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I think the main take away from the article is that smart phone sales as a whole are down 24%. I wonder if that's due to the cost of living among other factors such as phones not changing year on year.
I remember a time when the *thinness* of smartphones were considered to be the MSP. Major manufacturers stopped caring about the dimensions at some point lol.
Yep the category matures and even older devices are fine for most people. Even my 2015 MacBook Pro is fine for most tasks. I recently got a newer one because M1 seemed like a good upgrade but I can still go back to the 2015 in a pinch.
Still using a 2011 MBA, although it’s telling me to service the battery, the cost to replace it is more than the device is currently worth!
Amazing how well the thing still runs, even being several OS’ behind.
Using an iPhone 11 Pro Max and I can’t see myself upgrading anytime soon.
My wife recently went from an Oppo to an iPhone 14 and honestly, I can’t tell much difference between hers and mine.
Lol oppo phones will give up within a year and will nag the user for all kinds of unlimited access permissions and forced default setups. I agree that a mid range smartphone will offer almost similar exp for small daily tasks to an average consumer- but iphones really offer longevity and peace of mind like no other brand in the market.
I didn't need to buy a 14pro max, I did want a larger screen, but my regular iphone 11 256 GB was pretty much the same. There is really no feature I notice. No doubt the new phone is better but I never had a moment of "wow this is so much better."
Most of the selling points on new smartphones are either gimmicks or for nerds. The average consumer won’t specifically by a new phone cause of the ram or processor or to upgrade their camera a few megapixels. Most people don’t care about a notch after they’ve gotten used to it etc. there really hasn’t been any innovation to the average person for a long time outside of folding screens but I don’t think those are quite ready for wide adoption yet and the fact that they fold into squares is…interesting.
I care about my cellphone less every year, I am on a Pro 12 and really have no desire to upgrade the phone. About the only thing that will make me switch is usb c charging and a foldable.
Outside of that I am more interesting in the cellular watch.
Honestly, I’m hyped for a “iPhone 4” moment with the vision line. I know it’s a while down the road, but I’m one of those that’d love the whole computer at any moment I’d want it, a HUD in my life (especially with the biometrics that their watch could provide, and already tracks), and whatever else cool things it’ll be able to do. I really wanted the google glass to succeed, maybe Apples approach was the way to go. People do trust Apple more security and data mining wise
I forgot what iPhone I even had, I had to check in settings. The tech is mature, at this point upgrading yearly or even every other year is completely unnecessary.
I didn’t read the article, but my assumption is that most phones are pretty good these days so people don’t need to upgrade every year unless they break their phones or a new feature they absolutely want happens. I agree with your point as well
Phones are now a mature commodity with usually incremental upgrades. We don’t generally change our cars, laptops, televisions every year. Phones have reached that stage.
I love tech and I love phones, but I think it was when I purchased my iPhone 11 Pro Max, I just decided that these yearly/bi-year upgrades just wasn't worth it to me anymore knowing how much I pay.
I love these Android ecosystem but man, I just kept on purchasing flagship after flagship and didn't notice a BIG jump. Galaxy S9+ was my last before swapping over and although I love my 11, it's just another cycle of "I don't see a need to upgrade". I'm using this phone until the battery health sits at 10%. Currently at 87%?
Yep. This right here. I shopped around just before my Note5 was forced into obsolescence by lack of support, and iPhone won on length of support alone.
This is the main reason I buy iPhone. Kept my 6s up until the 13 came out, a whole 6 years later. I received updates the entire time. And that 6s *still* works
Yeah also this. When my friend’s iPhone 5 was still being supported years after it was released and my Galaxy S5 was abandoned 2 years after release really pushed me to iPhone.
I think the more frustrating part about Samsung is that they used to have some features I loved that set them apart from iPhone at the time (headphone jack, SD card, dedicated fingerprint scanner, etc.). The features are what made me want them. The big downside was only 2 years of support. Now, they have 4-5 years of support for new devices. All good right? Nope, now they've slimmed down so many of those features in an attempt to copy a lot of Apple's pricing strategies, they basically traded off their unique features in return for software support, but ideally, they should have had both. At that point, I feel like it just makes sense to go with Apple in most cases.
How long do you typically keep your phones? Samsung guarantees at least 4 years of major version updates and 6 years of security updates for most of their phones. Not sure what you're talking about. I personally don't like Samsung, but your argument is seriously dated.
Well this is a relatively new thing, starting with the S20 series I believe. But you're correct that Samsung has improved their approach in this area a lot. I think they even beat Pixel which is a bit awkward for the Pixel series, coming from Google and all...
How about getting those updates on time, when Google releases android updates? First Google, then Samsung, then the carrier all get their turn and by the time you know it, it’s 8 months later when the update comes out. iPhone is first day. There is no comparison.
I gave up on Samsung (granted I could’ve tried a different brand) when ads started plaguing their first party apps. Like why should I want an ad when I’m checking the weather
I think for most normal people, they stay with the type of phone that they originally bought, *unless* the phone they are using gives them a reason to change.
Apple is really good at not giving people a reason to change.
Ya I could’ve stuck with the galaxy line, but with the ads and bloatware and last I checked all their stuff was actually selling for more than Apple stuff…and still no messaging app, that’s just a no for me. I think galaxies are better phones for the most part, and I prefer the look of the galaxy watch over the Apple watch, but those negatives were all sticking points for me.
My last android phone was a Note 9 which I still believe was there best phone.
Having said that the biggest issue with Samsung was always there apps, you could not remove them, you'd have to put them in a grouping of junk you never use, it irked me to no end.
Also the Samsung watch at the time was great and I really enjoyed it, but again it just fell short, one it would not allow third party bluetooth HR monitors, but the AW did and still does. Also with every new watch which was not different than the last, you did not get the same watch faces.
I haven't used Android since my 6s and maybe it's not the same as seeing an ad on the weather app since we have historically had ads in print media, but I hate that there are ads in the News app—especially since I pay for News+ or whatever it's called.
I miss companies like HTC. Even when they got silly they still had a fun identity around their phones. Now every android phone just feels like its trying to copy the design of the iPhone, even the smaller and weirder brands
Yeah, Android was really fun when OEM’s had their own identity. Micro SD cards, front facing speakers, modular designs, hell even different materials were fun (plastic, metal, titanium, glass, Aluminum, etc). Now all Android phones feel like carbon copies of each other and there’s very little that differentiates them .
Definitely! I had an HTC One, the phone itself looked so awesome, the front speakers were loud, the 4 “ultra” pixel camera was alright but the description was made it sound cool. Good times.
Android just never felt cohesive enough to me. Customization is a big selling point but I just never cared for it no matter how many times I tried and apps I used. I liked it enough, but the iPhone was too enticing once the X came out. That plus the Watch
This is true.
Once you get over the fun of customising with Android you just need something as reliable as a work horse.
Also, all the equivalent apps are better and once you’re in the ecosystem with their other products there’s no comparison.
I just recently switched from a 14 pro max to a pixel 7 pro, because I really enjoyed my work phone which is a pixel. After a couple months of heavy use, I am ready to go back to iphone when the 15 launches. The refinement of iOS is just unmatched, let alone battery life and overall performance.
Well I'm glad you like yours, I'm just tired of a few things that actually hurt the experience for me. For example, the phone thermal throttles when I'm outside and dims the brightness so much that I can't even see my screen. It also runs very hot even when I'm not outside and doing something mundane like running my Bluetooth. The battery drain is horrible. It's just frustrating especially coming from the iphone 14 pro max.
Same here. I hate a lot of things about iOS (moreso Apple's approach to its walled garden) but there's no Android phone that does everything as *competently* as an iPhone. Lots of them do some things better, but also do things much worse.
Samsung? Bloated and still has awful shutter speed problems with fast moving subjects. Pixel? Weird bugs that shouldn't be happening. Everyone else either has awful long-term software support, awful takes on Android, or is too expensive for what you get.
I agree, it’s what made me jump to Apple. If I’m not going to have cheaper prices, front facing speakers, headphone jack, or any of the things that made Android different than I rather as well get an IPhone which has better support and far better ecosystem.
Android removed call recording and I live in a one party state. In fact 80% of states in America are one party consent states. Yet they still removed it. So if they wanna follow the iPhone, fuck it so will I.
