How To Change From Android To Iphone

I switched to iPhone afterward over a decade on Android — this is what happened

(Paradigm credit: Tom's Guide)

Android vs. iOS, a tale for the ages. These ii mobile operating systems boss the smartphone market place, pushing out all other contenders in their bid for command. Where Android is more open, in that anyone can use it with some caveats, iOS is a so-called "walled garden" controlled by Apple.

When both the smartphone manufacture and I were younger, I was in the Android tribe. I hated anything to exercise with Apple tree and its strict control over iOS. I rooted my Android devices and flashed custom ROMs and kernels. I thought I was in an elite group.

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It wasn't until I matured that I saw the benefits of Apple's ecosystem. I don't find macOS specially well-suited to my computing needs, but I respect the integration between information technology and iOS. I dearest smartwatches, merely no Android option comes close to what the Apple Spotter offers. And let's non forget about how long Apple supports its devices, especially when compared to Android updates. There'southward a lot to exist said for that.

Curiosity got the ameliorate of me in one case iOS xiv came out last year, and then I saved upwards some money and bought a used iPhone eight. I replaced the battery at a nearby Apple tree Store and went along my merry way. Suffice to say, information technology was a foreign and interesting experience seeing what the "other side" was like.

Switching to iPhone: What I liked

switching to ios: galaxy s21 plus vs iphone 12 pro — (Image credit: Tom'southward Guide)

Since getting my iPhone 8, I started hither at Tom'south Guide and got a chance to utilise both an iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro. All 3 iPhones that I accept are beautifully-built, wonderfully-engineered devices. The iPhone 8 is sleek and feels paper thin. The iPhone 12 and 12 Pro accept those sharp edges and a heft to them, making for solid pieces of metal and glass. The displays on the newer phones are awesome and hold up quite well side by side to the Milky way S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus that I've also used.

In other words, Apple makes some fine phones. That doesn't mean that you lot tin't find something equivalent in the Android ecosystem, but even Apple tree'due south $399 iPhone SE, which uses the aforementioned body as the iPhone viii, feels nice.

Having spectacular hardware is fine and all, just while you can love the way your telephone looks and feels, information technology'south the software that determines its usability. This has always been a sticking point for me — I liked Apple'due south hardware, but iOS felt as well chaotic to me. The lack of an app drawer, being stuck with Apple'south apps past default, and the lack of habitation screen widgets were all part of what I didn't remember I could stand. As I mentioned earlier, iOS fourteen convinced me to reconsider, to see if I could actually alive with iOS after using Android since the first Android phone, the HTC G1.

Using iOS for the first time, I had no idea what I was doing. I like to think that I can learn new technology pretty quickly, merely nonetheless, Apple does an excellent job with new user onboarding. From setting up TouchID to installing some apps, the process was seamless. Setting up a new Android phone for the very first fourth dimension isn't equally easy past comparison. Granted, if yous're restoring the iPhone or Android device from a backup, they both feel pretty similar. Just from a strictly new user perspective, iOS takes a step alee.

Speaking of apps, the selection and quality available in the App Shop handily beats the Play Store. Using the same apps on both my iPhone and Android phone — for example, DS File for my Synology NAS or my banking app — I was blown away by the differences. The ones on iOS looked beautiful and had a cohesive design language. Whereas with Android, you might discover some apps that utilize Textile Design, like most of Google's suite, but different applications can experience disparate.

Also, sheer app functioning on iOS feels ameliorate for the well-nigh office. Accept my cyberbanking app, USAA. On Android, it's clunky and irksome with choppy animations and sluggish transitions, even on a Galaxy S21 Plus. On iOS, the app runs as shine as butter. Information technology not only looks nicer in subtle means, only it feels similar it works improve than its Android analogue. I'm using the latest and greatest when it comes to Android and some apps still slog, take forever to open, or hang when I tap their notifications. The latter complaint might exist addressed with Android 12, simply we'll have to see how many app makers actually accept advantage of information technology.

