Are you an Android user or an iPhone user?

[VHS]

Just curious about the members of this site, since there seems to be a much more global audience on this site and I know platforms are very country dependent.

Also feel free to list your phone history, might be fun to compare.

Smartphones for me: iPhone 4, Nexus 4, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note 4, Nexus 6P, Samsung S8, Pixel 3, iPhone SE (2020), Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G (current phone, LOVING it)

 

[randomengine]

iPhone - never owned Android. My wife did in early days and we went Apple ever since. The Play Store and apps felt like the wild, wild west and there was little control over the ecosystem. Maybe that has changed. Battery life was also terrible.

 

[VHS]

The Play Store and apps felt like the wild, wild west and there was little control over the ecosystem. Maybe that has changed

Definitely different now. Battery life is really hit or miss depending on the phone, android 12 seems to have some pretty massive improvements related to CPU timings though.

 

[Derachi]

Owned the first Samsung Galaxy S. Battery life was awful, lasting only like 6 hours. I had to actually pull the battery out several times a day because the OS would hard lock regularly. The phone was full of non-removable bloatware. The final nail in the coffin for me was updates had to go from Google, to Samsung, to my carrier. A few months after I got my phone they announced they were done allowing my phone to update. Just an absolutely abysmal experience top to bottom

Within a few months of the “your phone isn’t getting any updates” announcement I had bought an iPhone and have been iPhone ever since.

 

[NarohDethan]

iPhone, it just works (tm)

 

[Rika]

I only use Android, never got an iPhone before.

 

[randomengine]

Owned the first Samsung Galaxy S. Battery life was awful, lasting only like 6 hours. I had to actually pull the battery out several times a day because the OS would hard lock regularly. The phone was full of non-removable bloatware. The final nail in the coffin for me was updates had to go from Google, to Samsung, to my carrier. A few months after I got my phone they announced they were done allowing my phone to update. Just an absolutely abysmal experience top to bottom

Within a few months of the “your phone isn’t getting any updates” announcement I had bought an iPhone and have been iPhone ever since.

That's also the exact experience I had with my wife's phone. I was so excited to have this thing updated and follow those updates, but because of that long chain of custody and the carriers saying - NAH - it was just a no-go. I couldn't buy a phone and know it would get any updates, so what was the point?

 

[VHS]

Still think my nexus 4 is the best looking phone I've owned, thing was downright beautiful with the etched glass.

That's also the exact experience I had with my wife's phone. I was so excited to have this thing updated and follow those updates, but because of that long chain of custody and the carriers saying - NAH - it was just a no-go. I couldn't buy a phone and know it would get any updates, so what was the point?

This has also changed a lot, with things like Project Mainline google has been bringing a crapton of the updates into google play services which gets updated on its own. Sort of technical article going into it and the work google does to address this specific point, its pretty remarkable honestly.

Everything you need to know about Android's Project Mainline

Project Mainline is the biggest change to Android since Project Treble. Here's what it means and what all the modules do, Check it out!

www.xda-developers.com

 

[Robert]

iPhone guy here. Always preferred iOS to Android.

 

[Derachi]

That's also the exact experience I had with my wife's phone. I was so excited to have this thing updated and follow those updates, but because of that long chain of custody and the carriers saying - NAH - it was just a no-go. I couldn't buy a phone and know it would get any updates, so what was the point?

From what I understand, Android has gotten significantly better since. My girlfriend is a Samsung Galaxy fan, and her phone seems extremely capable and not a mess like mine was 12 years ago.

 

[VHS]

From what I understand, Android has gotten significantly better since. My girlfriend is a Samsung Galaxy fan, and her phone seems extremely capable and not a mess like mine was 12 years ago.

yeah I was very hum and ho on samsung, but starting with the S8 series they have been doing really great and leading the pack on the android side. Starting with this year they've committed to a minimum of 3 years of major software support too love that.

 

[Derachi]

yeah I was very hum and ho on samsung, but starting with the S8 series they have been doing really great and leading the pack on the android side. Starting with this year they've committed to a minimum of 3 years of major software support too love that.

Are the updates still carrier locked? That was always such a weird idea to me.

 

[VHS]

Are the updates still carrier locked? That was always such a weird idea to me.

I don't own carrier devices so I can't say, I like the freedom to move between carriers at will so I buy unlocked devices. I know pixel updates come from google regardless of where you get them though.

 

[7threst]

I use both. Android for my provate life, iPhone for work.

 

[VHS]

I use both. Android for my provate life, iPhone for work.

Our work does the same, though they had to send out a quick email about the security issues in iOS 15. Basically told everyone to turn off app updates and not install any new apps until the security issues are patched.

 

[7threst]

Our work does the same, though they had to send out a quick email about the security issues in iOS 15. Basically told everyone to turn off app updates and not install any new apps until the security issues are patched.

