I’m sad to say that I’ve been a victim of bullying. Not because of my appearance, background, or ideology, but because of something else entirely: the phone that I use.
Every time there’s a group project and a group chat is made, it’s inevitable that I will hear “Who the hell is using an Android?” My cover blown by those telltale green bubbles.
Despite the constant teasing by the vast majority of iPhone users who surround me, I’ve been a loyal Android user ever since I got my first smartphone, a OnePlus 1. Even as my whole family has switched to Apple, I’ve remained loyal to what I believe is the superior phone. In this post I’ll be detailing the main reasons I have not succumbed to Apple’s corporate greed.
- Battery Life
I’ll start off with the most obvious. My go to response when someone roasts me for using an Android is “at least I don’t have to charge my phone every 5 minutes.”
I know. It’s not great, but it strikes iPhone users where it hurts most. On family vacations, while my family members watch in horror as their iPhone battery drains away, I gaze on with the comfort of my 12 hour Android battery life. Even if it runs low, I can depend on the lightning quick charging through the non-proprietary USB-C charging port.
It’s also now common knowledge that Apple throttles the battery life and processing speed of older models with newer iOS updates. They force customers to buy their new products instead of standing behind the ones consumers have already bought, revealing the company’s true values and corporate greed.
2. Compatibility
Another of the finest aspects of Android devices are their compatibility with most other forms of technology. You can plug your phone into your computer through the USB cord and be able to move files between devices without iCloud or any other software. What a concept! Unlike the Apple ecosystem that essentially forces you to buy a Mac that integrates nicely with your iPhone or to buy songs through iTunes, Android devices sync with your Google account, something that virtually everyone relevant has. Also, there’s no need for a freaking dongle to connect a simple headphone jack.
3. Customizability
The last great reason for getting an Android is the customizability it offers. With the iPhone you’re stuck with the user interface that comes with iOS. Sure, you can change your lock screen or organize your apps, but that’s all you can do. With Android, you can install completely different themes that fit your aesthetic taste. On the more extreme end, users can opt to install entirely different flavors of the Android operating system, such as Cupcake, Donut, or Honeycomb (yes, they are all named after desserts). Last but not least, Android users are not bogged down by the limitations of the App Store. Not only does the Google Play store have more apps than the Apple App Store (2.7 million vs 2.2 million in 2017), but Android users can also get apps from 3rd party platforms or directly install them with Android Packages. For both power users and users who appreciate a wide selection of choices, Android is evidently the best choice.
Conclusion
I doubt that anyone is going to go out and replace their iPhone with an Android after reading this. However, I do hope you now see why the few Android users around you stick with their devices despite the green bubbles and inability to AirDrop things. If you love your iPhone, great. Please stick with it. However, if any part of the Apple experience doesn’t sit well with you, give Android a shot.
Links:
https://medium.com/master-of-code-global/app-store-vs-google-play-stores-in-numbers-fd5ba020c195
https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/android-vs-ios/
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-stop-apple-throttling-iphones/
Hey Eric, I loved your blog. Personally I have an IPhone but I don’t really know why. I know that they purposely kill their devices yet I continuously buy from them. I would be interested in switching but there are still a few things that I like about Apple. I appreciate your blogs focus on the benefits of switching but still accepting both brands. If I don’t switch I’ll make sure to not bully others for having green texts.
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Personally, it is very annoying that we cannt have a group chat name or NHS… But that being said, when I first got a phone I’ll admit, I did not want an apple. Even now I miss the headphone jack because dongles are easy to lose and I hate wireless. So Android has its benefits. Also, with Apple you feel pressure to get a new phone every 2 years (max), because its such a big deal. But no one cares if you have the newest Android (ooo harsh ik) so you probably save money too.
My cousin switched to using a Google Pixel phone a while back. Honestly, I don’t even notice the green bubbles much anymore. But as evil as Apple’s corporation is, so are Google, Samsung, and Huawei. Modern life is a mess!
I would agree, but apple has an iron like grip on its consumers- they constrain us with buying new hardware for software updates whereas an android can last for much longer as the software updates are applicable even for phones that are 3 years old. That way, androids have much more versatility, utility & freedom although apple is easier to use because of the company’s main trademark of making consumer products even in the 80s, which was revolutionary at that time. However, recent androids (most of them) are fairly user friendly too.
One interesting point I’ve heard made by people on the internet is that while “iOS treats you like a user, Android treats you like an admin.” I would have to agree. I think that Android phones allow you to customize and do really cool things.
Despite that, I still use Apple. Why? Simply put, I’m pretty tech-illiterate. I like pretty user interfaces and smooth animations. I prefer the convenience of Apple, even if Android lets you have more control.
All in all, it’s a choice that comes down to individual preference.
First of all, this post was absolutely hilarious. I am a big APPLE user, but I think that probably comes from peer pressure. Also, that battery life hit me HARD, my phone dies all the time! I would like to counter this with a few benefits of APPLE. For one, you have easier access to texting people without WiFi and using data, as iMessage allows that between iPhone users. Another thing is the overall * a e s t h e t i c * of iPhones. They are so sleek and thin, very beautiful. Great argument on your part, though!
Honestly, there isn’t much of a difference between a Pixel & an iPhone. Both almost look the same. Though you might be right in saying that Apple is the O.G when it comes to aesthetics due to Steve Jobs’s insistence on that part of the field.
Hi Eric,
I’d be lying if I said that those green bubbles in all of our group chats didn’t annoy me at all. It seems as if everyone has an iPhone, and I agree that people with Android phones are instantly seen as outliers sometimes. However, I was not aware of all of the advantages that Android phones have over iPhones before reading your post. You’re right that I won’t go and buy myself an Android as I’ve grown so used to using an iPhone, but now I am more aware of what I could have if I ever did want to get a new Android phone in the future.
I loved how your post expressed your defense of the different aspects of your Android. I especially liked when you brought up the dongles that someone might need with an iPhone. I had no idea what this word meant, but I think that this captures the main idea in the absurdity of needing pieces that seem as useless or unknown as these dongles are. Your post effectively demonstrates that what everyone seems to be doing, such as having an iPhone in this case, is not always the best. Society does not always know or do what is best; sometimes, being the odd one out is what it is best.
You know I am hell-bent on aesthetics. The green bubble makes me mad but don’t worry, it’s nothing personal. The number one principle for UX design is making an atmosphere where the user doesn’t have to think – hate it or not, that’s often how tech infiltrates our lives – and Apple has succeeded in creating that. I know for sure Apple has an iron grip on a lot of our lives, and their product does not justify the price tag. Right now, no matter how mad I get at Apple for throttling my battery, it’s not enough for me to switch to Android (although you have some good points).
Honestly, the majority of the world outside the US uses android. Back home, having an iPhone was a status system. Interestingly, here, almost everyone has the new iPhone in the two years of its release. I guess because of America’s wealth having an iPhone is seen as a norm but I’d never thought of it that way. I was surprised to see an iPhone in everybody’s hand when I came to America. I thought everyone in America was rich! (relatively speaking, they are) Kinda interesting to see, the cultural divides.
Hi Eric.
I’ve known you for nearly 10 years now and I must say that I have not gotten over this “green bubble” problem of yours. Over these past few years, you’ve had chances to amend all of your mistakes, but you continually fail to do so. To this day, you choose to divide us based on such a trivial topic–not a fan.
Just kidding. I thought your blog post makes a lot of sense, although I still probably won’t switch over. The three problems you mention are all problems I face having an Apple phone–especially being able to keep my phone charged throughout an entire day. Maybe someday, I’ll make the switch over.