A few weeks ago I switched from the iPhone to a phone powered by Google’s Android operating system: The HTC Legend. People have been asking how they compare so I thought I’d share some notes.
iPhone advantages over Android:
- Integration with the desktop
- User experience
- Default apps
Android advantages over iPhone:
- Integration with the cloud
- Flexibility and freedom to choose
- Development environment
Not so sure about:
- Pseudo vs. true multitasking
What I thought might matter but doesn’t:
- Apple’s App Store vs. the Android Market
The iPhone works better with the desktop than Android while Android feels more like an extension of the cloud than the iPhone does. Essentially, Android is missing iTunes while the iPhone is missing Android’s integration with Google’s various online services (calendar, maps, mail). In my opinion, this is the major reason behind Google’s recent overhaul of GMail’s contacts. After switching to Android I started using GMail’s contacts a lot more – almost by default.
The iPhone still has a better overall feel to the user interface. Android’s scrolling is choppy compared to the iPhone’s and the default apps that ship with the iPhone (iPod, contacts, notes) are more accessible. Android however is more flexible than the iPhone when it comes to customizing it and making it your own – especially because of the widgets.
Android seems like a more powerful operating system, with true multitasking and a better notification interface. It feels more like a small, powerful computer. How this effects battery life though, I don’t know. The open source Linux-Java stack also means that the Android development environment is more appealing. Also, because Android is open source it wouldn’t surprise me if they overtake Apple regarding speed and functionality of the operating system, if only because it’s bound to have more developers working on it.
Finally, I was pleasantly surprised by the selection of Android applications available. I thought I might miss some iPhone apps but it seems that everything I used regularly on the iPhone is available on Android as well.
Overall, the jury is still out. The fact that there’s such strong competition in developing smartphone operating systems and handsets will bring benefits for the consumer. Next time I upgrade, I still don’t know whether I’d go iPhone or Android – although I’m leaning ever so slightly towards Android.