Everyone has their preferences, I would love to hear why you guys prefer using Android!
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
Along the lines of sideloading: proper adblock
I was reminded ads exist after I bought an iPad for school (sadly the notetaking experience is truly unrivaled). Adblock only works on Safari and whether it’ll work properly is another roll of the dice.
- File management is noice, the ability to plug in a USB C usb is very clutch.
- I swear a lot more apps on iOS are subscription based than on Android.
- A lot more open source apps.
- Modded apps.
- I can easily connect my phone to my laptop and copy actual files.
- Sideloading.
- Choice.
In regards to point 2, this is very true. Apps that are free or freemium on Android are often subscription on iOS. I wonder if a part of it is the higher costs of requiring a Mac to develop the app (and iPhone to test it), and any app store differences that may account for this. Big companies can handle this, but for little guys it’s a barrier to entry
I think it’s also a chicken-or-egg question:
Apple users are more willing to pay for apps. So if you’re a dev and you want to release a paid app, iOS is the platform of choice. So more devs release paid apps on iOS, so iOS becomes the platform with more paid apps. So users are more used to pay for apps. So paying for apps is normalized, so Apple users are more willing to pay for apps.
Etc. etc. etc.
#2 I am a developer, the reason for this is that publishing an app in App Store is not free unlike in Android where it’s a one time payment.
I want a customizable phone that is not stuck in a walled-garden. Plus I do not use Apple products.
- Headphone jack
- SD slot
Yes I’m using a Sony phone (Xperia 1V)
Not being locked to one ecosystem and being forced to do everything the ‘Apple’ way. One of the biggest annoyances I have is being tech support for family with Apple products and they always ask why I am able to do stuff so easily with my ‘cheap android’.
There’s a certain level of classism I feel when it comes to phones, it almost feels tribal. Outside the tech/enthusiast space, the average person (at least here where I live) correlate Android with being the cheap option, whereas if you pick iPhone, you are picking the premium option.
Absolutely a class deal with my family. They aren’t rich by any means but if you aren’t running a Macbook, iPad, and iPhone then what are you doing with your life? They have no idea how to use most of their devices and they also have to watch every youtube ad on their official youtube client… HAHAAHAHAAHHA
More customizable, open source, don’t want to pay the apple tax
I used it initially, because I hated Apple and their proprietary stuff and have stayed ever since. I liked androids more universal approach. SD cards, usb, etc.
Having the ability to add an SD card is great
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.
Revanced and Fdroid. Plus, I can use real third party browsers. And sideloading. And getting access to the file system. And having tons of vendors to choose from.
Sideloading. And I refuse to pay Apple’s insane prices tbh.
you can with trollstore or altstore
There aren’t a whole lot of options. It’s not that I particularly care about Android as much as that I don’t want to be stuck in the Apple ecosystem. If there was any other usable alternative with a large library of apps I’d definitely check it out.
- 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…
NewPipe, and Firefox Browser with uBlock Origin installed
That’s it.
I was an iOS user for nearly a decade but I increasingly grew tired of the walled garden and lack of customization (i.e. not being possible for me to tailor the OS closer to my needs), especially the lack of third-party stores for FOSS apps. Not to mention the fact that the App Store model actively discourages developers of these apps, so it is an ideological question at the end of the day.
Apple’s app store monopoly is a huge issue, I recently was suggested an app for iOS called, “Carrot Weather” as it was highly acclaimed for being optimized and brandishing a clean UI, however, when I opened the app, I was asked to pay a yearly subscription of $50. For a weather app.
Noped out of there immediately. Everyone and their mum seems to have a subscription service now.
I used to like customizing the UI a lot, and jailbroke my first iPhone (a 4S).
Nowadays, iOS and Android have converged somewhat. But the big sticking point that makes me stick with Android is that sideloading apps on iOS is still a major, major hassle.
I prefer the freedom to choose between multiple phone manufacturers, and am not tethered to a closed environment.