iOS 10 vs Android Nougat: What should you pick?

Published in

The Startup

10 min readJun 5, 2017

One of the most enduring debates of the mobile era is whether iOS is better than Android.

While Apple devotees swear by their iDevices and look down on the Android toting masses, the other side calls the crowds snaking around Apple Stores iSheep and mocks their unquestioning obedience to the cult of Jobs.

But if we go beyond emotions and look at the hard numbers the story gets interesting.

As per the graph below which tracks the global market share of different mobile OS from 2009 to 2016, iOS had a head start over Android in the early years. Not surprising considering that the first iPhone was released in 2007.

However Android’s popularity steadily increased, and by the second quarter of 2010 there were more Android devices than iOS devices.

This gap has kept increasing and by the last quarter of 2016, the market share of Android is at 81.7% while that of iOS is 17.9%.

In terms of units shipped, because of the highly fragmented mobile market Apple is at number 2 behind the Android market leader Samsung.

Android is available at multiple price points and there’s a phone for everyone. Since the operating system is open source and based on Linux, there are hundreds of OS versions floating around.

Because of this, Google, who maintains the Android Open Source Project, doesn’t have control over the end user experience for the vast number of Android devices.

On the other hand the iOS is a closed system and Apple tightly controls the entire ecosystem and every aspect of the iOS experience, from hardware to software. This makes for a uniform UX and can be restrictive for some.

In this post we’ll look at how Android and iOS stack up against each other for users and developers.

What’s New in Android Nougat and iOS 10

But before we do, let’s take a look at what’s included in Android Nougat and iOS 10 which are the latest OS versions available in the market.

In iOS 10:

Many system apps like Safari, News, Music and more have been updated.
Sensors can identify when you lift the device up and turn the display on for you.
Many apps have tight integrations with Siri, allowing you to order a cab, book a table, and do a number of things that was previously impossible.
Apps also are more tightly integrated with iMessage.

In Android Nougat:

Google Assistant has seen some serious upgrades and is now a full fledged personal assistant, able to read you news and manage your schedule.
Some apps have split screen functionality, allowing you to run two apps on the same screen at the same time.
Quick tapping will let you switch between the last used apps.

There has also been updates to Notifications, customization options and other settings.

The pros of iOS over Android

If you are a user, here’s where iOS scores over Android in 2017.

1. Better looking iOS apps

Many top apps and games are released on iOS first, and there are still a lot of iOS only apps. New Snapchat and Spotify features have come to the iPhone before Android. iPhone owners are playing Super Mario Run, but the Super Mario Run Android app hasn’t been released yet.

2. Faster iOS Updates

iOS users have always received faster updates to their operating systems regardless of the carrier they are on. Apple also supports devices which are up to three years old.

With Android, users will get updates depending on the schedule of the manufacturer and/or the carrier. OS fragmentation is a huge issue, and many devices are still running obsolete versions of Android. Android devices older than 18 months normally don’t get any updates.

3. Works seamlessly with other Apple devices

If you have other Apple devices, iPhones or iPads will work easily with your setup. You can sync photos to all devices, answer a phone call on your iPad or Mac, and send text messages. With Handoff, you can start as task on your iPhone and continue to another iDevice without any interruption.

AirDrop makes wireless file sharing device idiot proof even in the absence of WiFi.

4. No Bloatware

On many Android phones, there are a number of third party apps which advertisers pay carriers to install by default. Many of these apps can’t be uninstalled unless you root the device, and they eat up space.

Apple doesn’t let third parties install any apps on the devices. While there are a number of default apps in an iPhone or iPad, you can remove the user data part and hide them.

5. Higher resale value

iPhones have higher resale value than most Android phones.

For example a Galaxy S5 in flawless condition from 2014 is worth $70 on Gazelle. The iPhone 6 in similar condition, which came out around the same time is worth $210.

6. Reliable after sales support

Many Android manufacturers offer limited or non existent after sales service. While manufacturers like Samsung or HTC offer standard warranties, support and extended warranty programs are restricted to flagship models.

That’s not the case with Apple. With AppleCare+, you can get the manufacturer’s warranty extended for two years and two years of accidental coverage and support by phone or in-store for $99 to $129.

7. Sharing to other iDevices

It’s ridiculously simple to share files from one iDevice to another using Airdrop. Android to Android sharing is still glitchy, and while newer versions have made the job easier, you might still have to download file sharing apps if the Android phones are running different operating systems.

The pros of Android over iOS

1. More Choice with Android

With Apple, you have very few sizes, colors, and models to pick from. However Android has a dazzling range, and you can pick any color, model, or material. You can have you choice of stylus, and also add waterproofing options.