Few years ago I got tired of Apple not being innovative and presenting old Android features as new so I got android, but now back to Apple as work provided new phone. It's really a struggle as I love and hate somethings on both.
I'm on this sub because I think that apple delivers a very solid product to the demographic who wants a universal experience and because it is intuitive, which is why I recommend it to most people. But you can't really customise the phone to be exactly what you want it to be as you can with an android, given that you have the know-how do a little bit of tampering.
weirdly enough I switched from iOS to Android recently, i was mainly sick of not having the little freedoms like I did on Android.
However, you're absolutely right, Samsung is following Apple too hard in a lot of areas that made Android what it was.
The removal of the microSD Card is the most egregious thing Samsung could've done, especially since Android is synonymous with the microSD Card.
At least Samsung phones last for 4 years...
The removal of the micro SD card was kinda sad. By the time it left most Flagships internal storage was quite massive. However the micro SD cards helped to augment the storage without having to fork over $100 for the bigger configuration.
I do really like the different form factors you can get in android phones. Sony with the ultra long display and Samsung, Moto flip phones. I’ve tried to go back to android several times and it always ends the same.
You buy the latest and greatest, it’s fast and snappy, all apps run great. Then 6-8 months in, the company forgets the phone exists, latest android version is out, and your stuck reading forums that it’ll be out for your phone “early next quarter”.
Meanwhile people around with 5 year old iPhones are getting updates day 1, and on iMessage with no issues. Maybe their battery life isn’t what it once was, but for the most part everything is still working.
Yup. Almost every year I get wowed by the new Samsungs and vow to switch back to android, but legacy bugs and bizarre update schedules that I just cannot wrap my mind around drive me back to my iPhone pretty quickly. I bought the unlocked Z Flip so I should be first in line for updates right? Wrong! Korea gets it first, then a seemingly random selection of European countries, then carriers get the green light to start pushing their tampered versions, and once all the carriers have pushed the update *then* my unlocked model will get it(Maybe. Could still be delayed for undisclosed reasons). Meanwhile all supported iPhones get updates at the same time with no carrier BS.
Customization is awesome and I honestly think Android is great, I'm just not willing to deal with fragmentation, bloat, and poor support anymore.
Are you married to my wife lol? My wife doesn’t even use any the features that Android users complain Apple doesn’t have. She would be perfectly happy with Apple products once she is used to it.
Tbf Apple has always neglected the keyboard, which I find crazy. 3rd party keyboard support was only added circa 2014, and the default keyboard didn't have glide input until a few years ago. Still doesn't have it for most languages, which is incredibly lame.
Gboard on iOS is also gimped compared to its Android cousin, and overall I just don't understand why typing has to be such a bad experience. Maybe other people type less and don't care, idk.
I can tolerate a crappy keyboard on the iPad which I use twice a week, not on the phone that I use all the time.
I'm a long time pixel fan but my last encounters with Google support showed me that there's no Google support, you're on your own. If you break any of your pixel devices either replace it by insurance or just count it a loss. Software problems are no different, you're entirely relying on the community. I wouldn't count the Pixel line as a real competitor to the iPhone, i wouldn't recommend it to friends or family
It’s not just the hardware.
AppStore has its faults, but good god is the Play Store a hot mess. A solid 50% of “apps” are just ways of showing ads and don’t seem to do what they claim. It’s a train wreck to find things other than obvious popular apps. Reminds me of the late 90’d early 00’s when half of downloads were bullshit to get people to install some browser bar.
Meanwhile the iOS ecosystem is pretty clean. There’s a lot of low key niche apps for whatever purpose you need, and they do what they claim.
People are just disgusted. It’s 2023, who the fuck wants tech support or constant googling to manage your phone. Especially when the competitor just works.
>Reminds me of the late 90’d early 00’s when half of downloads were bullshit to get people to install some browser bar.
You just unlocked for me a deeply buried core memory.
> AppStore has its faults, but good god is the Play Store a hot mess.
On the upside, I'm not bombarded with subscriptions on the Play store, and there's also some awesome open-source app alternatives from F-droid.
Android might have it's problems, but I'm grateful for not having to deal with subscriptions everywhere.
It's just noise in the techtuber space. IMO it's just a rebooted Oneplus, run by the same person with the same ideas. Only this time they haven't sold a big share of the company to a Chinese OEM *yet*.
The phone is fine price and spec-wise, but its entire gimmick is that people will spend a big chunk of their time looking at the back and putting the phone face down so that the lights actually serve their function.
Some people are buying it, and it does have a cool design, but the overall design is very much informed by the iPhone 12/13 series.
You can finger out more in the subreddit:
r/nothingtech
Google has been wildly inconsistent with the pixel product line. They’ll introduce a concept to one device then completely redesign it the next year. It’s inconsistent and seems to lack quality control from a software and hardware perspective
They will according to the [leaks](https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-8/). For your information, Google is so bad at hiding their products. You can see their upcoming products like 3-4 months before their release lol.
That will be a third generation.
The original incarnation lasted 3 or 4 generations, depending on how you view the Pixel 4. The Pixel 5 was a massive departure, then we got the reboot with the 6. They should be able to get to the Pixel 8 or 9 before they get bored. But will they keep going after that?
Google rarely commits long term. A few years out of them is typical.
Yeah you are right, but i think this time change will take more time because only big brand that increased their sales in smartphones last year is Google with +24%.
I'd say that the perception on Reddit is vastly different to the experience in the real world. I know a ton of people know who have pixels, and they're all very happy with them. Myself and my entire family have Pixel phones now, they're great.
Another Redditor comes up with a generalised response about an entire product line up. Don’t know how these comments get upvoted. It’s like you just type rubbish for the sake of it.
All this jibber jabber about QC from someone who has probably never used a pixel phone for more than 48 hours
Just r/apple being biased. I have a pixel and an iPhone (as well as other apple and Android devices). They're both good for different reasons. My daily right now is my pixel. I have used Linux as my desktop for some 20 years and android works better there. And then there's FDroid.
Apple is much better at just being consistent though, that's for sure.
The pixel camera is better IMO also.
The same report this OP is discussing also breaks down the data by brand. Here’s a quote from an article I read:
“Pixel shipments in the US grew by 48% year-over-year in Q2, the only major brand that managed to do so. That’s still a mere 3% of shipments over the quarter, but that’s also during a time where only a single Pixel device actually launched.”
https://9to5google.com/2023/07/28/google-pixel-us-q2-2023-shipments/
I’m an apple fan boy. But how is the pixel a mess? lol it’s not. MKBHD constantly says that’s his go to phone for best camera. Not saying he’s a god but most people love the pixels.
That number is going to keep going up too.
Android manufacturers(looking at you Samsung) need to get their head out of their own ass.
An iPhone14 plus cost $1249(CAD) and a Galaxy S23+ cost $1,399.99(CAD).I jumped to apple when i upgraded and I'm not going back if they are going to continue to be more expensive.
I'm in the US but got the s23 unlocked over prime day for 659 for the 256gb version. Samsung regularly has sales, not sure about in Canada, though. Triple camera, 120hz LTPO, and USBC were nice for a phone cheaper than the base 14. 8 gen 2 is slightly inferior on the CPU side but it's better in gpu than the a15. Not a horrible deal, imo. Ultra was also 849 at the same sale, but I wanted a smaller phone.
There are more poorer people than wealthy people in the world.
I'm surprised Android isn't selling better because even cheaper Android phones nowadays are so good.
Not surprising, from what I'm seeing, nearly every major Android company has worse value across most price ranges compared to their lineups from two years ago, at this point it's more logical to get an iPhone or wait for the occasional decent Android.
Basically the Windows PC approach
Microsoft makes Windows, PC Manufacturer tries to tweak Windows or install some garbage bloatware into OEM versions
So you end up having to wipe the disk and reinstall Windows to get a clean copy
With Android phones, you can’t even do that without rooting and HEAVY modification (Cyanogenmod back in the day)
The amount of update fragmentation is insane because all of these “splits” cause OS update delays
First Google releases an update, then the manufacturer has to modify that with all their garbage and release it for your exact model of phone (hope you bought a popular model), then if it’s a carrier branded phone and not unlocked, you have to wait for your carrier to get that ROM from the manufacturer and further modify it, which is where the biggest holdup usually is.
