Switching to Android

[simonb]

@nickh

But how many photos are taken at that kind of time?

Pretty much every photo I take in this country, since I sleep in the day and work at night - by choice

[anon42572914]

If someone knows a way to have 1 contract but have 2 phones (ie one phone number, data package etc) then I would have both an iPhone and an android then I could choose which one I take with me each day.

I have a work phone which is an iPhone but I don’t want to use that for personal photos and banking etc.

[CJ0206 (CJ)]

I have a cheapo s4 Mini for side project/photography budiness phone, and the radio as I travel into work.

[Rika (Scarlet)]

I’m currently dual-wielding phones in my experiment I do about every two years when I’m coming up to needing a new main phone.

Android has gotten so much better in the ways that I care about over the last couple of years.

Apple have me so stuck though with the Watch, iMessage (family use it, friends use Signal or LINE), AirPlay 2/Apple TV, and so on.

[Anarchist (Press ‘Help’ search ‘Contact us’ or email help@monzo.com or call 0800 802 1281)]

@anon42572914

If someone knows a way to have 1 contract but have 2 phones (ie one phone number, data package etc) then I would have both an iPhone and an android then I could choose which one I take with me each day.

Buy two phones and swap the SIM as you please. Or use one of the phones as a mobile hotspot for data.

Neither do exactly what you want, but it would work.

[CJ0206 (CJ)]

@Anarchist

If someone knows a way to have 1 contract but have 2 phones (ie one phone number, data package etc) then I would have both an iPhone and an android then I could choose which one I take with me each day.

Buy two phones and swap the SIM as you please. Or use one of the phones as a mobile hotspot for data.

Neither do exactly what you want, but it would work.

Could always use WhatsApp as your network on the other phone? Again, not what you’re looking for but it’s sort of a work around

[awjdean]

A few things I noticed when I had to switch from Android to iOS in October last year:

• iOS fingerprint sensor UX is much, much better than on Android.

• I found the Apple Wallet & Apple Pay UX better than Google Pay.

• Google Assistant is incredible: it’s leagues ahead of Siri and looks like it’s only going to get better. Google’s article tailored recommendations etc… are also amazing. I can’t see any way that Apple can catch Google in terms of this sort of AI since Google are currently much, much better at it and have sooooooooooo much more data than Apple which means Google’s AI will be improving at a faster rate.

• Android’s notification UX is much better ahead of iOS imo.

• Chrome is better than Safari, which shouldn’t make much difference since I’ve downloaded the Chrome app on my iPhone, but iOS sometimes forces me to open links from other apps in Safari which is really annoying.

• The way the autocorrect on iOS works is extrememly frustrating. It “corrects” stuff while a message is being sent (ie: after clicking the send button) causing the wrong stuff to be sent. On Android you have to explicitly click if you want to autocorrect to change something before sending.

• I don’t like how iOS doesn’t let you uninstall/replace some of the “core” apps like Safari, Health, iOS Photos.

My favourite thing about all Google’s stuff is that you can access everything very easily and from most devices. I can go onto any computer with Chrome installed, add my account, wait a few mins and all my extensions, passwords, bookmarks, cards etc… are avaliable to use. I can also do the same to an Android phone and anything I do on my phone or one of Google’s really good web apps automatically gets synched across (eg: passwords, cards contacts, calendar, maps, photos, drive, gmail etc…).

At the end of the day, it’s great that both companies are constantly improving features and coming up with different ones which the other then copies - the competition means a better OS for both sides.

[Eden]

@asapb3rto

I am no looking for a reason to switch to android

Why?

You’re post read like your searching for a reason to justify switching, you already said yourself you basically prefer iOS with your last statement. So why switch at all?

I moved from Android to iOS fyi (Googles flagship Pixel to Apples flagship XS, the difference is night and day XS is better in basically every way), so not the opinion your looking for but i switched for the better applications, the more cohesive ecosystem, the better balance or privacy and security and the focus that’s away from your data being their business model. So it made complete sense to move to Apple.

@asapb3rto

I feel that I will regret it because I’m locked into the ecosystem with the Apple Watch etc

This is the upside and downside of it all working to well together. Apples stuff Just Works™ with Apple stuff, and you simply cant get that better anywhere else, not even close.

[Ryan1992 (Ryan)]

It’s the Apple ecoSystem that always gets me too.
I do feel I should give Android a chance I really do … BUT, I can’t seem to pull myself away from Apple!

[awjdean]

@Eden

This is the upside and downside of it all working to well together. Apples stuff Just Works™ with Apple stuff, and you simply cant get that better anywhere else, not even close.

Not sure I agree with this.

The Apple Watch integration is definitely better than Android alternatives, but the stuff Google does with syching between its web and app software is really, really good (as I mention here), so I strongly disagree with your “not even close” comment - I actually think Google’s app synching between different devices is better than Apple’s.

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@Eden

I moved from Android to iOS fyi (Googles flagship Pixel to Apples flagship XS, the difference is night and day XS is better in basically every way), so not the opinion your looking for but i switched for the 1. better applications, 2. the more cohesive ecosystem, 3. the better balance or privacy and 4. security and the focus that’s away from your data being their business model.

1. Personally, I think Google’s applications are much better than Apple’s (eg: maps, keep, drive, calendar, gmail etc…).

2. Recently Google have done a really good job creating their own cross-device ecosystem which allows you to access all your Google services quickly, easily and from almost any device and I think they’ve completely closed the gap and even improved on Apple’s offering (hardware aside - eg: watch, iPad, Airpods).

