The iPhone vs. Android controversy continues, particularly as both operating systems prepare for another major annual release. While you can buy a phone from a variety of firms, it will almost certainly run one of the two most popular mobile operating systems: iOS (if you choose an iPhone) or Android (if you choose an Android) (if you opt for anything else).

Both platforms are well-established at this point, having been around for almost a decade. That means both offer extensive feature sets, and there’s very little that one can’t do better than the other. Nonetheless, each has advantages, and there are reasons why you might prefer one over the other.

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We compare the strengths of each mobile platform, comparing iPhone vs. Android, so you can choose the best one for you the next time you buy a smartphone. Check out our iPhone 12 vs. Pixel 5 comparison for an overview of the current Android and iOS flagships.You’ve made a commitment to Apple’s ecosystem. This may sound like a flimsy excuse, but Apple makes a wide range of tech devices, and acquiring an iPhone makes a lot of sense if you already own a Mac, iPad, or Apple Watch.

Apple has created a number of tools that allow you to transfer work and data from one of its devices to another, and these features can save you a lot of time. Take, for example, Handoff, which allows calls on your iPhone and web pages in Safari to easily transition between iOS and macOS. Text copied on one platform can be used on another with Universal Clipboard.Another of our favourites is Continuity Camera, which lets you use your iPhone’s camera to snap photos and scan documents, then view and edit them on your Mac. You can also make purchases on your Mac using Apple Pay’s biometric authentication features on your iPhone.

Only a few Android phone manufacturers have hardware ecosystems that come close to Apple’s, and even those that do, like Samsung, don’t offer the same level of integration as the iPhone and other Apple-built products.With its new Your Phone app for Windows, Microsoft is helping Google bridge the gap slightly, allowing Android users to respond to SMS and notifications on their PCs, albeit the experience is a little awkward and there is still work to be done.

There are many of other fantastic examples of iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and macOS continuity, and the iPhone is an important piece of the equation, especially now that iPhone apps can be smoothly moved to macOS.Power users who are already steeped in Apple’s ecosystem would benefit greatly from adding an iPhone to their arsenal. That’s not to mention friends and family members who prefer to communicate via iMessage or FaceTime.

With the new iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, Apple has added yet another option for lock-in: MagSafe accessories. Only the latest iPhones will operate with these magnet-based chargers, cases, and gadgets, so if you invest in the platform, you’ll have some issues if you try to leave.Third-party apps are simply superior. This is purely a matter of personal opinion, but as someone who has switched back and forth between iOS and Android for as long as both platforms have been, I’ve consistently been blown away by the quality of iOS developers’ apps, and usually disappointed by their Android counterparts.