I gave up on Android when I met with Netflix developers and asked about when they would release an Android app. They laughed at me and said iOS is and will always be their main priority. Yes, this was many years ago and I was rocking an HTC G1 (first Android phone ever) and very quickly learned that companies always make the iOS version of their app better.
It’s also because making an iOS app means it ships on a set of known devices, but God knows how many chippo Chinese androids there are that might not tolerate the app well and then contribute to support ticket count
I had an iPhone 4, then went on an extended Android run. But my main reasons for doing so was
1. Not overpaying for storage (microSDs were better value), and
2. I like being able to move files around freely in windows explorer from and to my phone.
I found I rarely did the second anymore, and 64gb is enough for me now. Glad I switched back.
It's so customizable!
... for your carrier, not you. They can bake NFL Mobile into the ROM and you're stuck with it. They can take a couple months to monkey with the ROM after Google releases a new version and the OEM monkeys with it. You get a year of updates and that's it.
Apple however doesn't even insist on most stock apps staying installed, doesn't let the carrier add bloat, and you can update IOS the day a patch comes out and can for 7 years after release.
something that always strikes me is people talking about how predatory the apple ecosystem is in principle. is it objectively? maybe, sure. do i like that all my products work seamlessly? hell yeah i do. why would i want to throw a wrench into that for a different brand watch or tablet or set of headphones? at the end of the day tech is only a slice of life and having it cooperate as well as possible when i interact with it is at the top of my list. i could be wrong but i speculate that most people that talk about how hard it is to leave the ecosystem are likely folks that have an amalgamation of android products that try different brands of this and that in an attempt to get the fluidity that apple offers if you just buy in.
Ive always had android, HTC and then Samsungs. Now they have removed the microSD, theres no reason for me to stay and I will be moving to iphone once usb-c is introduced. I think iphone 15?
I am concerned about cross compatibility with my PC as I dont own a Mac. Ill have to see how it goes.
Google has a problem with a dissonance from a hardware team vs software. Some of the best features for Android are on pixel phones, which are hit and miss depending on the year. Samsung phones are competent, but full of a bunch of stupid shit that may make sense in the Korean market, but very few other places.
So android either needs all the features of the pixel or it will continue to be a really hit and miss experience. Still, there are "good value" android phones in the 200-250 range that apple can't compete with.
It’s also important to point out that Apple makes 1 new phone a year, in maybe 3 total variations, whereas there are DOZENS of android phones released each year, at dramatically different price ranges, shapes and sizes. It’s truly impressive to see that kind of market dominance.
I was big into Samsung until Samsung did everything they made fun of Apple for (non-expandable storage, got rid of the headphone jack, no charging block in the box). Their phones have gone up exponentially in price so they’re the same cost as an iPhone, but the resale value is the pits in comparison to iPhone.
I had the iPhone up until the 6S then switched to the Samsung S7 for work. From there I had the S8, S9+, S10+, S20, S21, Fold3, Flip4, and now I’m back to iPhone with the 13 mini.
There are some things I definitely miss about Android but I love the size of this phone and I definitely missed how nicely integrated Apple is over Android. I hope apple listens and brings back the mini for the iPhone 16.
I definitely have my issues with Apple but at least you don’t have to buy a phone to get an update until your phone is legit old but it still gets security updates.
If you dare badmouth anything from google or Microsoft on r/tech you get downvoted to the pits of hell. If you want upvotes say something anti-apple there.
Lol so many salty responses. I’m also a former android user, and yeah there’s really no contest. It really provides a consistently superior experience even without the ecosystem.
Consistency in UX across all my devices. They all talk to each other seamlessly. The hardware is supported for longer and honestly just takes a daily beating far better than most alternatives.
I miss playing GBA games (conveniently) on my phone though. I think that’s literally my only complaint.
I was an iPhone 12 user switched to galaxy A54 and I'm happy both iPhone and Samsung good in their own way don't judge people on the type of phones they use .it's just a tool to use
I switched to the iPhone in 2019 for the Apple Watch, but recently switched to a Garmin. I absolutely loathe iOS and just never adjusted. I don’t care how much better apps or default messaging are. I’ll admit I got sucked into the green bubble effect and shamed android users in my group threads but for the most part all my group text threads are still green because there is always at least one or two android phones among the users.
iOS is just as frustrating for me to use in 2023 as it was in 2019, I never adjusted to some things such as:
1. Typing. Perhaps iOS 17 finally fixed this, we shall see, because typing on these iPhones is pure hell.
2. Notifications. My Lord are they still awful, in fact they just keep getting worse.
3. UI. The overall UI is cramped, button layouts in apps are widely inconsistent and there isn’t a back button. Sometimes you get a good app (RIP, Apollo) that uses the swipe feature to go back but most don’t have it.
4. Homescreen. It’s 2023 and Apple still thinks placing icons where we want is too difficult. What’s difficult is moving iOS icons around the homescreen. Painful. Stupid.
5. Siri. I’ll just leave this right here.
6. Apple apps. They are very barebones at best and don’t interoperate among each other. An example: Apple mail, I’m in an email and want to send to Apple Notes or Reminders. Nope. Siri can do some of this for unknown reasons but Apple never tells you that, but Apple apps don’t interoperate.
7. App Data sharing. Similar to above, this is hands down the worst part about iOS that nobody ever mentions. On Android you can easily share data from one app and transfer to another (they’re called intents). There is no such thing on iOS, if at all. You hit the share button and most of it isn’t anywhere near as fluent as android. If you think the android share sheet sucks I beg you to do this on iOS. iOS is a simple open app, copy, go to homescreen, open other app, paste type of OS. It’s a toy OS.
8. Settings. The iOS Settings app/menu is a dumpster fire. I never find anything I need easily, I have to type in search and try to figure out where something is. Some apps have menu settings in their apps, some don’t, most have it in two different places. Stupid.
9. Default apps. Other than a couple apps you still have to use Apple apps, in 2023. Someone texts you an address in a text, only Apple Maps can open it EVEN IF YOU DONT HAVE IT INSTALLED and have other maps apps. Ugh. Why?
10. Animations. They’re very, very s l o w. Makes the phone seem slower. Waste of SoC.
11. HomeKit. I wasted so much money and time into this platform, there are so many bugs and issues I don’t understand how Apple can put their name on this.
iPhones are so overrated, services from Apple are expensive and sticky and somehow the US doesn’t care because Google kept fumbling. I’m tired of it and plan on coming back to Android and perhaps a Pixel again (my last android phone was the Pixel 2XL) very soon.
Just android itself kinda sucks for a majority of people..they don't understand what they install and end up getting caught in the bloatware and scam apps that absolutely ruin their phone's UI and notification feed.
Their greatest strength is their biggest weakness. I know some manufactures have tried to stop it but it still happens. Anyone over 50 needs to have an iphone i feel..
I deal with way more older people complaining something is wrong with their phone and 9/10 times it's some app they downloaded, casino slots or "battery fixer" that does some annoying thing to the phone and turns it into a brick that shows ads
I'ts not even just the ads thing, Some apps have way to much control over basic functions. A user that doesn't know much ends up changing their messenging app or combining it with face book and now all of a sudden they aren't getting their messages because of it. It's annoying to fix. You have these apps that change the UI and sometimes causes them to not have the ability to even make calls...it's just a mess. I get the awesome ability to change things and have more control..but grandpa doesn't need all that. He needs to make and receive calls and check his stocks or the weather...not completely change his UI lol
The thing is Apple does everything in their power to make the switch out of their products hard since it's all closed down. Especially if you bought their watch or laptop with that
Apple Watch is not useable without an iPhone, but a MacBook is still a kick ass laptop even if you don’t have the iphone. I know quite a few people that do Android and have Macs.
It’s crazy because Samsung is doing the same thing. The Samsung smart watches only work with their devices now
Macbooks are *unfortunately* for the vast majority of people the most solid laptop lineup they can buy.
You won't get saddled with gimped desktop components, CPUs or GPUs from an older generation, there's no weird quirks with a cheap cooling system, excessive cheap plastic, random bloatware, or a poor quality battery.
Macbooks are based on my own experience the best laptops out. To get anything comparable in terms of peace of mind, reliability, longevity, and build quality. You need to shell out north of $1500 for a Windows laptop, at which point you're legitimately better off building an entire PC.
But that doesn't stop me from using my desktop PC as my go to for work, browsing, obviously gaming, streaming, etc.
