The dispute between iPhone and Android has been going on for years. The operating systems for smartphones are similar and so are the devices, but sometimes there are clear differences that create two divided camps. The transition is difficult for many.
A Reddit user who used an iPhone for over ten years switched to a Samsung Galaxy S23 after that time and shared his experience online. He was particularly impressed by the seamless integration of Google Assistant and the easy connection to his Windows 11 PC. He praised the Google Photos app for faster synchronization than iCloud.
With the Phone Link function, he can manage all smartphone applications directly from his computer, which is only possible to a limited extent with macOS. He was also impressed by Google Assistant compared to Siri, especially because of its better integration with other devices like the Nest speaker.
Along with positive experiences with the Galaxy S23, users have also criticized Apple’s policies. He criticized the difficulty of repairing Apple devices due to the use of different types of screws and the implementation of serial numbers that hindered hardware replacement. However, he doesn’t miss the personal support at Apple stores.
Will he return to the iPhone? Maybe if Apple rethinks its repair policy, improves Siri, and moves quickly on innovations like folding displays and AI integration.
All the points he mentions in the translated overview:
While this doesn’t really concern me, what does bother me is that Apple intentionally uses 18 different types and sizes of screws in its hardware to discourage customers from repairing the hardware they purchase.
As the first reason, Apple added serialization of hardware parts and even inserted false error messages into the operating system when replacing such parts.
While Siri is helpful on a hardware level, it’s often useless for simple questions. Every time he says to me, “You can ask again from your iPhone…”
Something I recently learned after turning off my iPhone is that when I ask Siri through my HomePod for the time or to confirm “who I am,” she responds very well, but refuses to add anything to my shopping list when my iPhone is turned on. Off I know Siri on HomePods is still connected to the internet because she can tell me the weather for the day. This weird reliance on a smartphone to do simple tasks is something my Google Nest speakers don’t suffer from.
Google Assistant is actually part of the Google Alarm clock on Android. This means that when the alarm clock goes off in the morning, I can have Google Assistant automatically set the thermostat, turn off the bedroom fan, set the bedside light to 10%, tell me the current weather, the first item on the calendar for today, and I have to punch in iOS shortcuts. And hopefully I can put together the right components to make this work on the iPhone.
When I watch Apple TV, I ask Siri on HomePods to pause or stop playback on the TV. Often he does just that, but sometimes he says, “Nothing’s on,” or he starts playing music: “Okay, here’s a channel just for you,” instead of pausing what’s on TV.
iCloud Sync takes too long to upload or sync photos and videos It often takes 30 minutes to sync four items between iPhone and iCloud, while Google Photos on the same iPhone is already done.
Foldable Phones – Where Are They, Apple?
Android app sharing with Windows 11 (I also have a few Windows 11 PCs) is actually better than iOS with MacOS. With Phone Link I have access to all the applications installed on the S23, while on MacOS I can only run apps developed for the desktop (also). I can text, share photos, access Google Assistant, and run all my S23 apps right on the Windows 11 desktop.
Apple has been pushing for years to finally adopt RCS for non-iMessage text. This removes a pretty big hurdle for many people who would otherwise never switch from an iPhone. Overall, though, I find that I don’t miss iMessage or even FaceTime.
Will I miss Apple support in stores? I can tell you that I’ve never had to send my iPhone in for hardware repair, and I know enough about software and how to research problems on my own that I’ve never needed the help of an Apple genius. I guess I’ll be fine with Samsung support – if I ever need it.
