I’m one of the few people on the planet who have tried both iOS and Android. With thousands of hours testing iOS and Android, I’ve discovered their strengths and weaknesses. In this article, we run through the 10 reasons why Android phones are better than iPhones.
Why Android is Better Than iPhone
Here are 10 reasons Android is better than iPhone:
1. More Hardware Choices
Apple’s ecosystem has just one hardware vendor, albeit a top-tier one. With Android, however, you are not limited to Google’s Pixel line of smartphones: you can choose from dozens of hardware manufacturers — Nothing, OnePlus, Doogee, Motorola, Samsung, Asus, and more. Each one has a different screen size, storage option, processor speed, price, etc. If choice in hardware is very important to you, Android is your best option.
There’s one final Android-exclusive hardware feature: Many Android phones support expandable storage, meaning you can use a micro SD card to get more storage space and save more files, apps, and more. With iPhones, you’re stuck with what Apple offers, meaning if you run out of storage, you really only have one option: upgrade to a new model with more storage space.
2. Cost
This naturally follows on from the first point on our list on why Android is better than iPhone. A wide variety of devices with different designs and specs means that Android has something for you at just about any budget. The exclusive nature of Apple’s products is in stark contrast to the inclusive nature of Android. Almost anyone can afford an Android phone. It might not be all singing and dancing, but there are solid budget options that give people a true smartphone experience.
The cheapest iPhone 16 starts at $799. And the cheapest Apple phone you can get is the iPhone SE for $429.
Let’s compare that to the cheaper Android phones on the market, many of which sell for less than half the cost of the SE. For example, you can get a respectable Android phone, like the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G, for under $200. This is the main reason Android has a grip on the global mobile market share — hundreds of millions of people around the world cannot afford an iPhone.
3. Freedom From Apple Ecosystem
Another reason why Android is better than iPhone is that they don’t rely on Apple’s device and software ecosystem. Users can mix and match hardware accessories and software to their liking. Google’s Android ecosystem is more open and diverse. For starters, Android is an open-source platform, which means that it can be used on devices from different manufacturers, such as Samsung, Sony, Xiaomi, and more. In addition, you are not locked into using Google’s services, so you can use other third-party apps and services if you prefer.
Apple’s ecosystem is much more closed off than Google’s. This means that if you own an iPhone, you are more likely to buy other Apple products, such as a MacBook, iPad, or Apple Watch, and services like Apple Music, Apple Maps, and iCloud.
Although most of these devices and services are great on their own, they complement each other and work in synergy to create a seamless user experience. So, you will need to be ready to invest heavily in other Apple products if you choose an iPhone, as they are not cheap. So, picking an Android phone over an iPhone lets you steer clear of Apple’s gigantic walled garden.
4. Android is more flexible
Beyond not having to do things the Apple — or Google — way, Android is more flexible. Consider this: With very little effort, you can connect Android to almost any operating system. For example, many Linux distributions include tools like KDE Konnect or GSConnect that enable you to plug your Android device into the Linux desktop or laptop and share files, interact, and even view notifications.
The same holds true with Windows and MacOS. Try that with an iPhone — without having to install third-party software. Yes, iOS does a great job of interacting with MacOS because Apple designed it to work that way. But when it comes to working with other platforms, iOS isn’t as up to the task as Android.
5. Third-Party Apps
In the past, apps first arrived on iOS and eventually made their way to Android. That’s still the case with Adobe, which launched the Photoshop tablet version on Apple hardware. That makes sense, since Android is fairly moribund in the tablet arena. But a few apps now come to Android first.
Another important differentiator is that Android lets you install software from non-Google app stores (or side-load them, bypassing the store). While Apple has technically allowed alternate app stores on the iPhone, you have to be in the EU to access them, and the choice of alternative app stores is currently just one. Plus, with the crazy rules and fees Apple has put in place for developers to offer third-party app stores and sideloading—such as requiring them to have $1 million—you’re not going to see something like F-Droid anytime soon. For those who don’t know, F-Droid is a marketplace for open-source apps.
Another convenience you won’t find in Apple’s store is the ability to remotely install apps onto your phone via the web. Say you see an app in an article you’re reading on your laptop. If it’s Android, you can simply visit the Play Store’s website and install it from there. With iOS, you must install the app using the device.