That leads me to what makes iOS piece of work and then well: its cohesive blueprint. Everything feels like it belongs when yous use iOS. Apps piece of work in much the aforementioned way, gestures on the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro are integrated beautifully, and the OS itself seems to focus on working right out of the box. Certainly, iOS isn't without fault, but I like the sense that my iPhone will work when I pick it up and slot in my SIM. Especially coming from mostly Nexus, OnePlus, and Pixel phones, I await something on an Android device to be weird or become haywire.

While Android doesn't lack for app availability or diversity, iOS but has higher quality versions in my experience, in addition to apps that are unique to the App Shop. This isn't meant to detract from the incredible apps that you can download from the Play Shop. I employ several wonderful indie apps daily on my Android devices that I wish I could find on iOS (like Pure Writer, a markdown editor).

Switching to iPhone: What I didn't similar

You might think that I've become an iOS catechumen. Although I do enjoy using the iPhone 12 Pro (especially given how meaty it is), I still primarily apply Android. I take several reasons for this, even if I question myself every other day.

My choice to use Android comes down to notifications. Even outside of my chore here at Tom'due south Guide, I receive a lot of notifications in a twenty-four hours. 1 way I stay on top of them is by doing triage in the notification shade — deleting emails, replying inline to Betoken or Discord letters, and then on. I also like Android eleven'due south notification grouping, making it easier for me to see what'due south of import. And, of class, we can't forget about Clear All to get rid of anything remaining.

In contrast, I have a much harder time doing the same things in iOS. It took me a bit to effigy out long pressing on a notification to get a menu, but the process feels clunkier and less efficient than doing it on Android. How iOS groups notifications even so baffles me, too.

Although Apple lets you set a third-political party keyboard in iOS, the process doesn't always work right. I adopt Gboard, but iOS will go back to its default keyboard when entering passwords or at random times. It doesn't help that the large keyboard switching icon in the bottom left corner is very hands pressed, either.

Apple tree is loosening its grip on iOS slowly but surely. I replaced Safari with Chrome as my default browser and set ProtonMail as my default electronic mail customer, but I'm withal stuck with using Signal separately from the default SMS app. On Android, all of my chats, including texts, are in the aforementioned app and easier to manage. Simply if I'm using an iPhone and a Signal contact tin only send me an SMS, I receive the chat exterior of Indicate. Information technology'due south a nitpicky affair, but something I discover often.

Switching to iPhone: Outlook

Change is hard to take sometimes and it's not easy going outside of your comfort zone. That's how I experience about the Android vs. iOS fence. Android is what I'm familiar and comfortable with, but Google's software isn't perfect. Even on the high-performing phones, Android tin take hiccups, stutters, and delays considering of app inconsistency and memory mismanagement. Unless you're on a Pixel, updates tin can also be a bit of a mess, even if some of the OEMs are getting better at rolling out timely updates.

Right now, I consider myself platform-doubter. Android does sure things better, whereas iOS has its ain strengths. Information technology is nice, still, that no matter what iPhone I pick up, the handset volition work like the others for the most role, with a consistent user experience. I have however to see a hiccup, stutter, or delay when opening and using apps on iOS. In all honesty, part of me likes using the iPhone 12 Pro more than the Milky way S21 Plus that's my current daily driver — yous tin can read my full Galaxy S21 Plus vs. iPhone 12 Pro breakdown for why that is.

As it stands, I switch betwixt Android and iOS oft, though the more I use the iPhone 12 Pro, the more I'k convinced to go far my main phone. Android and I become way dorsum, and it's in a not bad spot right now, simply I demand to permit go of useless loyalties and nostalgia to make sure I'm using the best device for me.

More: Galaxy S21 vs. iPhone 12

Jordan is the Phones Editor for Tom's Guide, covering all things telephone-related. He's written about phones for over v years and plans to keep for a long while to come. He loves cypher more than relaxing in his abode with a volume, game, or his latest personal writing projection. Jordan likes finding new things to swoop into, from books and games to new mechanical keyboard switches and fun keycap sets. Jordan tends to lurk on social media, just y'all can best attain him on Twitter.