3. I’m not sure why people take issue to companies using your data to improve their products (it’s just the same as agreeing to let a company like Microsoft use your data to improve Microsoft word) and the tailored AI stuff is actually really useful.

4. Android is just as secure as iOS.

[Eden]

@awjdean

Personally, I think Google’s applications are much better than Apple’s (eg: maps, keep, drive, calendar, gmail etc…).

Googles google apps are very good, im more talking about apps in general, ive found iOS apps for the most part to be better polished, less buggy, and just generally nicer to use.

@awjdean

I’m not sure why people take issue to companies using your data to improve their products (it’s just the same as agreeing to let a company like Microsoft use your data to improve Microsoft word) and the tailored AI stuff is actually really useful.

Its not an issue of using data to improve products, Apple do that as well. Im talking more specifically about the balance of privacy and security, i prefer apple on that part.

Keep in mind, you are the product for Google. google are an advertising company, that is their business, and they make almost all of their money form using your data for advertising. So we are clear, of everything Google does, it all supports their advertising business which makes up around 85% of all the money they make.

Im just giving my reasons for moving away from Google. IM not saying they don’t do things well, if they didn’t they wouldn’t sell so many ads im not saying all andoird apps are bad, nor am i saying google has no privacy or security. Just that i prefer Apples approach better.

[simonb]

It doesn’t require switching, but one huge advantage that Google have is that they are absolutely destroying Apple in the smart home market.

Between the Nest lineup and the Google Home lineup, you really can’t get a better system for home automation.

[ravipatel (Ravi)]

@nickh

If you are really into photography, you’ll likely have your own camera anyway (that would smash any mobile device). If you want the absolute best mobile camera, then sure, you can get an Android device (one of those you mentioned).

I have an expensive(ish) mirrorless Sony with a fast prime which takes pics that are light years better than my phone. But I would say 0.5% of all my pics are taken with it so u still absolutely do care about how good my phone’s camera is.

For most regular people (who still want great pics) their phone is their only camera.

[ravipatel (Ravi)]

@Eden

Keep in mind, you are the product for Google. google are an advertising company, that is their business, and they make almost all of their money form using your data for advertising. So we are clear, of everything Google does, it all supports their advertising business which makes up around 85% of all the money they make.

I just find this argument so lazy and lacking in depth. When you’re watching Game of Thrones are you the product because ultimately they are monetising viewers through commercial?

Of course Google monetise mainly through advertising. But Google have to compete on being the best in everything they do since all their services are free at the point of use and there are countless competitors.

Apple definitely have an advantage in user privacy since they don’t rely on advertising revenue but then they also don’t have the same incentive to make their services great as they can just rely on being the default option and simply lock out competition.

There’s also the fact that while Google may show you ads, they are absolutely incentivised to keep your data private and secure as that is the entire basis for their competitive edge. Their whole advantage is that they have your data and giving it away to third parties would be suicidal.

And finally, not all Google services have ads. You can happily use things like Gmail, Doc, Drive, Assistant and many others without ever actually seeing an ad.

[kolok]

@Anarchist

The best way to decide would be to buy a cheapish second hand phone, and have a play with it.

Cheap androids are really poor, I think mid and low range androids is where it’s bad name really comes from, you need a flagship android to compare side by side to apple.

With the flagship devices going up every year in price , people go for lower spec ones which they can’t do with apple and they rightfully decide that it’s not upto par with an apple performance and build quality wise.

[anon28680395]

@Eden

I moved from Android to iOS fyi (Googles flagship Pixel to Apples flagship XS, the difference is night and day XS is better in basically every way), so not the opinion your looking for but i switched for the better applications, the more cohesive ecosystem, the better balance or privacy and security and the focus that’s away from your data being their business model. So it made complete sense to move to Apple.

But productivity-wise, how do you survive without widgets and proper notifications?

I also hear that cross-app sharing is still leagues behind on iOS?

[awjdean]

Although Google Nest and Google WiFi do need a hardware upgrade to compete with some of the best options on the market, I’d back Google’s software, especially their AI software, to become better than their competitors in the next few years.

[anon38670904]

@ravipatel

I just find this argument so lazy and lacking in depth.

It’s not lazy, it’s just simple. Some people don’t like the idea of being considered a data point to be monetised to an extreme degree, which is exactly how Google treats it’s users. Google users seem to be fine with that so more power to them. Others prefer not being treated this way and that’s ok too.

[Jonny5 (Jon)]

I have had an iPhone from the 4 … have had iPads and bought the iWatch (impulse buy, did not use). Have just recently gone over the the Galaxy 9 for no other reason then I got bored with Apple. Also bought a Tab 4s.

Apple products integrate a lot better than Android, however I do like the Galaxy 9. Will I go back, maybe if there is a big change and the iPhone becomes a must have for me.

[m5mith (Michael)]

@Jonny5

I got bored with Apple

That was also my reason for switching to Android

I had been using iPhones since the first generation, thinking I was locked into the Apple ecosystem for eternity.

But I started looking at the Galaxy S10+ and spent months looking at the specs, trying out demo models before eventually upgrading a couple of months ago.

I moved everything off iCloud onto the Google equivalents before I even got the S10 and switched back to Spotify from Apple Music.

Because I got the Galaxy buds as part of my contract, I handed in my AirPods at the local Apple Store who could send them for recycling (I didn’t get any money back but I got value out of them for the 2.5 years they lasted). I have also just got rid of my iPad Pro and its accessories - Music Magpie’s offer was decent for its age - and I now do everything with my S10.

I have likened Apple’s ecosystem to a certain repressive country for being so closed off and tightly controlled by Apple. But it was easier to get out of than I thought it would be!

I haven’t regretted switching at all