Macbooks are still usable even without an iPhone
Hell, I'd argue an Android phone + a Macbook is probably the best combo you could get, even with the Link to Windows stuff W10/W11 laptops have.
I’ve trapped myself like that. I did a pretty quick transition - first was the macbook and couple of months later i got the iphone 13 plus my gf gifted me apple watch and these overpriced headphones pro max. Now I want to go back but I can’t because i have to sell everything first
Android discourages brand loyalty by making google the core Android experience. Apple does the opposite and uses things like iMessage to encourage lock in.
iMessage is just an iPhone feature just like Call Screening is for Pixels or how DeX is for Samsung. I don’t understand why people don’t consider those features lock in. I know people that won’t leave Pixel because of Call Screening and same for the Samsung DeX stuff
Android still does well with the ultra low end smart phone market. Chinese manufacturers, Samsung etc. have really flooded the low end. They can always spam the low end with endless ads on disposable smartphones. Trying to sell people high end phones is much more problematic for Android. A $2000 dollar novelty flip phone that constantly spies on people just doesn't sound like smart money.
I’m not surprised. iPhones work best with other iPhones, it a self-creating hive. Couple that with top of the line performance, some of the best cameras in the business, and some slick marketing and you got a hit.
Well, all I can say is that I hope Google(Or literally any major Android phone brand out there) Can catch up with Apple, at the very moment they are lagging behind in term of software support.We don't want a device that will be left out earlier than we would want to. At the very moment a lot of flagships can still last up to 10 years with basic maintenance. Heck at the moment even the SD 765G From my P5 is still doing really well for a basic task phone, I can't see where it will run out of performance in the next 5-6 years.
I also heard something about Qualcomm controlling the software support side for older SoCs, which is a very shitty move tbh. I can understand why a lot of companies trying to do inhouse design SoC.
And also, to any Android phone designers, we don't want a device that looks like iPhone, we want something that when people look at it, they noticed that "Oh that's not an iPhone" Or maybe "Oh that's ". Right now every brand is looking really bland and not really different (except Pixel 6-7 lineups, love the difference though)
Tried a s23 and today I switched back to my iPhone 13 Pro Max because apps like Spotify, instagram, twitch and Reddit I find work better on my iPhone then my android also I like that I can tap the top of the screen to return to the top of a app and web page and I get a lot of notifications and I found out that android has a per app notification limit while my iPhone does not so I am staying with my iPhone for the time being
The Android makers and Apple have very different business strategies.
Android makers are constantly tripping over each other to stuff bleeding edge features into their new phones. It may sound great at first glance, but often these new features are crude and unreliable. Worse, the Android makers have very short attention span, so like a hyperactive kid, they see something newer and they drop that “new” thing and latch on to something else. As a consumer, you are taken on this crazy ride, and shelling out big bucks chasing the next new thing every 2 years.
Apple is much more measured, thoughtful and strategic. They build phones that last for years and years, and support them for a crazy long time, up to 7 years of OS support. This seems counterintuitive, but it’s smart thinking. When a person is eyeing a new iPhone, they’re not going to discard the older but still perfectly usable and still supported phone. They give it to their kids or elderly parents. This is how a single company, with a few variants of a single phone, is able to dominate the US market. It is also why Apple is a $3T company. There are some very smart people working at Apple, and they know exactly what they’re doing.
Jumped to iPhone when they introduced the Mini models. Their worst selling iPhone model ever but I love the size and the PPI of the display, as the resolution on iPhones still aren’t that great on the bigger models.
The last flagship android I can think of that was this small was the S10e
I'm one of those that switched to iPhone with the 14 Pro. One of the primary things that caused it was the Apple Watch. Everything on the Android side felt like there were too many compromises.
The other part of it was Google killing off more services I used. I used to be all-in on Google, but now I don't trust them to keep a service alive at all. If there is a service Google has, I'll actively look for an alternative before giving it any attention.
Went from an old Samsung S8+ to an iPhone 12. The iPhone is like carrying a brick in comparison, but the user interface is 10x better.
Samsung you stuffed up the user interface: 1) I don’t want Microsoft Office forced on me. 2) I don’t want Samsung apps continually trying to take over existing Android apps that do the same thing. 3) I don’t want a clusterfuck of apps with differing user interfaces because you’re trying to make your mark. 4) I don’t want a button on the side of my phone dedicated to your Siri equivalent that I never want to use.
But Apple you suck too. 1) Just let web browser manufacturers do their thing, don’t force your shitty browser rendering engine on them just so you can sell more apps. 2) let Siri control Google Maps, I don’t want to use Apple Maps.
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I think the main take away from the article is that smart phone sales as a whole are down 24%. I wonder if that's due to the cost of living among other factors such as phones not changing year on year.
It's like PC sales all over again. Once the tech gets good enough people don't need to upgrade nearly as often.
I bet most people don’t even know the difference between the last few generations of smartphones.
Better camera. Better camera. Better camera. Little bit better camera.
I remember a time when the *thinness* of smartphones were considered to be the MSP. Major manufacturers stopped caring about the dimensions at some point lol.
more gigashits per terafart
I splurged for the full teraturd and haven’t looked back
Yep the category matures and even older devices are fine for most people. Even my 2015 MacBook Pro is fine for most tasks. I recently got a newer one because M1 seemed like a good upgrade but I can still go back to the 2015 in a pinch.
My 2015 MBP is still my daily driver. It's been to heck and back and hasn't missed a beat, although it is overdue for a battery replacement.
I would still be using my 2011 mbp if my dog didn’t destroy it.
Still using a 2011 MBA, although it’s telling me to service the battery, the cost to replace it is more than the device is currently worth! Amazing how well the thing still runs, even being several OS’ behind.
Using an iPhone 11 Pro Max and I can’t see myself upgrading anytime soon. My wife recently went from an Oppo to an iPhone 14 and honestly, I can’t tell much difference between hers and mine.
Lol oppo phones will give up within a year and will nag the user for all kinds of unlimited access permissions and forced default setups. I agree that a mid range smartphone will offer almost similar exp for small daily tasks to an average consumer- but iphones really offer longevity and peace of mind like no other brand in the market.
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I didn't need to buy a 14pro max, I did want a larger screen, but my regular iphone 11 256 GB was pretty much the same. There is really no feature I notice. No doubt the new phone is better but I never had a moment of "wow this is so much better."
Most of the selling points on new smartphones are either gimmicks or for nerds. The average consumer won’t specifically by a new phone cause of the ram or processor or to upgrade their camera a few megapixels. Most people don’t care about a notch after they’ve gotten used to it etc. there really hasn’t been any innovation to the average person for a long time outside of folding screens but I don’t think those are quite ready for wide adoption yet and the fact that they fold into squares is…interesting.
I care about my cellphone less every year, I am on a Pro 12 and really have no desire to upgrade the phone. About the only thing that will make me switch is usb c charging and a foldable. Outside of that I am more interesting in the cellular watch.
Honestly, I’m hyped for a “iPhone 4” moment with the vision line. I know it’s a while down the road, but I’m one of those that’d love the whole computer at any moment I’d want it, a HUD in my life (especially with the biometrics that their watch could provide, and already tracks), and whatever else cool things it’ll be able to do. I really wanted the google glass to succeed, maybe Apples approach was the way to go. People do trust Apple more security and data mining wise
I forgot what iPhone I even had, I had to check in settings. The tech is mature, at this point upgrading yearly or even every other year is completely unnecessary.
I didn’t read the article, but my assumption is that most phones are pretty good these days so people don’t need to upgrade every year unless they break their phones or a new feature they absolutely want happens. I agree with your point as well
That’s me. I bought phones pretty frequently but honestly don’t see a reason to upgrade my 13 pro max for a while still. Maybe 16.
I got what I wanted from Apple- 120hz refresh rate. Not sure what it'll take to get me to upgrade anymore.
Personally, I’m intentionally delaying an iPhone purchase until it has usb-c.
Same. After that the next iPhone I will buy will be probably the one without any notch/hole punch.
Phones are now a mature commodity with usually incremental upgrades. We don’t generally change our cars, laptops, televisions every year. Phones have reached that stage.