When it comes to software, Android has over 5000 different ROMs which lets you customize the look and feel of the platform. You can also heavily tweak the appearance of a particular ROM by using themes.

2.Micro SD Card Support

iPhones have no microSD card support. Therefore, unless you upgrade to a new model you will be stuck with the one you have and have to make do with it for 2 years.

Android phones do allow SD cards, and can support up to 128 GB for only $15-$20. You can store music, videos, data and apps and keep the phone’s memory free.

3. Better Google Maps

On the iPhone and iPad Siri will always default to Apple Maps.

While Apple Maps on iOS 10 is much better than the original version which made users drive off cliffs, it still can’t hold a candle to Google Maps, which has transit directions in more cities, better driving directions, awesome search, parking information, and deep integration with other apps like Contacts.

4. Get back space easily

On the iPhone, you will have to delete the app and re-install it to get the space used by the apps to create photos, videos, tweets, vines etc. On a phone like the 16GB iPhone you might have to do this regularly.

Android apps have no such hassles. Many apps have the option to clear the cache to free up data . You can also manually navigate to the app folder and delete the app data.

5. Better support for Android widgets

Users have a number of options for tweaking the behavior of widgets. They can set up widgets to show on the lock or on the home screen, and display useful information like weather, live calendar, and alarms without needing to open the phone.

iOS has a very restrictive approach to widgets and doesn’t have as much flexibility. Users can add some flexibility in the Notification Center but Apple keeps their functionality limited.

6. Better default apps

The iPhone uses Safari, Mail, and Apple Maps for browsing, email, and directions. Some third party apps might let you choose your favorite browser using deep linking, but for the most part you’re stuck with the choices made by Apple.

On Android, you can choose a default app to open PDFs, play MP3s, open HTML links, play videos, or send email. These settings can be easily changed with a few taps.

7. Better multi user support on Android

On an Android device, you can easily create multiple users accounts with varying privileges.

You can create an account with limited access for your children, or create a guest account and lend the device to someone without risking your personal information.

iPhones don’t really offer multi user support or a kid mode out of the box; only iPads allow schools to create multiple user accounts on a single device.

8. Download Movies & Music From Anywhere

On an iOS device, you have very limited options if you want to add movies or music. You can download them on your computer and sync with iTunes. You can also use apps like Spotify or services like iTunes to download movies and music, or stream them from apps like Netflix.

However, in an Android device you can download media files directly and play them without needing to sync through a computer. You can also use a number of other services to buy music online instead of only using iTunes.

Options for developers

Android and iOS also have significant differences as far as developers are concerned.

1. Programming Language

Android OS uses mainly Java, making it easier for most developers to start developing apps on the platform. This is because Java is one of the most common programming languages.

In contrast, the iOS uses Swift, which is more a more niche language and might have a steeper learning curve for learners.

2. App Development Platform

Android is pretty laissez faire about development platforms and tools and you can either use the official IDE from Google called the Android Studio or third party IDEs like Eclipse.

Apart from the flexibility of using a familiar platform, these IDE’s can be installed on both Windows and Mac PCs, making it easy for anyone to get started developing Android apps.

On the other hand, you have to develop iOS apps only on the official Xcode environment. Apple has pretty strict developer guidelines, and since Xcode runs only on Macs, you will have to buy a powerful Mac before you start developing iOS apps.

3. Fragmentation

For Android developers, the type of OS is a huge issue, as this graph shows.

Taking into account this OS fragmentation with the dizzying variety of phones and tablets with different specs, the money and time needed to test apps for compatibility can be daunting.

This fragmentation also means that Android developers might not be able to take advantage of the latest features in the OS if a vast majority of their user base is on an older version.

iOS developers, in contrast, have to ensure compatibility for two, or at most three OS versions, and that on a limited number of devices. This makes it easier to release and update apps.

4. App Approval

Apple now takes about 2 days on an average to approve an app, which is down from two weeks in 2015. The app store review guidelines are also strict, meaning it’s very easy for an app to be rejected as it’s reviewed manually by a team of developers.

In the case of Google, the review process is over in around 2 hours and it’s used to check for violations of rules like the presence of malware/spyware, adult material, or copyright infringement.

Android apps have more leniency in terms of content.

5. Payouts

While iOS developers can keep 70% of the revenue generated from the sales of their app they also need to annually pay $99 to gain access to the iPhone SDK.

Android developers need to pay a one-time registration fee of $25 and can earn 70% of revenue of the sales of their app. Android apps can also be featured in third party app stores without any problems.

Conclusion

iOS and Android devices have both pros and cons, and at the end of the day it boils down to the features you want to take advantage of. Your choice will also depend on your budget and your exact needs, and also your past experience with either platform.

Originally published at Appsterhq.