That's actually company policy for me (not installing X.X updates, X.X.X updates are fine) because it has to be tested towards our internal infrastructure.

 

[VHS]

That's actually company policy for me (not installing X.X updates, X.X.X updates are fine) because it has to be tested towards our internal infrastructure.

we were told to upgradeto 15.0 since it fixed a lot of vulnerabilities but it introduced other ones

 

[Nabbit]

Android. Emoji mashups are the best new smartphone feature in years for me. @brainchild knows!

I wonder if there's an easy way to integrate them here.

 

[Red Monster]

Longtime iOS user here. Started with the iPhone 4, switched to Android with an HTC One for a little while, then back to iOS with an iPhone 6 Plus, an iPhone 7, and now an iPhone 12 Pro. I’m super happy with iOS and I don’t see a reason to ever switch back. The way it all works together - my phone, my watch, my airpods - it’s all so seamless. I’d like to get a MacBook Air as well sometime in the future and complete my transformation into an Apple GuyTM.

 

[xsquiddox]

Android because of the openess and since im quite tech savvy software wise i prefer that. And i currently have a galaxy fold and love it! Before that i always had the note series or a sony phone.

But i can see why ppl like apple its kinda the disney of phones hehe.

 

[VHS]

Android because of the openess and since im quite tech savvy software wise i prefer that. And i currently have a galaxy fold and love it! Before that i always had the note series or a sony phone.

Love my Fold as well, the Fold 3 is amazing. I see other phones and it almost feels like the difference between a smartphone and a flip phone.

 

[javac]

Still think my nexus 4 is the best looking phone I've owned, thing was downright beautiful with the etched glass.

Damn a flush camera that isn't the size of the moon, remember that. Guess I can't complain, the pictures phones take look good these days.

 

[undefined]

Android mostly because of the price, it has way more options and my current phone costs like 1/3 of the price of the cheapest iOS one (iPhone SE)
Also Chrome and Firefox engines are more up to date with css stuff but in iOS due to Apple restrictions all browsers are just reskinned Safaris, everything is using WebKit

 

[brainchild]

Android. Emoji mashups are the best new smartphone feature in years for me. @brainchild knows!

I wonder if there's an easy way to integrate them here.

Yeah, the Emoji mashups are a must-have feature for me.

I don't know what features the famiboards devs plan to implement in the future, but you could also upload them to your own personal discord server (by making an emoji mashup post in a chat), opening the image externally, and then copying the image address from there, like this:

They updated the emojis, btw

 

[Nabbit]

Neat, thanks @brainchild! I did see an article about the recent additions, but the cityscape one is the only one that stuck with me. I need to check out more of them. I'm still discovering new combos.

 

[brainchild]

Neat, thanks @brainchild!

No prob!

I'm still discovering new combos.

Same!

 

[Lord Azrael]

Android all the way, mostly because I don't want to pay $600+ for a phone. Fine with either OS

 

[OldSkOoL]

iPhone

Only because the ease of transferring from an old phone to a new one

 

[TaySan]

iPhone 12 user. My first IPhone. Only owned LG Androids before.

 

[VHS]

Damn a flush camera that isn't the size of the moon, remember that. Guess I can't complain, the pictures phones take look good these days.

yeah the camera bumps drive me insane. Even with my case on there is still a bump like... why!!!

 

[Imitatio]

I really don't like iOS and how it all locks you down. Especially browser wise, with everything basically being build on top of Safari's webkit engine. I'm using both Chromium and Quantum based browsers on my PC, and want to do so as well on my phone. iOS is a non-starter, then. Android's open nature and the control I have over the software and UX make it align with my needs, wants and taste.
Brand wise I'm basically never staying with one single one. I've gone from Samsung to HTC to LG to Sony to HTC again to Motorola to Google. I've started to use custom firmwares with these latest devices as well, getting rid of all the Google stuff on the phones.

I also find iPhones to be way too expensive. A phone isn't worth that much money to me, I'm not using it extensively enough to justify spending more than 300-400€ on a new one.

 

[Dino Ventura]

Android only. My wife is stuck on iPhone so it's already expensive enough

Had: HTC Magic, Galaxy S2, Xperia Z1 Compact, OnePlus 5, and now a Pixel 4a 5G

 

[Bonejack]

Team 'Droid.

Gonna get me that Pixel 6 as my Pixel 3 is starting to show it's age. Also i can't stand the 3rd party Android skins and the bloat they come with on other Android phone distributors. (Looking at you Samsung)

 

[xsquiddox]

Love my Fold as well, the Fold 3 is amazing. I see other phones and it almost feels like the difference between a smartphone and a flip phone.

I have the Fold 2 but yep love how i can open it and instantly have a tablet at hand if need to and at work ill keep it folded to keep the inside screen save. It's a very nice feature. Can't go back now haha. Will most certainly pick up whatever version is out by then when my contract ends.

