Debunking Common Myths: 5 Things iPhone Users Get Wrong About Android – Android Authority

Apple’s iPhones have amassed enormous success, particularly in the United States thanks to the popularity of iMessage. In fact, it’s not uncommon to hear Apple fans criticizing Android phones for a variety of reasons.

There are, however, many myths that some iPhone users have about Android. So we’re setting the record straight by debunking some of the most stubborn claims.

This is one of the most prominent claims by some iPhone users, saying that all Android phones are cheap. Yes, there are plenty of Android phones that are cheaper than iPhones, like the Galaxy A series, Xiaomi’s Redmi Note phones, and Motorola’s Moto G handsets. But these are budget phones to begin with.

There are also many Android phones that are as expensive as, or more than, iPhones. This includes the Galaxy S24 series ($800 to $1,299), the Google Pixel 8 lineup ($699 to $999), the Xiaomi 14 series (~$1,070 to ~$1,640) and more. These prices also increase when considering different storage variants. Then there are foldable phones, which are actually more expensive than high-end iPhones. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Google Pixel Fold both launched at $1,799. In contrast, the most expensive iPhone model currently starts at $999 and goes up to $1,599 for the 1TB variant.

Another statement often repeated by iPhone users is that Android phones don’t last as long. This was a valid complaint in the early 2010s, as Android lacked features to maintain smooth performance over time. But things have changed a lot since then. Android tweaks and manufacturer-specific additions aimed at improving long-term performance all contribute to phones that should still be smooth after a few years.

It’s also worth noting that Apple’s iPhones have actually lagged behind many Android phones for the longest time when it comes to battery degradation. Apple said iPhone batteries would drop to 80% of their rated capacity after just 500 charge cycles. This figure means that the iPhone 14 series and earlier models would effectively lose 20% of their battery capacity after a year or a year and a half of use. The company reportedly continues to improve things with the iPhone 15 series, now claiming to hold 80% capacity after 1,000 charge cycles.

Samsung and Google haven’t revealed charging cycle information for years. But brands like OnePlus, realme, vivo and OPPO all promise that their phones’ batteries will drop to 80% of their effective capacity after 1,600 charge cycles. That’s an impressive figure, meaning the battery should still have good battery life after around four or five years. Xiaomi has also touted 800 charge cycles before reaching 80% effective capacity on its phones with 120W or 200W charging. Even the newest budget Nokia phones offer 800 charge cycles before reaching 80% of effective capacity. capacity, surpassing the iPhone 14 series and previous Apple models.

Another modern myth that had some basis was that Android phones didn’t get updates. This was true to some extent a decade ago, as many manufacturers only offered two years of updates at best. In fact, it was a big deal for Android when the first Pixel phones offered three years of updates.

Since then, things have changed enormously. The best Android phones from Samsung and Google both receive seven years of updates, outperforming iPhones. Apple’s iPhones don’t actually come with formal update policies, but they typically have software support for about six years. Samsung and Google’s older flagships, as well as their mid-range phones, are getting five years of updates.

It’s not just Samsung and Google that offer lengthy updates. High-end phones from other manufacturers like OPPO, OnePlus, HONOR, Xiaomi and vivo also receive five years of updates. However, there are still some outliers. Companies like ASUS, Sony, HMD and ZTE still offer a measly two or three years of updates. Low-end phones like Motorola, Realme and Xiaomi also receive pitiful update promises.

But overall, if you spend iPhone money on an Android device, you’ll get a long, steady stream of updates. And if you buy a Galaxy S24 or Pixel 8 phone, you’ll get an update policy that beats the iPhone.

Apple’s iPhones are undoubtedly great camera phones, but it’s fair to say that many high-end Android phones have actually matched or surpassed Apple on the photography front.

Our own Pixel 8 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro camera shootout revealed that while both phones were excellent shooters, the Pixel 8 Pro offered better consistency in various situations. Colleague Dhruv Bhutani also felt that the Pixel 8 Pro beat the iPhone 15 Pro Max for photos when taking both phones to a concert (see above). This advantage extends to the camera hardware realm, as Android manufacturers have often been early adopters of innovations like folded zoom cameras, ultra-wide lenses, and more.

iPhones are still considered better for capturing video, and Dhruv shares this sentiment in his article. It must be said, however, that Apple generally enjoys better image quality when using the camera feature in third-party apps, thanks to better developer support. But Samsung is changing the game thanks to partnerships with Snapchat and Instagram.

Apple’s iMessage doesn’t support RCS (yet), resulting in poor image quality for Android users. But this is more of an Apple problem rather than a problem with Android cameras.

This point of contention really depends on what you’re used to. If you’ve only used iPhones, you’ll obviously find Android phones a bit confusing. If you’ve only used Android phones, you’ll likely find iOS somewhat unintuitive. I find iPhones unintuitive, but that’s because I rarely use them anyway.

Although it is true that overall Android is not as simple an operating system as Apple’s iOS, mainly due to the additional customization options it offers, it is very intuitive an once you get used to it. And it won’t take you more than a few days if you use it from an iPhone.

Some Android manufacturers even try to please iPhone users by deviating from established Android standards. For example, many Chinese OEMs let you disable the app drawer completely. Xiaomi also mimics iOS by letting you access notifications with a swipe down from the top left, while quick settings can be accessed with a swipe down from the top right. In comparison, many other OEMs offer a combination of quick settings and notification, accessible with a simple swipe down from anywhere.

This gap can lead to some inconsistencies between different Android brands, but sticking to the same brand is a surefire way to avoid them for the most part.