Hi guys, I read everywhere that according to a lot of people Android with the One UI is the best operating system for phones on the planet and is infinitely better than iOS for countless reasons. I ask a question to those who have full knowledge of the facts because they use the two systems (iOS 17 & One UI 6) on a daily basis, thus knowing them in the smallest detail of real use: why is the One UI indisputably superior to the iPhone, which therefore does not have a shred of sense compared to Galaxy? What are the real-world details that make the iPhone a significantly poorer product than the Galaxy? Thanks to those who will want to answer!
Guess z fold 4 isn’t getting the update
iOS is like Mercedes, stable, boring and not many changes throughout years One ui is like BMW, it’s unreliable but fun
Android just gives more freedom for side loading. I hate OneUI 6 though, might not even upgrade my tablet because of it. Screen time on one battery charge is gone, and the drop down menu is a downgrade. My sister has an iPhone and it doesn’t look better or worse than OneUI 6 so far. OneUI 5 would be a no brainer for me
Some pros - pull down interfaces, which are honestly genius, I wish they were more widely adopted by other apps. Zoom out on double tap for easy one handed operation. Easily reachable and system wide back button (instead of per app back button located at the top left). All of that amazing for one handed use.
Multi window, split screen and other viewer shenanigans - rarely needed, but sometimes feel truly amazing to have.
Operating camera with physical buttons (not sure, maybe iPhone also can do this now). Very handy for opening camera, taking picture and closing camera all without literally moving a finger, on the move, in the outstretched hand etc.
Sane keyboard with numbers and special symbols visible.
Probably many other small things we just take for granted on droids.
The camera shutter can be activated using either volume button on iPhone. And 3rd party keyboards are supported, so you can install Gboard, SwiftKey, or others.
You basically can’t do the simplest tasks such as going back one window easily on an iOS. Bought the iPad recently and to be honest the operating system is a massive failure. Don’t wanna go into details but the general every day usage on Android is 10x better
I think the lack of back button was a much bigger issue when the iPhone still had a home button. Ever since they switched to gestures, you can basically just swipe from the edge of the screen to go back and swipe across the homebar on the bottom to go back to your last app or other apps easy.
I had an iPhone for a long time, but I’m on an S23 Ultra now. With the back gestures iOS had, it really doesn’t feel that different to me having a dedicated back button/gesture.
One thing I’ve found funny is that I see so many recommending ditching the digital nav buttons on One UI for gestures instead to free up screen space, and at that point navigating and going back are practically identical to how they work on iOS now.
You basically can’t do the simplest tasks such as going back one window easily on an iOS. Bought the iPad recently and to be honest the operating system is a massive failure. Don’t wanna go into details but the general every day usage on Android is 10x better
I found using my iPad extremely easy to interact and navigate with; so easy that I use the tablet more than my Windows PC - for simple tasks, like web browsing, music, Youtube, etc.
I also switched from Samsung to iPhone, as iOS is so much simpler and easier to use. It’s definitely inferior to One UI, but for me is more than enough. I also love Face ID, another reason for me buying the iPhone.
I figured I’d get an iPhone 15 pro max and give it a try since I got a Macbook air because of how good it is compared to windows laptops. Noped out of ios after 2 days. Couldnt stand no back button, the inconsistent menus, no settings in apps, inconsistent looking apps. I mean how in XXI century can I not highlight a word by double tapping it? The most simple tasks like downloading a couple files and emailing them were a burden. Never trying ios again
Different OS means different designs, you went in expecting an Android but didn’t get it. It’s the same frustration when someone used to Windows/Mac/Linux try a different OS.
Did you notice I wrote i got myself a macbook? And Im still using a windows pc at home. Yeah, I changed a bunch of things (how the hell is right button not on by default?), yeah i still don’t like a few things but other things i do enjoy very much. It’s just that with macbook i could change A LOT so that the experience is much more to my liking. With iphone you either use the shitty design or gtfo.
Yup I noticed, and wrote my comment after. I work with different OS’s (and desktop environments in Linux), and phones. I also felt that frustration at first, because I kept expecting those other OS’s to be Windows/Android. My thought process was always like “in Windows this would be simpler”, “in windows this wouldn’t happen”, “in windows…” you get the idea. It only stopped when I started to learn how I’m supposed to work in each environment.
And the vibe I got from your comment was that same frustration.