I do physical work and so far no damage etc just a real few user marks but nothing too bad. Nothing like the memes were it instantly breaks or scratches like crazy. And i have a thin protective case around it.

 

[AndroidOS]

I used to be an avid Android user, but eventually got sick of how often I had to replace my phone. Even with the more expensive models, I found they only got about a year (maybe two if you’re lucky) of updates, which usually came 6 months late anyway. After that point the phonEd just got slower and slower, until it eventually annoyed me enough I had to get a new model.

I also got sick of all the customisation you had to do - I get for a lot of people that is a positive ( and at one point it was for me too!), but nowadays I want someone that Just Works and iPhones fit that perfectly. Add to that the integration with macOS and iPads, which I used anyway, and moving to an iPhone was kind of a no-brainer.

 

[Nakapol]

Unless manufacturers could offer updates like 5+ years I would not go back to Android.

Xperia V => Lumia730 => Xperia X Performance => iPhone11

 

[Sander RX]

iPhone 7

Have had it since 2017

 

[VHS]

I also got sick of all the customisation you had to do

I see this a lot, not really sure what it means though. Like you can customize your phone, have to doesn't seem accurate in my experience. Basically there if you want to but not required.

 

[Tron1]

iPhone. I like things that work and get updates.

 

[VHS]

iPhone. I like things that work and get updates.

still waiting on apple to update and patch those vulnerabilities disclosed in April

Disclosure of three 0-day iOS vulnerabilities and critique of Apple Security Bounty program

I want to share my frustrating experience participating in Apple Security Bounty program. I've reported four 0-day vulnerabilities this year between March 10 and May 4, as of now three of them are...

habr.com

 

[AndroidOS]

I see this a lot, not really sure what it means though. Like you can customize your phone, have to doesn't seem accurate in my experience. Basically there if you want to but not required.

Yeah, I get that. For me it’s more that I like the way iOS works and looks out of the box. Android, on the other hand, is usually quite different depending on the make of phone you have and so to get it set up the way I would like, I’d have to go and install custom launchers etc. It’s just down to the way I like my phone set up, really.

 

[randomengine]

iPhone 12 user. My first IPhone. Only owned LG Androids before.

Impressions?

 

[VHS]

Yeah, I get that. For me it’s more that I like the way iOS works and looks out of the box. Android, on the other hand, is usually quite different depending on the make of phone you have and so to get it set up the way I would like, I’d have to go and install custom launchers etc. It’s just down to the way I like my phone set up, really.

Ah so more iOS has it setup how you would like it to be already whereas on Android you can change it to be how youd like but its more steps and not interested when iOS is already ready to go. That makes more sense. For me in my return to iOS last year it was more frustrating than anything else, nothing felt the way I wanted it to be but I didn't have that ability to correct the path so to speak so I was kind of just stuck.

 

[TaySan]

Impressions?

I'm loving it! But it's early days. Everything just works while all of my LG's broke down one way or the other(boot looping, cameras stopped working etc). Loving Apple pay and Music and getting a lot of use out of it.

 

[Fercho]

I'm currently an Android user and it's going to stay this way for a time. I had an Iphone in the past but i started to dislike it the more I used it. I used to hate Android too, but the new Android phones are faster.

 

[Tron1]

still waiting on apple to update and patch those vulnerabilities disclosed in April

Disclosure of three 0-day iOS vulnerabilities and critique of Apple Security Bounty program

I want to share my frustrating experience participating in Apple Security Bounty program. I've reported four 0-day vulnerabilities this year between March 10 and May 4, as of now three of them are...

habr.com

Yeah I had no idea about that. Obviously should be dealt with. In reference to OS updates and having a phone that can last you 5-7 years easy I’m good with Apple.

 

[Guaraná]

you can't have iPhone in Brazil unless you're very rich. It costs a fortune here.

 

[1upmuffin]

iPhone except for two weeks when I tried Galaxy S6. Apple does a lot to annoy me but I just like iOS more overall and appreciate how long the devices are updated for.

 

[Timefire]

I went from iPhone 4 to iPhone 5S to Android and I've never looked back. The freedom is just unreplacable.

Plus, it doesn't cost a third of the value of a brand new car to change phones, like iPhones do here in Brazil! That's always nice

I have an old iPad Air 1 that I use sometimes when I want to use a tablet and it always reminds me of why I changed. Shame my only good option for another tablet is going iPad again

 

[VHS]

I went from iPhone 4 to iPhone 5S to Android and I've never looked back. The freedom is just unreplacable.

Plus, it doesn't cost a third of the value of a brand new car to change phones, like iPhones do here in Brazil! That's always nice

I have an old iPad Air 1 that I use sometimes when I want to use a tablet and it always reminds me of why I changed. Shame my only good option for another tablet is going iPad again

The samsung tabs are not in Brazil? They're very competitive with the iPad imo.