Android and iOS now contribute to over 99 percent of all smartphones sold in recent times. This two-horse race is the cause of hour-long debates between the advocates of either clan. While some ardently stand by their platform of choice for years, a few others perpetually keep thinking that the grass is greener on the other side.
Gadgets 360 is run by people, and as individuals we’re bound to have our own preferences. While we don’t let these individual preferences cloud our judgement when it comes to giving all products we come across a fair run, as you would expect, most of us have strong opinions on most things tech, and this extends to our choice of mobile platform. We thought it would be interesting to share these points of view with our readers. So, without further ado, take a look at what the experts think, and why they consider sticking to either iOS or Android.
Rishi Alwani (iOS) — Hardware lasts longer. As if Apple dips its phones in the Lazarus Pit before sending them out to us. To put that into perspective, pre-iOS 10, I moved from a Nexus 6 to an iPhone 5s. Best decision ever. Has lasted longer than most of my other phones. And I go through a lot. Just waiting on the iPhone 6s to get a price drop before buying. Because the hardware lasts ridiculously long, a combination of buying a generation old and discounts makes it feasible in a country like ours where iOS devices are expensive.
Gopal Sathe (Android) — After being one of the BlackBerry Boys, I ended up drafted into the Android Army, but it wasn't because of any particular choice - it's just a lot more affordable than joining the Apple faithful. My tablet (yes, I believe there's room for those in our computing life) is an iPad Pro, and it's the best device I've got. And iPhones are great too - but they're also really expensive. And while there was a big difference between an iPhone and a more affordable Android phone in the past, today the gap has narrowed, and, for me, Apple fails to justify the premium.
Ali Pardiwala (Android) — I'm a loyal Android user not out of love for Android, but more out of a lack of enthusiasm for iOS or any other smartphone operating system. Android may have its flaws, but it's an open system that gives you access to lakhs of apps and services (some of them unique), as well as a diverse set of
Google's own services which boost your smartphone's capability at the native level.
At this stage, I'm heavily dependent on Google's cloud services, and the fact that Android's open nature makes it possible for me to buy a device of my choosing when it comes to hardware and software.
Abhinav Lal (Android) — There are several obvious things Android has that are lacking on iOS. These are the ability to customise, a user-accessible file system, and the ability to sideload apps. Another major difference is actually in a way a symptom of the first missing feature – and that is a user interface that is effectively crippled by Apple continuing to stick with a single-button interface. There is no implementation of on-screen navigation options to augment the single button, nor does Apple allow users to install ‘launchers’ or otherwise provide the ability to customise the hardware and software on offer.
Gagan Gupta (Android) — I like iOS on iPad more than iPhone. I expect my smartphone to be quick, customisable to my requirements and with easy file transfer options, and I get none of those with iPhones. I used the iPhone 6S Plus for a considerable amount of time, but I found the lack of Google integration cumbersome. Simple things like not being able to set icons the way you want is a big issue, and the same goes for its inability to give me a homescreen single-touch widget for my podcast player. Even though I don't use voice recognition very often, Google Now works when I ask it a question or ask it to do something. The only thing Siri is good for is sarcasm.
