Why do you personally prefer using an Android phone?
Why do you personally prefer using an Android phone?
Everyone has their preferences, I would love to hear why you guys prefer using Android!
Browser choice. Actually browser ENGINE choice. And the ability to set my own default apps, including the launcher.
F-droid. Side loading.
This is probably specific to the Pixel phones, not sure how much if any is relevant to other manufacturers.
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Call screening and spam filtering is amazing. Having the phone automatically screen unknown callers means I haven't had to deal with a spam caller in years. And valid callers don't seem to have any problems understanding whats happening anymore. I used to get several who confused it for a voice mail when it first came out, but now it seems they understand how to leave a screening message and wait for me to pick up.
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The phone tree and hold for me when calling businesses. Being able to read the options and click the text makes it so much easier to get through the options without having to really pay attention, then having it hold for me until a person answers lets me do other things instead of having to keep listening.
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Song identification on the lock screen. Whether I'm out at a bar or restaurant or at home watching a TV show and a song I like but don't know starts playing, being able to see exactly what it is without even touching my phone is so convenient. I've found so many cool new bands I never would have without this feature. Its also amazing how it can often identify covers made specifically for TV shows right when they first air.
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Amazing camera and cool features like photo sphere and the new magic eraser. The camera might not be as head and shoulders above Samsung and Apple as it was in the past but it's still always amazing how well it does in different conditions.
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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
The camera on the pixel phones.
My friend recently went on a trip into the mountains for some hiking, they took some photos that made me ask if it was from a DSLR camera, but it was just from a Pixel 7 Pro. Amazing how far phone cameras have come.
Mostly Sideloading and GrapheneOS. And that it's mostly open source
Sideloading. And I refuse to pay Apple's insane prices tbh.
Don't like Apple's anti consumer attitude, same reason I don't buy Nintendo products.
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 simple act of trying to transfer ownership of an iPhone from one daughter to another this week almost broke me. I hate how difficult they make everything.
Was it more involved than sign out -> factory reset -> set up as a new phone? (I'm just curious, have been on android for a few years now)
There were some self inflicted complications to be fair. I couldn't fully back up the broken phone because it was in a family group with an expired payment card. My wife hadn't had her iPhone for years so that was a pain in the arse to resolve which included waiting nearly two weeks for an email from Apple. Even when I got into her iCloud account updating the bank card failed every time, also you can't modify a family group in the browser. I ended up borrowing a family members old iphone so I could set it up as my wifes and disband the family group, then update the payment method directly on the broken phone. We could then pay the 70p or whatever for additional storage and back it up. I couldn't factory reset the other phone because in addition to the passcode, you also needed the screen time passcode which nobody could remember. I eventually installed iTunes on my PC and wiped it that way. I mean if you know all the security information I imagine it's a lot easier but I wouldn't have had this much trouble had they been android phones.
Because Android is technically open source and the hardware is free enough that I can install an alternative OS if I want to.
Also, the phones are cheaper and have headphone jacks!
- I can build my own ROM and add any tweaks I want to the source
- Full filesystem access, not the circus act iOS is running with their "file management"
- I can run any browser I want, download any file I want
- I can sideload any app I want, and install open source apps from F-Droid
- I can use projects like ReVanced to install modified apps effortlessly, and don't have to go through the AltStore/Apple Developer BS to install simple things like uYou
- I can entirely replace my home screen with a different launcher app if I wanted to
Just switched back to Android a few days ago after using the iPhone for quite some time. Customization and control were my favorite reasons for Android in the past and it stayed the same. I use a Pixel 7 Pro with GrapheneOS. The fact that I even have an option to use a different OS that focuses on privacy is amazing.
- Firefox with addons
- NewPipe with SponsorBlock
- USB type C
- Custom ROMs
- APK Sideloading
- USB Debugging for testing my Godot projects directly on the phone
- No apple tax
- Maybe more...
For me it's probably the ability to sideload apps, among other things. Apps like NewPipe which would never make it to the Play Store are apps that I use every day, because they are just good apps. Also, I just like the UX of my Pixel compared to an iPhone - I couldn't live without things like a back button, and I sort of don't like the iOS UI.
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.
I want my app icons close to the bottom of the screen where my hands are and not at the top of the screen just because Apple demands it. Also I can have ad free apps like ReVanced
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.
