Everyone has their preferences, I would love to hear why you guys prefer using Android!
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I want a customizable phone that is not stuck in a walled-garden. Plus I do not use Apple products.
In no particular order
- File management works like a charm
- USB-C and fast charging
- Customizations
- Custom ROMs
- Privacy (getting a Pixel soon for GrapheneOS)
- Easier to repair
- More efficient (takes less steps to do stuff)
- Looks better
- Sideloading
- More choices for phones
Sideloading is the big one. I was considering an iPad before getting Xiaomi tablet (even though it costs roughly the same), but sideloading is game changer.
- YouTube Vanced
- Emulators
- Stremio and torrents
Along the lines of sideloading: proper adblock
I was reminded ads exist after I bought an iPad for school (sadly the notetaking experience is truly unrivaled). Adblock only works on Safari and whether it’ll work properly is another roll of the dice.
I have an iPad too. Try NextDNS. I have it set up on my iPad. I think it works but I only use it as a glorified notebook so I’m not sure
- File management is noice, the ability to plug in a USB C usb is very clutch.
- I swear a lot more apps on iOS are subscription based than on Android.
- A lot more open source apps.
- Modded apps.
- I can easily connect my phone to my laptop and copy actual files.
- Sideloading.
- Choice.
#2 I am a developer, the reason for this is that publishing an app in App Store is not free unlike in Android where it’s a one time payment.
I swear a lot more apps on iOS are subscription based than on Android.
I used an iPhone for a week for the first time in my life earlier this year and I realized that if I were to switch to IOS, I’d end up spending literally hundreds of dollar per year on stuff I can get for free on Android via piracy.
In regards to point 2, this is very true. Apps that are free or freemium on Android are often subscription on iOS. I wonder if a part of it is the higher costs of requiring a Mac to develop the app (and iPhone to test it), and any app store differences that may account for this. Big companies can handle this, but for little guys it’s a barrier to entry
I think it’s also a chicken-or-egg question:
Apple users are more willing to pay for apps. So if you’re a dev and you want to release a paid app, iOS is the platform of choice. So more devs release paid apps on iOS, so iOS becomes the platform with more paid apps. So users are more used to pay for apps. So paying for apps is normalized, so Apple users are more willing to pay for apps.
Etc. etc. etc.
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There is a lot more freedom on Android. I want to be able to side load.
Apple is nice but a walled garden.
This was one of my prime motivators for leaving iOS.
Also choice of device to meet my needs regardless of manufacturer, I’m still getting the experience , in the main.
To feel that YOU are the one really owning your phone.
iOS is always over-protective and doesn’t allow sideloading. Whenever I use an iPhone I feel like I’m using a phone lent by a parent to some child.
There’s not equivalent F-droid for iPhone, and almost all apps on Appstore contain ads.
If you use any app other than what Apple provides, you become a second class citizen on your own phone.
Third party apps simply don’t integrate with iOS nicely unless Apple allows it. Even though you can choose a web browser, it has to use Safari’s underlying code base.
I’m on a Pixel 7. A lot of people say it’s like Google’s iPhone, but I can use Firefox as my browser natively. Adblocking actually works, too. I can choose any app as a default for whatever. Lots of FOSS! Google doesn’t own my Pixel the same way Apple owns the iPhone.
On a pixel phone you can even install a google free OS like graphene (that’s what I did)
Hi. I’ve heard quite a few people do this but never managed to ask why. So, taking the opportunity to ask.
What I mean is, if the large part of the phone is about the software experience and software optimisation (and the hardware in itself is nowhere near cutting edge) what’s the upside of installing a non-google OS on it?
Perhaps I’ll try it someday. For today, just curious. If you could shed some light on it. Thank you!
Sorry for the late reply, still getting used to lemmy and missed the notification.
I’m probably in the minority but I didn’t actually do it to completely de-google. I still have some Google services installed, they are sandboxed and limited to what I actively want though.
My main reason was removing the insane bloat that comes with modern phones. Think Facebook/Google and vendor specific apps being preinstalled without the ability to remove, forced google search bar on the home screen etc… Now I have a pretty clean, fairly safe, OS which behaves almost exactly like a normal phone.
Also important to remember on GrapheneOS is that your google play services are
- Optional
- Sandboxed Meaning even if you need google play, it’s a more private experience than stock android. I personally use a separate user profile for apps that require google play services.
Some people want to get away from Google services and tracking; having a non-Google OS can allow for that. 🙂
Not the original commenter but I’d imagine it’s for privacy reasons.
I used it initially, because I hated Apple and their proprietary stuff and have stayed ever since. I liked androids more universal approach. SD cards, usb, etc.
Exactly. Also, custom kernels, rooting, optimizing battery life by underclocking, disabling wakeups, and a helalalot more
Having the ability to add an SD card is great
Was great
The only real alternative is iOS, which extremely restrictive and limiting, UI is unintuitive and clunky to navigate, and a lack of Quality-of-life enhancing apps (like better keyboards or apps to password protect other apps)
There’s a bunch of small things that always get in the way. Lack of file system access for example, or FOSS app options.
One word. GrapheneOS
Sideloading apps is the main reason. I couldn’t use a phone without Adblock.
iPhones are also just way more expensive and the few times i’ve tried them the UX just sucked so much, form over function.
The battery tastes better.
What you been eating my guy
Batteries.
Fair enough
I like how Android allows more customization. Also, I use a Galaxy Note 9 that I recently got from eBay, so I still have a headphone jack and sd card slot. I hate Apple for starting the trend of removing useful hardware from phones and laptops while still raising prices and hate even more that Androids started copying that. I miss removable battery phones. This Note 9 is my first phone without a removable battery.
I could post why I do not like Apple, but that isn’t why I prefer Android.
I like how there are a ton of options on Android. I can control what hardware I have, from an ultrabudget $100 phone to a $2000 foldable flagship. I can choose how I control my device, I can choose how my device looks. All of these things add up to letting me have the best experience.
I also like how you can install custom ROMs on many devices. This allows even more options in terms of personal control.
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