Speaking of apps, Android lets developers get their hooks deeper into the operating system than iOS does—which Apple would say makes Android less secure. As an app like Tasker, which lets you create all kinds of automations and routines, shows, Android is the better pick for tinkerers and hackers (and I’d include myself in that group).
As a result of this, there are entire app categories you can find on Android that don’t exist on iOS—apps to check battery health and usage, apps to run wifi network diagnostics, apps for managing files on your phone (beyond Apple’s own options). As with the customization options, it’s fair to say a lot of users might not want these extras, but I do.
Beyond the individual apps themselves, on Android you’re able to do much more with them: You can install multiple instances of the same app, you can run two apps side by side on the screen, and you can change more of the default apps. You can even install a different app to manage your text messages—something I wouldn’t expect to see on iOS for quite a while (if ever).
6. Google apps work everywhere
To each their own, but I find Google’s suite of apps much more appealing than Apple’s, with a couple of exceptions. When it comes to Gmail vs. Apple Mail, Google Docs vs. Pages, Google Maps vs. Apple Maps, and Google Photos vs. Apple Photos, I’m choosing Google every time (though I do love Apple Music).
There’s no space here to go into all of the individual reasons why, but Google’s apps are speedy, reliable, and—crucially—available everywhere. If I rent a movie from Google, I know it’ll play on just about every device out there, pretty effortlessly—but have you tried getting Apple TV running on Android? It’s a bit of a mess.
Admittedly, this is more about the apps and services that Google and Apple offer, rather than Android and iOS. But if you split your time between Apple and non-Apple devices like I do, your life is clearly going to be easier if you pick Google—and if you’re picking Google’s apps, then it follows that they work best and are updated quicker on Android.
7. Voice Assistant
In my experience, Google Assistant has been better than Siri for voice commands. Apple’s avoice assistant is not as smart as Google’s, and I use it only for making calls. On the other hand, you can use the Google Assistant to access smart home accessories with your voice. It is much quicker, smarter and intelligent than Siri. You can also use Google Assistant or Google Home on an iPhone, but you can use Siri only on Apple products. You also have the option to install Alexa to get Amazon’s voice assistant on your Android phone, which is also better than Siri, and works with a host of earbuds and headphones.
In my experience, Google Assistant displays more intelligence, albeit with less personality. It lets you control a TV with a Chromecast, and the company just released a new model with a Google TV interface based on Android TV that also ties in with the voice assistant.
One final point: You can upgrade Google Assistant to the AI-powered Google Gemini. In fact, Gemini is the default assistant on Pixel 9 devices. Though still fairly nascent, it gives you potent generative writing tools and image creation capabilities.
8. More RAM and Processing Power
As a rule, Android devices tend to have more memory than the iPhone. Apple never discloses just how much RAM it includes on iPhones, but iPhone 16 teardowns reveal that it’s 8GB across all four models. Meanwhile, Android devices can range from 8GB to 32GB at varying prices. While the average user is never going to need 32GB, gamers will love it as it allows their phones to play some of the best games seamlessly.
9. Custom ROMs
Another reason why Android is better than iPhone is you can actually replace the software that came with your device with a custom ROM, if you want to. Essentially, a custom ROM is a different version of Android, with different features, faster updates, performance gains, etc. Many Android users install a custom ROM because their carrier or manufacturer is slow to upgrade to the latest version of the Android platform, but you may also do it for better performance or to gain access to some add-ons or tools. This is definitely the extreme end of Android customization and you need to exercise a little caution to ensure that you don’t run into trouble.
Yes, installing a custom ROM is challenging, but the fact that it’s possible demonstrates just how much more flexible Android phones are than iPhones.
10. Google integration
I’ve used both Google’s and Apple’s cloud options, and I’ve always found Google’s to be much better. On top of that, I use Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Keep, Google Maps, etc., and find that Android’s seamless integration with the entire Google ecosystem is better than that of iOS. Sure, there’s iCloud — but I’ve always found iCloud to be less than helpful for productivity.
Sure, many Google services are now in iOS, but that deep level of integration simply isn’t there. And this is an important factor, because most of us use one or two… or three or 10 Google services. You want these to work seamlessly, and Android offers that.
Conclusion
We’d love to hear from you on why you think Android is better than iPhone. Are your motives for choosing Android covered above, or did something else attract you to the platform? Conversely, for those rocking an iPhone, what’s keeping you from Android — are there specific features, updates, etc? Post a comment and let us know.
