Ask HN: iPhone users, what's stopping you from switching to Android?

13 points by SlightGenius 2 years ago | 15 comments

As an iPhone user, the seamless integration, user-friendly interface, and quality hardware/software have kept me loyal. Additionally, investment in iOS-specific apps and accessories makes switching to Android challenging. While Android offers customization and device variety, Apple's ecosystem and overall experience are compelling reasons to stay.

youngtaff 2 years ago |

Nothing’s stopping me but…

I’d rather buy a phone from a company where the phone is the product and not one where the OS is from an advertising company (Yes I know Apple are an advertiser too)

I originally used Android but got fed up with the lack of updates. I know Google have fixed this somewhat but they have a history of abandoning things

mattl 2 years ago |

So many things:

* Device support

* OS security

* Compatibility with existing Apple devices (Mac, etc)

* Quality of apps

* Ease of use

I'll break these down, but before I do... I used to be an Android user from basically day one (Android Dev Phone), I switched away after the Pixel and never looked back.

* Device support

What Android phone do I buy? Will it be filled with crap I can't remove when I buy it? If I buy a phone, and I have an issue with it where can I go and get a replacement quickly? How long will my phone receive updates?

I feel like Android devices are a choice of Samsung Galaxy S-series phones or Google Pixel phones. Samsung ones have the crapware, Google ones don't get updates for very long. Samsung not much longer it seems.

* OS Security

I don't trust that an Android phone isn't phoning home all the time. Also, updates don't last very long on the OS so after a few years my phone is vulnerable.

* Compatibility with other Apple devices

I like the seamless nature of the Apple ecosystem. My photos/apps/messages/files are on all my devices. Android would break that.

* Quality of apps

I feel like the quality of apps on the iPhone is higher and that cross platform apps on the iPhone tend to be worse.

* Ease of use

I think Android finally got rid of the extra buttons for back and menu on every device but whenever (rarely) I use an Android device for something I don't find it easy to use. This has gotten worse, IMO. Earlier Android devices made more sense to me.

meepmorp 2 years ago |

I think the iPhone is better, both hardware and software. I acknowledge that my experience with android is mostly limited to on playing with devices in store, the emulator as part of debugging something, and occasionally using a friend's phone.

I also don't want anything to do with google.

JojoFatsani 2 years ago |

AirPods swapping between devices is incredibly seamless, way better than standard Bluetooth. AirPlay sharing as well. And the Apple Watch is probably 10 years ahead of any competition.

xenospn 2 years ago |

- Aesthetics: Android phones are severely lacking in build quality and accessory design

- Software quality: last time I opened the Play store, it felt like I needed to use protection

- Lack of iMessage is a big one

- No long term support and no Apple Store equivalent where I can easily go if something is broken or missing.

- I straight up don’t like Google

fsflover 2 years ago |

Not using any of those, but here is a plausible reason: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26639261

Engineering-MD 2 years ago | |

Yeah, Google is the deal breaker for me. I miss the old days of smart(ish) phones from different brands, none of which spied on you. I wish Symbian had survived, when they semi open sourced it I thought it might take off. The early smart phone days were really interesting and some unique designs. I wish there was a third way not iOS or android now.

fsflover 2 years ago | | |

> I wish there was a third way not iOS or android now.

There is. Sent from my Librem 5.

mattl 2 years ago | |

That's certainly a factor for me.

fragmede 2 years ago |

singularly, iMessage and the associated features like FaceTime and location sharing. They work on Android, but network effects of everyone else I know using iMessage means it's just more seamless. I don't have to get other people to install some app just to talk to me.

JumpinJack_Cash 2 years ago |

It's the networking effect of the apps and the lack of Whatsapp in the US.

62728494929 2 years ago |

For me personally it's privacy. I know that Apple is no angle either, but a simple GDPR data request, show how limited data they have compared to Google. Besides that, they offer me end-to-end encryption across their cloud sync besides contacts, calendar or email (which I have on via Carddav/Caldav on Synology anyways - and protonmail).

They also offer differential privacy or are using random identifiers in most of their services. I know they're a for profit company, but for now, I really like what they're doing on the privacy front.

Besides that, I like Shortcuts. While Tasker might be more powerfull, it's losing features for every generation of Android because Google is locking Android down. Shortcuts is relatively stable, has good OS integration and third party integration.

jrflowers 2 years ago |

Preference