Android

I want a customizable phone that is not stuck in a walled-garden. Plus I do not use Apple products.

In no particular order

• File management works like a charm
• USB-C and fast charging
• Customizations
• Custom ROMs
• Privacy (getting a Pixel soon for GrapheneOS)
• Easier to repair
• More efficient (takes less steps to do stuff)
• Looks better
• Sideloading
• More choices for phones

1. File management is noice, the ability to plug in a USB C usb is very clutch.
2. I swear a lot more apps on iOS are subscription based than on Android.
3. A lot more open source apps.
4. Modded apps.
5. I can easily connect my phone to my laptop and copy actual files.
6. Sideloading.
7. Choice.

I used it initially, because I hated Apple and their proprietary stuff and have stayed ever since. I liked androids more universal approach. SD cards, usb, etc.

1. I can sideload apps. These apps are usually either obscure but useful or FOSS and designed for the user rather than for money.

2. Even the apps officially on the Google Play Store are more powerful, such as emulators and an app using an advanced algorithm to change the speed and pitch of music while having it still sound high-quality. And of course, a file manager is a must-have.

3. The ability to have Firefox+uBlock origin is a must-have for web browsing.

4. More powerful in automation tools. I didn't care too much about this until I found it extremely useful for work.

5. More hardware variety. I hate that you can't get a headphone jack on an iPhone and that the storage markups are absurd. Here I am with a $300 phone with a good performance, 256GB internal storage, a headphone jack, and a MicroSD slot. Bonus: The iPhone notch is incredibly ugly and the way Android does notches and punch holes is way better.

Unfortunately, we are beholden to greedy Google that actively is nerfing Android. Android 11 made it harder to access files, Android 12 replaced the WiFi and mobile toggles an incredibly poorly-designed internet toggle, and Android 14 is gonna restrict sideloading of older apps (which generally use less storage and are more optimized).

It seems like any time I consider giving iOS a chance, I hear about some basic thing where I'm like "Wait, it can't do that?" So until that stops happening, I'm sticking with Android.

• Headphone jack
• SD slot

Yes I'm using a Sony phone (Xperia 1V)

There is a lot more freedom on Android. I want to be able to side load.

Freedom. I feel so restricted on iOS. I want to do this, and this, and that there too!

To feel that YOU are the one really owning your phone.

iOS is always over-protective and doesn't allow sideloading. Whenever I use an iPhone I feel like I'm using a phone lent by a parent to some child.

There's not equivalent F-droid for iPhone, and almost all apps on Appstore contain ads.

Sideloading apps is the main reason. I couldn't use a phone without Adblock.

iPhones are also just way more expensive and the few times i've tried them the UX just sucked so much, form over function.

The only real alternative is iOS, which extremely restrictive and limiting, UI is unintuitive and clunky to navigate, and a lack of Quality-of-life enhancing apps (like better keyboards or apps to password protect other apps)

There's a bunch of small things that always get in the way. Lack of file system access for example, or FOSS app options.

I could post why I do not like Apple, but that isn't why I prefer Android.

I like how there are a ton of options on Android. I can control what hardware I have, from an ultrabudget $100 phone to a $2000 foldable flagship. I can choose how I control my device, I can choose how my device looks. All of these things add up to letting me have the best experience.

I also like how you can install custom ROMs on many devices. This allows even more options in terms of personal control.

On top of my mind

• I can develop apps quickly and check how it looks on mobile (android can be built on any OS with lesser effort compared to iOS builds)
• RetroGames!
• Sideload apps
• More customisation options
• USB C

I use both Android and iOS Some features I miss on Android are

• Long press on space bar to move text cursor around.
• Seamless integration between Apple Devices

GrapheneOS, other custom OSes, ability to hack/mod/repair.

Apple is one of the most scummy and anti-consumer companies in the world, they won't ever get a dollar from me or any endorsement.

-firefox with addons (adblock is the condom of internet) -youtube revanced -fdroid -better kde connect integration -termux -the ability to sideload apps -customisation -more device options and generally cheaper models

If you use any app other than what Apple provides, you become a second class citizen on your own phone.

Third party apps simply don't integrate with iOS nicely unless Apple allows it. Even though you can choose a web browser, it has to use Safari's underlying code base.

I'm on a Pixel 7. A lot of people say it's like Google's iPhone, but I can use Firefox as my browser natively. Adblocking actually works, too. I can choose any app as a default for whatever. Lots of FOSS! Google doesn't own my Pixel the same way Apple owns the iPhone.

Iphone is incredibly expensive. IOs seems much more restrictive than Android. There's a bigger offer of different phones and manufactures in Android. Most people in my country use Android.

I decide how I use my phone vs my phone decides how I use it

Customization and not being locked into one manufacturer/environment. I currently have a Pixel 7, but if Google made a hardware change that I absolutely couldn't stand, I have a dozen other manufacturers to choose from that might fit my taste better, while retaining all my apps, accounts, etc. If Apple drops a feature... Too bad for you.

1. Not an iPhone
2. Linux-based
3. Can install apps from external sources.
4. I can customize many aspects
5. I can root it and run more advanced software, customize it further, and debloat/remove unwanted builtin apps (unlocked phones only)

• iOS is very restricted compared to Android.
• iPhones overpriced like crazy for what you get.
• GrapheneOS

I dislike Apple alot, stupidly Expensive, more than they devices worth, very restrictive on what you can do with them (treat their customers as kids) and their monopoly.