@Cameri I came to Android to use rif for reddit. It's gone now and now i'm using the mastodon app chatting with everyone on lemmy.world and other instances. I have a main account on lemmy.world but i just use it to moderate my sub check my notifications and that's about it. I really like my S23 though
other linux phones are not really viable. I dont like supporting apple and even if I didnt care about that, their iOS is far too restrictive.
also Tachiyomi
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I decide how I use my phone vs my phone decides how I use it
There is a lot more freedom on Android. I want to be able to side load.
In Turkey, Apple products are exorbitantly priced due to factors such as exchange rates, taxes, and so on.
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I love the iPhone hardware. Especially the mini.
But I really don't like iOS. Or the lightning connector.
Same thing with Macs.
Overall I think Apple makes gorgeous hardware but the software just isn't for me.
I always tell people the best phone (or best one iPhone vs Android) is whatever is best for them.
My wife loves her iPhone and everything about it, and that's okay!
Agreed. Also their hardware and software integration, long term support, and battery when compared to other flagship phones, although the s23 seems to be on par with iPhones this time around.
Anecdotally, I have to say iPhone seems to have terrible battery life. My wife and several friends all have had the last few iPhones and they seem to be charging their phones all the time. At least every night but often during the day as well. My Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ was amazing. Like 1.5 days of battery. Then I got my Google Pixel 6 Pro and 7 Pro and it blew my mind. I go 2+ days on a charge no problem.
I suppose to be fair I use my phone more like I did my BlackBerry back in the day, whereas they all use TikTok and stuff fairly frequently.
I dislike Apple alot, stupidly Expensive, more than they devices worth, very restrictive on what you can do with them (treat their customers as kids) and their monopoly.
There is also a wide variety of Android phones with different price ranges, and features (like my beloved headphone jacks), wider customisation and a somewhat better repaiability sometimes.
I first made the switch to android after my iphone 5 died and found out the newer models wouldn't have an aux output. I have significantly more chances to use a 3.5mm plug than bluetooth in my life, so it was an easy choice.
7 years later, and I still have the same phone. No bloat, and updated the way I want it. I charge it once per day at high-performance mode, and the battery is holding strong.
I keep an iphone dongle in my car for friends, because I am a gentleman, but they always remark on how easy it would be to just have the damn aux port.
Which brand is your Android phone and are you running an alternative Android-based OS like /e/ or LineageOS?
I dislike Apple alot, stupidly Expensive, more than they devices worth, very restrictive on what you can do with them (treat their customers as kids) and their monopoly.
There is also a wide variety of Android phones with different price ranges, and features (like my beloved headphone jacks), wider customisation and a somewhat better repaiability sometimes.
things I dislike about Apple + things I like about android = preference.
I agree with almost everything you've said, but how do you consider Apple a monopoly?
Their ecosystem is closed is what he means.
I may be one of the last hangers-on for this issue, but: my Android phone has a headphone port! That was non-negotiable for me last time I got a new phone. Earbuds do not stay in my ears, are super uncomfortable, and I don't want to charge a wireless headset or mess with an adapter all the time. I have cheap wired headphones for going out and about that I don't lose when they fall out because the wire catches them, and really nice wired headphones at home that are much better quality than wireless ones. My car also has a 3.5 mm hookup that sounds a lot better than Bluetooth audio.
Besides that: Having more customization and control. Firefox + adblockers and other extensions. ReVanced for YouTube. Easier access to the phone's storage and files. Being able to block ads adds so much quality of life.
I absolutely agree with the 3.5mm headphone port. I use mine all the time as every wireless set of earbuds that I've tried has hurt my ears in minutes. I also can't forget to charge my wired ones. It's getting harder to find a decent phone that has both a headphone port and a micro SD card slot.
I literally can't keep the wireless earbuds in! I don't know if my ears are too small or weirdly shaped on the inside or what. Sometimes I can kind of wedge them in for a minute, but only by having them actively digging into the sides of my ear. That hurts and it still falls out as soon as I move my head.
My current phone doesn't have a micro SD card slot, but that's another improvement I would really like to have. I like to keep a lot of pictures and files on my phone and it would be great to be able to upgrade the storage as it fills up.
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Exactly. Using CalyxOS myself.
iOS is confusing as hell and extremely limiting.
I will agree it's limiting, but it isn't anywhere close to confusing. The one thing I will say is that some app settings are tucked away in the iOS settings app, which I would prefer them to be in the actual app.
Beyond that, I don't find it confusing at all.