly we want you to get"-vibe of Apple worked fine for me then. It is the same shit that eventually drove me mad and made me ditch both iOS and macOS last year in favor of Android and Linux.

    The hardware itself is quite good. They lasted increasingly longer for my use, but battery performance was shit towards the end and I was not going to spend a fortune changing the battery. My new phone has an easily changeable battery. Other than repairability, new features of smartphones have not excited me for many years.

    The Apple ecosystem never really worked for me. I had iCloud only because the price point was much better than Dropbox for my use when I made the change. Other than that I really didn't use much of their stuff, which made the transition a lot easier than it could've been. Exporting iCloud-stuff from a non-Apple device was a chore though... But since I also did not use much of the ecosystem, that was also a big "why bother"-point. But my main grievance is the lack of openness and control over your own device. I also have an old iPad now that sits with no use cases, because I can't get a recent enough iOS-version installed, and I can't install another operating system as far as I know. It's so wasteful.

  • They are many nice things about them.

    • great build quality
    • long software support
    • brick and mortar repair
    • cohesive ecosystem
    • products aren't abandoned
    • devices hold their value

    I really wish I could use them but there are simply a lot of things about Android that I find more important.

    • ironically, not being bound into an ecosystem
    • much more freedom of device choice\
    • can install whatever apps you want
    • i refuse to use a device without a headphone jack
    • far more customizable

  • I've only ever had two iPhones, my 5S, and the 13 I got from work.

    All of the issues surrounding the phone are still present, and with no loss of quality in any way on Android I don't see why I'd ever choose to spend the money on something that I'm mostly paying for the name on.

130 comments