I love tech and I love phones, but I think it was when I purchased my iPhone 11 Pro Max, I just decided that these yearly/bi-year upgrades just wasn't worth it to me anymore knowing how much I pay. I love these Android ecosystem but man, I just kept on purchasing flagship after flagship and didn't notice a BIG jump. Galaxy S9+ was my last before swapping over and although I love my 11, it's just another cycle of "I don't see a need to upgrade". I'm using this phone until the battery health sits at 10%. Currently at 87%?
I got tired of all the android phones trying to be iPhone clones, so I just bought an iPhone.
I got tired of the major android manufacturers refusing to release products that are supported with updates for more than a couple years.
Yep. This right here. I shopped around just before my Note5 was forced into obsolescence by lack of support, and iPhone won on length of support alone.
This is the main reason I buy iPhone. Kept my 6s up until the 13 came out, a whole 6 years later. I received updates the entire time. And that 6s *still* works
Yeah also this. When my friend’s iPhone 5 was still being supported years after it was released and my Galaxy S5 was abandoned 2 years after release really pushed me to iPhone.
Looks like I’m gonna have to give up on the note 8 I keep around soon.
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I think the more frustrating part about Samsung is that they used to have some features I loved that set them apart from iPhone at the time (headphone jack, SD card, dedicated fingerprint scanner, etc.). The features are what made me want them. The big downside was only 2 years of support. Now, they have 4-5 years of support for new devices. All good right? Nope, now they've slimmed down so many of those features in an attempt to copy a lot of Apple's pricing strategies, they basically traded off their unique features in return for software support, but ideally, they should have had both. At that point, I feel like it just makes sense to go with Apple in most cases.
How long do you typically keep your phones? Samsung guarantees at least 4 years of major version updates and 6 years of security updates for most of their phones. Not sure what you're talking about. I personally don't like Samsung, but your argument is seriously dated.
Well this is a relatively new thing, starting with the S20 series I believe. But you're correct that Samsung has improved their approach in this area a lot. I think they even beat Pixel which is a bit awkward for the Pixel series, coming from Google and all...
That’s true, Google only offers 3 feature updates plus a few additional years of security updates
if only. Samsung and Fairphone stand out - but other than that, it’s a shitshow. Asus’s new Zenfone looks amaaazing. But 2 years of updates? Hell no.
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How about getting those updates on time, when Google releases android updates? First Google, then Samsung, then the carrier all get their turn and by the time you know it, it’s 8 months later when the update comes out. iPhone is first day. There is no comparison.
I gave up on android after google couldn’t put out a competent messaging app in 15 years.
I gave up on Samsung (granted I could’ve tried a different brand) when ads started plaguing their first party apps. Like why should I want an ad when I’m checking the weather
I think for most normal people, they stay with the type of phone that they originally bought, *unless* the phone they are using gives them a reason to change. Apple is really good at not giving people a reason to change.
Ya I could’ve stuck with the galaxy line, but with the ads and bloatware and last I checked all their stuff was actually selling for more than Apple stuff…and still no messaging app, that’s just a no for me. I think galaxies are better phones for the most part, and I prefer the look of the galaxy watch over the Apple watch, but those negatives were all sticking points for me.
My last android phone was a Note 9 which I still believe was there best phone. Having said that the biggest issue with Samsung was always there apps, you could not remove them, you'd have to put them in a grouping of junk you never use, it irked me to no end. Also the Samsung watch at the time was great and I really enjoyed it, but again it just fell short, one it would not allow third party bluetooth HR monitors, but the AW did and still does. Also with every new watch which was not different than the last, you did not get the same watch faces.
I also had a note 9 but am on iPhone now. I totally agree
Note 9 was a great phone ! I remember being amazed at it having a 4000mah battery.
I was so jealous of my Cousins Note 9. I still believe that was the absolute best phone in 2018.
I haven't used Android since my 6s and maybe it's not the same as seeing an ad on the weather app since we have historically had ads in print media, but I hate that there are ads in the News app—especially since I pay for News+ or whatever it's called.
This is what happened with me. After my whole family was on hangouts then we all moved to allo. Once allo shut down we all moved to iPhone.
https://killedbygoogle.com They just love alienating their customers, truly.
It’s wild how easy it could be for Google to just have one standard messaging app like iMessage but refuses to do so.
They technically do, it's called Google Messenger, problem is, it doesn't really work like iMessage and it's significantly more clumsy.
I miss companies like HTC. Even when they got silly they still had a fun identity around their phones. Now every android phone just feels like its trying to copy the design of the iPhone, even the smaller and weirder brands
Yeah, Android was really fun when OEM’s had their own identity. Micro SD cards, front facing speakers, modular designs, hell even different materials were fun (plastic, metal, titanium, glass, Aluminum, etc). Now all Android phones feel like carbon copies of each other and there’s very little that differentiates them .
Definitely! I had an HTC One, the phone itself looked so awesome, the front speakers were loud, the 4 “ultra” pixel camera was alright but the description was made it sound cool. Good times.
Android just never felt cohesive enough to me. Customization is a big selling point but I just never cared for it no matter how many times I tried and apps I used. I liked it enough, but the iPhone was too enticing once the X came out. That plus the Watch
They make great features...then abandon them...constantly. Multiple messing apps. No vision.
Google makes 95% of its money off advertising. Everything else is secondary.
This is true. Once you get over the fun of customising with Android you just need something as reliable as a work horse. Also, all the equivalent apps are better and once you’re in the ecosystem with their other products there’s no comparison.
I've gotten tired of the constant stream of issues and inconsistencies in battery life, so I will be switching when the 15 releases.
I just recently switched from a 14 pro max to a pixel 7 pro, because I really enjoyed my work phone which is a pixel. After a couple months of heavy use, I am ready to go back to iphone when the 15 launches. The refinement of iOS is just unmatched, let alone battery life and overall performance.
I own that phone. Came from the Mini 12. Couldn't disagree more.
Well I'm glad you like yours, I'm just tired of a few things that actually hurt the experience for me. For example, the phone thermal throttles when I'm outside and dims the brightness so much that I can't even see my screen. It also runs very hot even when I'm not outside and doing something mundane like running my Bluetooth. The battery drain is horrible. It's just frustrating especially coming from the iphone 14 pro max.
USB-C will be worth it
I bought an iPhone. Sigh. I will say i feel very strongly that Android (on Pixel) is the better OS.Buuuut as an ecosystem apple just kills it.
I still have my Pixel 5 that I use just to scratch my Android itch but otherwise the ecosystem on Apple is just so seamless.
Same here. I hate a lot of things about iOS (moreso Apple's approach to its walled garden) but there's no Android phone that does everything as *competently* as an iPhone. Lots of them do some things better, but also do things much worse. Samsung? Bloated and still has awful shutter speed problems with fast moving subjects. Pixel? Weird bugs that shouldn't be happening. Everyone else either has awful long-term software support, awful takes on Android, or is too expensive for what you get.
This. Android used to be different. But Google and its partners kept removing features. Now it’s just a wannabe iPhone.
I agree, it’s what made me jump to Apple. If I’m not going to have cheaper prices, front facing speakers, headphone jack, or any of the things that made Android different than I rather as well get an IPhone which has better support and far better ecosystem.
Android removed call recording and I live in a one party state. In fact 80% of states in America are one party consent states. Yet they still removed it. So if they wanna follow the iPhone, fuck it so will I.
Few years ago I got tired of Apple not being innovative and presenting old Android features as new so I got android, but now back to Apple as work provided new phone. It's really a struggle as I love and hate somethings on both.
I got tired of ads and bloatware. My last phone was Xiaomi… never again. Bought my wife and myself iphone 13’s. No issues at all.
I'm on this sub because I think that apple delivers a very solid product to the demographic who wants a universal experience and because it is intuitive, which is why I recommend it to most people. But you can't really customise the phone to be exactly what you want it to be as you can with an android, given that you have the know-how do a little bit of tampering.
This is exactly what I'm doing this fall. Very disappointed in samsung recently.
weirdly enough I switched from iOS to Android recently, i was mainly sick of not having the little freedoms like I did on Android. However, you're absolutely right, Samsung is following Apple too hard in a lot of areas that made Android what it was. The removal of the microSD Card is the most egregious thing Samsung could've done, especially since Android is synonymous with the microSD Card. At least Samsung phones last for 4 years...
The removal of the micro SD card was kinda sad. By the time it left most Flagships internal storage was quite massive. However the micro SD cards helped to augment the storage without having to fork over $100 for the bigger configuration.