For example:
no back button
Apps made for iphone are designed around this, so is the OS. There isn’t a back button so most/all apps will have one, and the OS expects you to use gestures to minimize or change apps. Trust me, I “get it”, I also missed this button at first. But then I “got” how iOS works and it’s just different.
no settings in apps
It’s in the Settings app. It’s weird coming from Android and these things being in different places, but it’s not worse or better, it’s just different.
can I not highlight a word by double tapping it
Maybe things changed meanwhile, but on my Samsung Note I also had this problem. The only way to circumvent it at the time was by using the S-pen. On iOS, you can take a screenshot and then select the words that you want.
The most simple tasks like downloading a couple files and emailing them were a burden
I don’t get this one to be honest, as I’m unaware how you do it, but the process for me is pretty similar, if not simpler. Once you download a file, click on the downloads symbol, click on it. Then hold, press share, select mail or any other email app that you use. Done. So I’m guessing you were expecting to do this a certain way like you do on Android, but it’s not. So you got frustrated.
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To be clear, I’m not saying that you’re wrong in preferring one over the other, I’m not saying “nuh uh, iOS better”, I’m not saying you should give it a second chance.
What I’m saying is that they’re different, they require different workflows, and people get frustrated and call it bad because they try to use the same workflow that they used in another OS and expect it to work.
Have you tried navigating through “folders”? You better know in advance where you’re going lol
I’m going to cop it on this sub (this thread just came up in my feed) but everything you described is what my experience of android has been. Just utter pain to use with lots of bugs.
Btw the reason there’s no back button on iOS is because you use gestures instead, it frees up screen real estate and is far more intuitive.
Ok ok now go on with the flaming I’m ready 😶
iOS gestures and intuitive can’t be used in the same sentence IMO, gesture that does not work in all apps/scenarios, and it’s on the wrong side of screen 💀
After I did try iOS myself I know why apple fans like small phones so much, coz you can’t use a bigger one with one hand, it is just so bad
Oh, I have a back button and I also have no buttons on the bottom so the whole screen is free to show whatever I want. How about the top where iphone uses like a cm of screen to cover the “island”? The apple way of implementing no back is stupid and the top left fake back to the previous app is the pinnacle of stupid design.
To be fair the island is interactive so you aren’t losing space at the top, well, I guess I should say it doesn’t feel like you’re losing space because obviously it does house some cutouts. It works really well from a UI perspective :)
The top left corner previous app icon doesn’t need to be used as you can simply swipe horizontally along the bottom of the screen. Or if you prefer give it a little upward motion without lifting and then you get a dock-like view to switch between any open apps.
Bought the iPad recently and to be honest the operating system is a massive failure. Don’t wanna go into details but the general every day usage on Android is 10x better
Exactly, and that must be why every major business, corporation, hospitals, banks and restaurants that uses tablets (which is the majority) only use iPads. They are certainly not using Android tablets.
Yea when I sold solar we used iPads. I bought a 13 pro max as well. Dreadful to me but I guess if you have only used apple you might like it but android is just so much better imo. 13 pro max lasted a few months then back on eBay. I believe all the businesses use apple because they believe it is more secure and under the false pretense that apple is more reliable. Apple is definitely super laggy and buggy when just a couple models old in their tablets and their phones. Not a fan at all. My parents iPhone 11’s lag and glitch more than anything. I got them 13’s for Christmas. I’d rather get them on Samsung but they’re used to the iPhone. It’s all they’ve ever known.
they just use a single web interface or an internal app, they don’t use ipads like regular people use it. that’s not a comparison. Not to discredit Ipad has incredible battery life.
The Android tablet experience is beyond subpar imo. Most just feel like stretched out phones
The galaxy tab is the first I’ve actually felt comparable to an iPad, but I still get the random app that isn’t designed for anything other than a phone which goes into portrait and is super small
You can’t? I just swipe from the side.
No, they both have pros and cons. Neither the destroys the other.
Having an on screen back button (if you are not using gestures)
such a basic function but such a useful one
I use nova launcher
Split split screen, floating windows, sidebar, Dex.
As much as I love Samsung, iOS is superior aesthetically and feels like a more modern and efficient user experience.
I have had nothing but issues with iphones, starting with the iPhone 6.
