It's hard to decide which smartphone to buy these days. The market is saturated with Android and iOS devices, although the European Union is working hard to fix that. Until then, your choices most likely end up being between a Samsung, iPhone — and one other popular Android manufacturer.
You may be looking to buy a new phone, or just curious about each ecosystem. We've made a detailed analysis for you to understand them.
The Android & iOS ecosystems
Andy Rubin and his colleagues founded Android Inc. to improve digital cameras in 2003. But soon after, they pivoted to smartphones after facing sales challenges. Google acquired the company in 2005 and released the first Android phone, the HTC Dream, in 2008. Since then, Android has evolved with new versions and features. We discussed its complete history in a previous post.
iOS originated in 2005 after Steve Jobs favored shrinking the Macintosh to get a new device. The internal competition between the Macintosh and iPod teams resulted in the creation of the iPhone OS, which they later renamed as iOS. Apple released the OS for the first iPhone in 2007, although it didn’t initially support third-party native applications. That changed with the introduction of a Software Development Kit (SDK) in 2008.
iOS stands apart from Android because it operates within a closed ecosystem. This setup grants Apple full control over the functionality and security of iPhones and iPads. However, it also means that most developers cannot modify or adapt iOS. Even third-party apps undergo rigorous reviews before Apple allows them into the App Store.
Integrative Development Environment
Android Studio is the official integrated development environment (IDE). Developers use it to create apps that run on Android phones, tablets, and other devices. Studio provides a source code editor, debugger, and project management tools. It supports Java and Kotlin, among other languages. However, Java is the core language as it's well-established and reliable. But it has its limitations. One is that it requires more lines of code, making it complicated.
Kotlin addresses such limitations. It is much more concise, expressive, and null-safe, making it much easier to develop apps than with Java.
On the other hand, Xcode is Apple’s official IDE for iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS development. It supports Swift and Objective-C, among other languages. It also provides a rich set of tools for designing, coding, testing, and deploying apps across Apple platforms. Objective-C was the first iOS programming language, but it had a steep learning curve and complex syntax. That's why Apple developed Swift. Swift is more modern, fast, and powerful.
The open-source vs closed ecosystems argument
Android’s openness means that you can deeply customize your devices from app icons to system fonts. Many manufacturers, including Samsung and Oppo, have overlaid their custom skins on the stock OS version.
Doing that allows them to provide extensive customization beyond what is on Google Pixel phones. The home screens support various layouts for applying themes, icon packs, and wallpapers. Third-party launchers are also worth a shot if you want more options.
But like most technologies, the OS has its downsides. Being open-source also means that you’re more vulnerable to malware attacks than the average iPhone user. But it’s not something that happens regularly. You can go a whole phone’s lifetime without experiencing malware. Unless you deliberately download fishy apps from untrustworthy sources or make yourself vulnerable, nothing will happen to your device.
Besides, Google has put security measures in place — they just know you won’t listen, anyway. Google Play Protect continuously scans apps on the Play Store for malware and other security threats. Android will also isolate apps from each other and the rest of the system, reducing the potential damage that any malware can cause.
Hardware and Prices
Android phones are more affordable because they have a range of options. You can get different phones between high, middle, and low ranges. Among Google Pixel phones alone, the Pixel 8 Pro starts from $999. You can also get the mid-range 7a model for $499 or the cheaper 6a version for $349.
iOS devices are generally more expensive for many reasons. For one, iPhones have superior build quality and processors. Plus, they maintain a consistent design across every release. The iPhone 15 uses the titanium grade 5 material, something NASA uses for its rockets. The iPhone 14 and previous models use aluminum frames.
That is not to say you won't find premium materials on Android phones. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra uses a titanium frame as well. However, you'll mostly find these materials on flagships, with budget phones using plastic or other cheap materials. The materials may even vary depending on the manufacturer.
Apple also has more control over pricing because it has a monopoly on the ecosystem. So the costs are more consistent worldwide. In terms of software, they receive longer updates than Android phones. It's a valuable perk if you want to keep your phone for a long time. But it factors into the overall cost.
For example, the iPhone 11 launched with iOS 13 in 2019, and is eligible for updates until 2026. So it’ll get every major update and security patch within that period. That's seven years of updates in total. If you’re lucky to own a Pixel phone, you’ll get the same level of support. Otherwise, you’re stuck with Samsung’s four-year support or less with other brands.
Find the ecosystem for you
Android phones are ideal if you’re big on personalization. We’ve made a detailed guide to help you buy one. If you’re a minimalist who doesn’t care for the distractions, you’re better off buying an iPhone. As a developer, it's important to familiarise yourself with the Android and iOS ecosystems. But it's harder to develop for both, as you'll need to create separate versions. That means more work for you in debugging, testing, and reiteration. If you're a beginner, we've created a dummy guide to help you get started.