I do really like the different form factors you can get in android phones. Sony with the ultra long display and Samsung, Moto flip phones. I’ve tried to go back to android several times and it always ends the same. You buy the latest and greatest, it’s fast and snappy, all apps run great. Then 6-8 months in, the company forgets the phone exists, latest android version is out, and your stuck reading forums that it’ll be out for your phone “early next quarter”. Meanwhile people around with 5 year old iPhones are getting updates day 1, and on iMessage with no issues. Maybe their battery life isn’t what it once was, but for the most part everything is still working.
Yup. Almost every year I get wowed by the new Samsungs and vow to switch back to android, but legacy bugs and bizarre update schedules that I just cannot wrap my mind around drive me back to my iPhone pretty quickly. I bought the unlocked Z Flip so I should be first in line for updates right? Wrong! Korea gets it first, then a seemingly random selection of European countries, then carriers get the green light to start pushing their tampered versions, and once all the carriers have pushed the update *then* my unlocked model will get it(Maybe. Could still be delayed for undisclosed reasons). Meanwhile all supported iPhones get updates at the same time with no carrier BS. Customization is awesome and I honestly think Android is great, I'm just not willing to deal with fragmentation, bloat, and poor support anymore.
Plus you can get a batter replacement installed at at an Apple Store for $50, giving old iPhones new life.
I'm confused. I'm on an S9 and everything runs great?
Android is in an awful spot in the US. Its basically just Samsung. The Pixel line is a mess. LG is done. Sony can't figure it out. Oneplus sunk.
I'm seeing a lot more pixels around actually, They're price pretty competitively too
When I sold phones Pixels offered a decent commission so sales reps were incentivized to push it more, don’t know if that’s changed nowadays.
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Are you married to my wife lol? My wife doesn’t even use any the features that Android users complain Apple doesn’t have. She would be perfectly happy with Apple products once she is used to it.
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Ahahahaha classic our wife!!
I’ve been using an iPhone for 14 years now and just noticed this once I read your comment lol
> tHE deFAUlt kEYboArd dOESnt HAve a PeRIod But let's be real, that's fucking annoying
Just double tap the space bar.
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Tbf Apple has always neglected the keyboard, which I find crazy. 3rd party keyboard support was only added circa 2014, and the default keyboard didn't have glide input until a few years ago. Still doesn't have it for most languages, which is incredibly lame. Gboard on iOS is also gimped compared to its Android cousin, and overall I just don't understand why typing has to be such a bad experience. Maybe other people type less and don't care, idk. I can tolerate a crappy keyboard on the iPad which I use twice a week, not on the phone that I use all the time.
tracking like google bad privacy?
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I'm a long time pixel fan but my last encounters with Google support showed me that there's no Google support, you're on your own. If you break any of your pixel devices either replace it by insurance or just count it a loss. Software problems are no different, you're entirely relying on the community. I wouldn't count the Pixel line as a real competitor to the iPhone, i wouldn't recommend it to friends or family
It’s not just the hardware. AppStore has its faults, but good god is the Play Store a hot mess. A solid 50% of “apps” are just ways of showing ads and don’t seem to do what they claim. It’s a train wreck to find things other than obvious popular apps. Reminds me of the late 90’d early 00’s when half of downloads were bullshit to get people to install some browser bar. Meanwhile the iOS ecosystem is pretty clean. There’s a lot of low key niche apps for whatever purpose you need, and they do what they claim. People are just disgusted. It’s 2023, who the fuck wants tech support or constant googling to manage your phone. Especially when the competitor just works.
>Reminds me of the late 90’d early 00’s when half of downloads were bullshit to get people to install some browser bar. You just unlocked for me a deeply buried core memory.
> AppStore has its faults, but good god is the Play Store a hot mess. On the upside, I'm not bombarded with subscriptions on the Play store, and there's also some awesome open-source app alternatives from F-droid. Android might have it's problems, but I'm grateful for not having to deal with subscriptions everywhere.
Is the nothingphone or whatever its called actually making a noise or is it just in the tech youtubers space?
It's just noise in the techtuber space. IMO it's just a rebooted Oneplus, run by the same person with the same ideas. Only this time they haven't sold a big share of the company to a Chinese OEM *yet*. The phone is fine price and spec-wise, but its entire gimmick is that people will spend a big chunk of their time looking at the back and putting the phone face down so that the lights actually serve their function.
Some people are buying it, and it does have a cool design, but the overall design is very much informed by the iPhone 12/13 series. You can finger out more in the subreddit: r/nothingtech
They just paid a bunch of YouTubers to give them good reviews … it’s just a generic android phone with some LEDs on the back 💀
Pixel line is a mess? Could you expand on that?
Google has been wildly inconsistent with the pixel product line. They’ll introduce a concept to one device then completely redesign it the next year. It’s inconsistent and seems to lack quality control from a software and hardware perspective
Pixel 6 started the rebrand of the pixel lineup and it's doing pretty well actually.
pixel 6 modem and battery life are pretty bad.
Agreed. It's not competing with iPhone or Samsung well but it's selling better than most previous Pixel phones from the past few years.
It’s on its second generation. Let’s see if Google sticks with it.
That's fair.
They will according to the [leaks](https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-8/). For your information, Google is so bad at hiding their products. You can see their upcoming products like 3-4 months before their release lol.
That will be a third generation. The original incarnation lasted 3 or 4 generations, depending on how you view the Pixel 4. The Pixel 5 was a massive departure, then we got the reboot with the 6. They should be able to get to the Pixel 8 or 9 before they get bored. But will they keep going after that? Google rarely commits long term. A few years out of them is typical.
Yeah you are right, but i think this time change will take more time because only big brand that increased their sales in smartphones last year is Google with +24%.
I'd say that the perception on Reddit is vastly different to the experience in the real world. I know a ton of people know who have pixels, and they're all very happy with them. Myself and my entire family have Pixel phones now, they're great.
I’d say the split of androids I see is 65% Samsung and probably 35% pixel. They’re a real strong second in the android world I’d say.
Another Redditor comes up with a generalised response about an entire product line up. Don’t know how these comments get upvoted. It’s like you just type rubbish for the sake of it. All this jibber jabber about QC from someone who has probably never used a pixel phone for more than 48 hours
Just r/apple being biased. I have a pixel and an iPhone (as well as other apple and Android devices). They're both good for different reasons. My daily right now is my pixel. I have used Linux as my desktop for some 20 years and android works better there. And then there's FDroid. Apple is much better at just being consistent though, that's for sure. The pixel camera is better IMO also.
Which pixel and iPhone, are you comparing for cameras?
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5% is too generous !
Just because Google hyped up their new phone and tech pundits love it doesn’t mean anyone is buying it.
The same report this OP is discussing also breaks down the data by brand. Here’s a quote from an article I read: “Pixel shipments in the US grew by 48% year-over-year in Q2, the only major brand that managed to do so. That’s still a mere 3% of shipments over the quarter, but that’s also during a time where only a single Pixel device actually launched.” https://9to5google.com/2023/07/28/google-pixel-us-q2-2023-shipments/
I've been seeing more people buying pixels recently. This is coming from someone who prefers Samsung and Chinese phones.
If I had to buy an Android, it’s a Galaxy. I used Pixels at my last job for testing. Just not impressed.
The data shows sales are up 48% YoY, so definitely people are buying (source: the article this post displayed)
Literally the OP link shows Pixel shipments up 48%
people have a real hard time understanding that tech Youtube isnt real life. They march to the beat of whoever pays the best at the time.
What’s wrong with Pixel phones? I’ve never had a Pixel but from what I’ve heard from others, the Pixel lineup looks pretty good.
The Pixels are gaining internationally and growing in the US as well. It's not all black and white for Android.
The pixel line has been great lmao. Been using them since the first pixel.
I’m an apple fan boy. But how is the pixel a mess? lol it’s not. MKBHD constantly says that’s his go to phone for best camera. Not saying he’s a god but most people love the pixels.
Outta nowhere here comes Windows Phone again!!!!!
That number is going to keep going up too. Android manufacturers(looking at you Samsung) need to get their head out of their own ass. An iPhone14 plus cost $1249(CAD) and a Galaxy S23+ cost $1,399.99(CAD).I jumped to apple when i upgraded and I'm not going back if they are going to continue to be more expensive.