There is also a wide variety of Android phones with different price ranges, and features (like my beloved headphone jacks), wider customisation and a somewhat better repaiability sometimes.

I may be one of the last hangers-on for this issue, but: my Android phone has a headphone port! That was non-negotiable for me last time I got a new phone. Earbuds do not stay in my ears, are super uncomfortable, and I don't want to charge a wireless headset or mess with an adapter all the time. I have cheap wired headphones for going out and about that I don't lose when they fall out because the wire catches them, and really nice wired headphones at home that are much better quality than wireless ones. My car also has a 3.5 mm hookup that sounds a lot better than Bluetooth audio.

Besides that: Having more customization and control. Firefox + adblockers and other extensions. ReVanced for YouTube. Easier access to the phone's storage and files. Being able to block ads adds so much quality of life.

One word. GrapheneOS

I like how Android allows more customization. Also, I use a Galaxy Note 9 that I recently got from eBay, so I still have a headphone jack and sd card slot. I hate Apple for starting the trend of removing useful hardware from phones and laptops while still raising prices and hate even more that Androids started copying that. I miss removable battery phones. This Note 9 is my first phone without a removable battery.

The battery tastes better.

Root.

That's it. Root.

This is probably specific to the Pixel phones, not sure how much if any is relevant to other manufacturers.

1. Call screening and spam filtering is amazing. Having the phone automatically screen unknown callers means I haven't had to deal with a spam caller in years. And valid callers don't seem to have any problems understanding whats happening anymore. I used to get several who confused it for a voice mail when it first came out, but now it seems they understand how to leave a screening message and wait for me to pick up.

2. The phone tree and hold for me when calling businesses. Being able to read the options and click the text makes it so much easier to get through the options without having to really pay attention, then having it hold for me until a person answers lets me do other things instead of having to keep listening.

3. Song identification on the lock screen. Whether I'm out at a bar or restaurant or at home watching a TV show and a song I like but don't know starts playing, being able to see exactly what it is without even touching my phone is so convenient. I've found so many cool new bands I never would have without this feature. Its also amazing how it can often identify covers made specifically for TV shows right when they first air.

4. Amazing camera and cool features like photo sphere and the new magic eraser. The camera might not be as head and shoulders above Samsung and Apple as it was in the past but it's still always amazing how well it does in different conditions.

I use a combination of Termux + Andronix to run a full version of Ubuntu. Add Codeboard keyboard and suddenly I have a full dev environment on my unrooted, stock Android (Pixel). I don't think I can do that with iOS.

• custom homescreens and themes
• more advanced browsers like Firefox
• sideloading apps
• automation via Macrodroid/Bixby Routines/Home Assistant
• open source alternatives like K9 mail
• more native integration with Google services, though this has become less crucial over the years

I use Windows, Linux and MacOS daily, and want a phone where the connectivity features don't care what platform I'm on. iOS wants you to be on other Apple devices.

Beyond that, Android is more flexible. I don't do much fiddling with my phone's configuration but I like to have the option.

Lastly, I just like the interface better. That's subjective, and no I understand completely why iphone folks prefer that interface, but I like the stock android interface much better.

1. The flexibility to easily run things such as Termux (from F-Droid or similar) - who doesn’t love a proper shell complete with the ability to install Python, tmux, sshd, etc right on their phone!
2. Way superior notifications compared to iOS.

• Out of the box notifications is better (ability to customise notification tones per-app and even per-type/channel if the app exposes them) compared to generic notification tones on iOS (unless there’s an in-app setting).
• The notification icons in the status bar. On iOS I either have to look at my notification panel or lock-screen, or permit pop ups (which I hate for privacy reasons when sitting with other people).
• Cool 3rd-party apps such as AODNotify, which bring back notification LED type effects on AMOLED screens (but also, real, bright RGB notification LEDs on Sony phones and older Samsungs)
• Also Always on Display on AMOLED or Motorola’s Moto Display with gestures on IPS phones

3. An actual choice of browsers. Firefox on Android actually IS a different browser to Chrome and the others. On iOS, they’re not much more than UI shells over the top of a shared browser engine.
4. Things like text selection actually work. Every time I try to select or correct a URL in Safari for iOS I feel like throwing the device across the room.

Bad things - stupid bugs. The number of phones I’ve had with issues around notification tones not playing or being cut off (e.g. Moto Z2 Play) or stupid hardware decisions (no physical proximity sensor on Galaxy A51). Also, Bitwarden works way better on iOS - I always seem to have issues with Bitwarden’s integration in GBoard, and needing to use the legacy draw-over approach (but the fact Bitwarden can DO that on Android, is a win). Whereas on iOS, it feels far better integrated into the OS, replacing the standard password manager.

Customization and the app drawer. Any time I have to use my wife's iphone I can't stand how many folders are all over the place to house the apps. Baffling design. I have a custom launcher which means I also set up gestures to open certain apps. Swipe up for Discord, down for fantasy hockey, two finger counterclockwise turn for Goodreads, two finger down swipe for Roku remote, etc. I also have custom icon packs.

FDroid and custom ROMs

Sideloading apps Adblockers Being able to replace my battery