Back in 2016-2017 my iPhone 6 completely crapped out after an up date and apple sent me a new one. I upgraded the 7 and it worked good for while. Then the issues started all over again with the 11. My watch wouldn’t pair and I ended up having to buy a whole new watch.
Finally three years ago I said fuck apple and got note 20. I will never go back. I upgraded seamlessly to an S23 and have had no issues.
Samsung watch also works better than Apple.
How does the Samsung watch work better than the Apple Watch?
I don’t really remember pairing issues with the Apple Watch, even then it’s a one time thing. But there’s no comparison between their performances. Apple Watch feels like you’re still scrolling through a mini iPhone. OTOH, Samsung watches lag and stutter HARD, like using an Android phone from 2012. And don’t even get me started on switching between modes(sleep,work, etc) on the watch. So damn laggy it makes you want to shove it up Bixby.
Yep, Apple gets salty when people want to use other brands’ accessories so they make them seem like a bad product by taking away features. With an iPhone, you can’t reply to messages from a Garmin or any other watch that offers the feature. You can’t clear out the Garmin app or else functionality of the watch breaks down, and you can’t choose which notifications come to your watch. All or nothing.
I have apple work phone and s23u personal phone. I like my personal much better. It is cool a lot of apps are made just for apple though. But Samsung trade in program supports theft from their customers. So I guess apple wins that one.
I can sum up why Android beats iOS (for me) with one example.
On my iPad, when I install a new app, it gets put into a folder on the app page based on some unknown criteria. iOS categorizes it for me (or maybe the app tells the OS what it’s category is, I’m not sure). I’m not allowed to move it to a different folder. Yes, I can pin it to the home screen or the app bar, but it’s stuck in that folder whether I like it or not. And, some apps even wind up in MULTIPLE folders. So if I don’t agree with the categorization, it will forever be an annoyance to find that app but cause iOS is creating a mental model that doesn’t match my own.
Apple always thinks they know what’s best for their users. And you know what? For a lot of users, they probably do, or at least the users don’t care that decisions are being made for them for better or worse.
So you have to ask a basic question: do you want a device that thinks for you and forces you to do things the way the designers of it decide for you, or do you want a greater level of flexibility and control?
To be clear, not everyone needs or wants to tailor their experience. Some are perfectly happy to never have to think about how they want things to be. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that mindset necessarily, so if that’s you then you’ll probably get along just fine with iOS.
For the rest of us, we wind up feeling like our device is actively working AGAINST us, and that’s the crux of why I prefer Android. It always feels like my device is working FOR me and WITH me, never against me. It adapts to my mental model, I don’t have to adapt to its mental model. To me, it’s a more effective tool that way.
I get your point, but you absolutely can put apps in your own folders besides the automatic ones. Android offers greater flexibility, but iOS doesn’t take away flexibility to the degree that you seem to be saying.
I would also ad that the iOS search is great - I haven’t had to memorize an app’s location in years, I just swipe down, type 2 characters and there it is.
or do you want a greater level of flexibility and control?
In specific areas. I still can’t turn off that shitty overscroll animation introduced in Android 12 that stretches the screen because… reasons I guess
Fuck the person who came up with that bullshit, and fuck people who make it so it can’t be disabledYeah, that’s annoying. It used to stretch sideways, too, if you scrolled side to side. That was the worst and it actually made me nauseous. Recent Android UI also made the quick settings panel unbearably ugly. I’m grateful to Samsung for protecting us from it, haha. I understand why you can’t control every single aspect of UI behavior. There would be so many settings that no one would even bother trying to find the right one, and it would require a lot of extra programming. I am happy with the options that Android and Samsung provide.
To be clear for other users, u/fzammetti is talking about the App Drawer. It’s a menu that you can access if you swipe to the right after the last panel in the home screen. He is right, it’s the app devs themselves that set this categorization and the user can’t change it (as far as I’m aware)
In the home screen though, you can edit it any way you want, put in whatever folder, etc.
Yes, correct, thank you for clarifying on my behalf.
Well said, very fair and nuanced.
Indisputably is just a buzz word and I wouldn’t agree with One UI being the system on the planet. It offers more customization but animations and stability is miles ahead in iOS. Android is still owned by Google and Samsung is the middle man trying to improve it. In the past few years, Google has been excluding features to make their pixel phone stand out which is not good for Samsung in the long run.
D d destroys?