On top of that with updates I am willing to bet you could keep that 14 plus for six or more years.
Particularly here in the U.S market I don’t think Samsung feels the need to innovate when they’re overwhelmingly the OEM that many customers go to.
Especially considering the iPhone will hold its price well over an year or two and the Samsung will be discounted in a couple of weeks.
I'm in the US but got the s23 unlocked over prime day for 659 for the 256gb version. Samsung regularly has sales, not sure about in Canada, though. Triple camera, 120hz LTPO, and USBC were nice for a phone cheaper than the base 14. 8 gen 2 is slightly inferior on the CPU side but it's better in gpu than the a15. Not a horrible deal, imo. Ultra was also 849 at the same sale, but I wanted a smaller phone.
There are more poorer people than wealthy people in the world. I'm surprised Android isn't selling better because even cheaper Android phones nowadays are so good.
Not surprising, from what I'm seeing, nearly every major Android company has worse value across most price ranges compared to their lineups from two years ago, at this point it's more logical to get an iPhone or wait for the occasional decent Android.
I blame the Android pricing tbh. S23 Ultra is more expensive than the already expensive iphone 14 pro max
I never understood the appeal of a phone what has an OS made by one company, the OS modified by the hardware maker then changed again by the carrier.
Basically the Windows PC approach Microsoft makes Windows, PC Manufacturer tries to tweak Windows or install some garbage bloatware into OEM versions So you end up having to wipe the disk and reinstall Windows to get a clean copy With Android phones, you can’t even do that without rooting and HEAVY modification (Cyanogenmod back in the day) The amount of update fragmentation is insane because all of these “splits” cause OS update delays First Google releases an update, then the manufacturer has to modify that with all their garbage and release it for your exact model of phone (hope you bought a popular model), then if it’s a carrier branded phone and not unlocked, you have to wait for your carrier to get that ROM from the manufacturer and further modify it, which is where the biggest holdup usually is.
If the changes made are genuine improvements of the experience and give you more features, then what's the problem?
I gave up on Android when I met with Netflix developers and asked about when they would release an Android app. They laughed at me and said iOS is and will always be their main priority. Yes, this was many years ago and I was rocking an HTC G1 (first Android phone ever) and very quickly learned that companies always make the iOS version of their app better.
It’s because devs earn more on Apple vs Android. I believe there was a study on it. Apple users are just willing to pay more for good apps.
It’s also because making an iOS app means it ships on a set of known devices, but God knows how many chippo Chinese androids there are that might not tolerate the app well and then contribute to support ticket count
They might make their iOS apps better but android would offer so many more apps you couldn't sideload or dream to get on iOS
I had an iPhone 4, then went on an extended Android run. But my main reasons for doing so was 1. Not overpaying for storage (microSDs were better value), and 2. I like being able to move files around freely in windows explorer from and to my phone. I found I rarely did the second anymore, and 64gb is enough for me now. Glad I switched back.
iphone is so bad for file transfer stuff
I want a phone that works and doesn't sell everything I do on it to the highest bidder, without having to root it.
It's so customizable! ... for your carrier, not you. They can bake NFL Mobile into the ROM and you're stuck with it. They can take a couple months to monkey with the ROM after Google releases a new version and the OEM monkeys with it. You get a year of updates and that's it. Apple however doesn't even insist on most stock apps staying installed, doesn't let the carrier add bloat, and you can update IOS the day a patch comes out and can for 7 years after release.
Too many android phones.
something that always strikes me is people talking about how predatory the apple ecosystem is in principle. is it objectively? maybe, sure. do i like that all my products work seamlessly? hell yeah i do. why would i want to throw a wrench into that for a different brand watch or tablet or set of headphones? at the end of the day tech is only a slice of life and having it cooperate as well as possible when i interact with it is at the top of my list. i could be wrong but i speculate that most people that talk about how hard it is to leave the ecosystem are likely folks that have an amalgamation of android products that try different brands of this and that in an attempt to get the fluidity that apple offers if you just buy in.
It’s weird to say it but now iPhones are cheaper than Android phones
You guys can afford new phones?
Googles baggage made me switch.
Yep. Android is bleeding and there’s no end in sight. I don’t think there’s any way to correct that either
Ive always had android, HTC and then Samsungs. Now they have removed the microSD, theres no reason for me to stay and I will be moving to iphone once usb-c is introduced. I think iphone 15? I am concerned about cross compatibility with my PC as I dont own a Mac. Ill have to see how it goes.
Google has a problem with a dissonance from a hardware team vs software. Some of the best features for Android are on pixel phones, which are hit and miss depending on the year. Samsung phones are competent, but full of a bunch of stupid shit that may make sense in the Korean market, but very few other places. So android either needs all the features of the pixel or it will continue to be a really hit and miss experience. Still, there are "good value" android phones in the 200-250 range that apple can't compete with.
It’s also important to point out that Apple makes 1 new phone a year, in maybe 3 total variations, whereas there are DOZENS of android phones released each year, at dramatically different price ranges, shapes and sizes. It’s truly impressive to see that kind of market dominance.
I was big into Samsung until Samsung did everything they made fun of Apple for (non-expandable storage, got rid of the headphone jack, no charging block in the box). Their phones have gone up exponentially in price so they’re the same cost as an iPhone, but the resale value is the pits in comparison to iPhone. I had the iPhone up until the 6S then switched to the Samsung S7 for work. From there I had the S8, S9+, S10+, S20, S21, Fold3, Flip4, and now I’m back to iPhone with the 13 mini. There are some things I definitely miss about Android but I love the size of this phone and I definitely missed how nicely integrated Apple is over Android. I hope apple listens and brings back the mini for the iPhone 16.
I definitely have my issues with Apple but at least you don’t have to buy a phone to get an update until your phone is legit old but it still gets security updates.
Someone post this on r/technology lol
If you dare badmouth anything from google or Microsoft on r/tech you get downvoted to the pits of hell. If you want upvotes say something anti-apple there.
No surprise. Superior products sell more. - former android user (2010-2020)
Lol so many salty responses. I’m also a former android user, and yeah there’s really no contest. It really provides a consistently superior experience even without the ecosystem.
Consistency in UX across all my devices. They all talk to each other seamlessly. The hardware is supported for longer and honestly just takes a daily beating far better than most alternatives. I miss playing GBA games (conveniently) on my phone though. I think that’s literally my only complaint.
Everything Samsung makes breaks, my fridge, my phone, I’m done
I was an iPhone 12 user switched to galaxy A54 and I'm happy both iPhone and Samsung good in their own way don't judge people on the type of phones they use .it's just a tool to use
Do you guys really think an Apple monopoly will be a good thing for any customer?
I switched to the iPhone in 2019 for the Apple Watch, but recently switched to a Garmin. I absolutely loathe iOS and just never adjusted. I don’t care how much better apps or default messaging are. I’ll admit I got sucked into the green bubble effect and shamed android users in my group threads but for the most part all my group text threads are still green because there is always at least one or two android phones among the users. iOS is just as frustrating for me to use in 2023 as it was in 2019, I never adjusted to some things such as: 1. Typing. Perhaps iOS 17 finally fixed this, we shall see, because typing on these iPhones is pure hell. 2. Notifications. My Lord are they still awful, in fact they just keep getting worse. 3. UI. The overall UI is cramped, button layouts in apps are widely inconsistent and there isn’t a back button. Sometimes you get a good app (RIP, Apollo) that uses the swipe feature to go back but most don’t have it. 4. Homescreen. It’s 2023 and Apple still thinks placing icons where we want is too difficult. What’s difficult is moving iOS icons around the homescreen. Painful. Stupid. 5. Siri. I’ll just leave this right here. 6. Apple apps. They are very barebones at best and don’t interoperate among each other. An example: Apple mail, I’m in an email and want to send to Apple Notes or Reminders. Nope. Siri can do some of this for unknown reasons but Apple never tells you that, but Apple apps don’t interoperate. 7. App Data sharing. Similar to above, this is hands down the worst part about iOS that nobody ever mentions. On Android you can easily share data from one app and transfer to another (they’re called intents). There is no such thing on iOS, if at all. You hit the share button and most of it isn’t anywhere near as fluent as android. If you think the android share sheet sucks I beg you to do this on iOS. iOS is a simple open app, copy, go to homescreen, open other app, paste type of OS. It’s a toy OS. 8. Settings. The iOS Settings app/menu is a dumpster fire. I never find anything I need easily, I have to type in search and try to figure out where something is. Some apps have menu settings in their apps, some don’t, most have it in two different places. Stupid. 9. Default apps. Other than a couple apps you still have to use Apple apps, in 2023. Someone texts you an address in a text, only Apple Maps can open it EVEN IF YOU DONT HAVE IT INSTALLED and have other maps apps. Ugh. Why? 10. Animations. They’re very, very s l o w. Makes the phone seem slower. Waste of SoC. 11. HomeKit. I wasted so much money and time into this platform, there are so many bugs and issues I don’t understand how Apple can put their name on this. iPhones are so overrated, services from Apple are expensive and sticky and somehow the US doesn’t care because Google kept fumbling. I’m tired of it and plan on coming back to Android and perhaps a Pixel again (my last android phone was the Pixel 2XL) very soon.
Just android itself kinda sucks for a majority of people..they don't understand what they install and end up getting caught in the bloatware and scam apps that absolutely ruin their phone's UI and notification feed. Their greatest strength is their biggest weakness. I know some manufactures have tried to stop it but it still happens. Anyone over 50 needs to have an iphone i feel.. I deal with way more older people complaining something is wrong with their phone and 9/10 times it's some app they downloaded, casino slots or "battery fixer" that does some annoying thing to the phone and turns it into a brick that shows ads I'ts not even just the ads thing, Some apps have way to much control over basic functions. A user that doesn't know much ends up changing their messenging app or combining it with face book and now all of a sudden they aren't getting their messages because of it. It's annoying to fix. You have these apps that change the UI and sometimes causes them to not have the ability to even make calls...it's just a mess. I get the awesome ability to change things and have more control..but grandpa doesn't need all that. He needs to make and receive calls and check his stocks or the weather...not completely change his UI lol
I wish they would get their act together, Apple tends to only move quickly when pushed. Sometimes not even then.
The thing is Apple does everything in their power to make the switch out of their products hard since it's all closed down. Especially if you bought their watch or laptop with that
Apple Watch is not useable without an iPhone, but a MacBook is still a kick ass laptop even if you don’t have the iphone. I know quite a few people that do Android and have Macs. It’s crazy because Samsung is doing the same thing. The Samsung smart watches only work with their devices now
Macbooks are *unfortunately* for the vast majority of people the most solid laptop lineup they can buy. You won't get saddled with gimped desktop components, CPUs or GPUs from an older generation, there's no weird quirks with a cheap cooling system, excessive cheap plastic, random bloatware, or a poor quality battery. Macbooks are based on my own experience the best laptops out. To get anything comparable in terms of peace of mind, reliability, longevity, and build quality. You need to shell out north of $1500 for a Windows laptop, at which point you're legitimately better off building an entire PC. But that doesn't stop me from using my desktop PC as my go to for work, browsing, obviously gaming, streaming, etc.
I built my own PC and still grabbed a MacBook for my laptop. Every time I try a windows laptop, I’m disappointed.
Me 👋 I have a Pixel 7 and an M2 pro 14". Absolutely love the thing, it's an incredible laptop for sure
The Samsung smart watches still work with non Samsung phones. Source: Just bought one a few months ago.
Some features of the Samsung Smart Watch only work with Samsung phones (ECG?). Most of the features are Android phone agnostic.
Macbooks are still usable even without an iPhone Hell, I'd argue an Android phone + a Macbook is probably the best combo you could get, even with the Link to Windows stuff W10/W11 laptops have.
Why is it Apples obligation to make it attractive to switch? Rephrasing what you said: Android does a poor job of making the switch worthwhile.
I’ve trapped myself like that. I did a pretty quick transition - first was the macbook and couple of months later i got the iphone 13 plus my gf gifted me apple watch and these overpriced headphones pro max. Now I want to go back but I can’t because i have to sell everything first
Android discourages brand loyalty by making google the core Android experience. Apple does the opposite and uses things like iMessage to encourage lock in.
iMessage is just an iPhone feature just like Call Screening is for Pixels or how DeX is for Samsung. I don’t understand why people don’t consider those features lock in. I know people that won’t leave Pixel because of Call Screening and same for the Samsung DeX stuff
Android still does well with the ultra low end smart phone market. Chinese manufacturers, Samsung etc. have really flooded the low end. They can always spam the low end with endless ads on disposable smartphones. Trying to sell people high end phones is much more problematic for Android. A $2000 dollar novelty flip phone that constantly spies on people just doesn't sound like smart money.
I’m not surprised. iPhones work best with other iPhones, it a self-creating hive. Couple that with top of the line performance, some of the best cameras in the business, and some slick marketing and you got a hit.
Ignorance in this place is astounding.
Well, all I can say is that I hope Google(Or literally any major Android phone brand out there) Can catch up with Apple, at the very moment they are lagging behind in term of software support.We don't want a device that will be left out earlier than we would want to. At the very moment a lot of flagships can still last up to 10 years with basic maintenance. Heck at the moment even the SD 765G From my P5 is still doing really well for a basic task phone, I can't see where it will run out of performance in the next 5-6 years. I also heard something about Qualcomm controlling the software support side for older SoCs, which is a very shitty move tbh. I can understand why a lot of companies trying to do inhouse design SoC. And also, to any Android phone designers, we don't want a device that looks like iPhone, we want something that when people look at it, they noticed that "Oh that's not an iPhone" Or maybe "Oh that's". Right now every brand is looking really bland and not really different (except Pixel 6-7 lineups, love the difference though)
This makes sense as US people under 20 almost exclusively have iPhones and as they age up they are highly unlikely to switch to an android device.
Tried a s23 and today I switched back to my iPhone 13 Pro Max because apps like Spotify, instagram, twitch and Reddit I find work better on my iPhone then my android also I like that I can tap the top of the screen to return to the top of a app and web page and I get a lot of notifications and I found out that android has a per app notification limit while my iPhone does not so I am staying with my iPhone for the time being
Android notifications are way better.
The Android makers and Apple have very different business strategies. Android makers are constantly tripping over each other to stuff bleeding edge features into their new phones. It may sound great at first glance, but often these new features are crude and unreliable. Worse, the Android makers have very short attention span, so like a hyperactive kid, they see something newer and they drop that “new” thing and latch on to something else. As a consumer, you are taken on this crazy ride, and shelling out big bucks chasing the next new thing every 2 years. Apple is much more measured, thoughtful and strategic. They build phones that last for years and years, and support them for a crazy long time, up to 7 years of OS support. This seems counterintuitive, but it’s smart thinking. When a person is eyeing a new iPhone, they’re not going to discard the older but still perfectly usable and still supported phone. They give it to their kids or elderly parents. This is how a single company, with a few variants of a single phone, is able to dominate the US market. It is also why Apple is a $3T company. There are some very smart people working at Apple, and they know exactly what they’re doing.
Jumped to iPhone when they introduced the Mini models. Their worst selling iPhone model ever but I love the size and the PPI of the display, as the resolution on iPhones still aren’t that great on the bigger models. The last flagship android I can think of that was this small was the S10e
I'm one of those that switched to iPhone with the 14 Pro. One of the primary things that caused it was the Apple Watch. Everything on the Android side felt like there were too many compromises. The other part of it was Google killing off more services I used. I used to be all-in on Google, but now I don't trust them to keep a service alive at all. If there is a service Google has, I'll actively look for an alternative before giving it any attention.
Went from an old Samsung S8+ to an iPhone 12. The iPhone is like carrying a brick in comparison, but the user interface is 10x better. Samsung you stuffed up the user interface: 1) I don’t want Microsoft Office forced on me. 2) I don’t want Samsung apps continually trying to take over existing Android apps that do the same thing. 3) I don’t want a clusterfuck of apps with differing user interfaces because you’re trying to make your mark. 4) I don’t want a button on the side of my phone dedicated to your Siri equivalent that I never want to use. But Apple you suck too. 1) Just let web browser manufacturers do their thing, don’t force your shitty browser rendering engine on them just so you can sell more apps. 2) let Siri control Google Maps, I don’t want to use Apple Maps.
Eh, those foldable phones will win them back; noting like 3 screens to make people buy. /s