Before Android made its foray into the tech world, it was fairly easy to choose a phone. Apple’s iPhone or iOS stood as an epitome of unbeatable quality. However, Android did not allow it to monopolize the market for long. It increased the difficulties for the iPhone by not only grabbing market share but also emerging as the preferred option when it comes to operating systems.

Despite its immense popularity, there are some areas where Android has remained unsuccessful in beating the iPhone. The article is a comparison between the two most popular operating systems on the market. It is a must-read for those considering a new Smartphone.

Flexibility in terms of User-Interface

Android is an open source platform. Unlike its competitor iOS, it provides users with greater customization ability. This ability goes beyond the basic factory settings. The iPhone, on the other hand, does not allow the same liberty as its rival. There’s not much you can do about the settings and apps the phone ships with.

Consistency

User-interface customization is a plus point of Google’s operating system, but it is also the reason for an inconsistent user experience. First, there are several versions of the operating system. Second, Smartphone manufacturers top it up with their respective user interface. To name a few, we have Samsung’s TouchWiz, HTC Sense and Motorola’s MotoBlur. Thus, user experience varies widely across smartphones. This is where Apple wins as it is not a fragmented operating system. It offers uniform user experience across all iPhone devices.

Ease of Use

Apple’s iOS, owing to its intuitive user interface, emerges as a more user-friendly option. It does not involve a big learning curve. One can start using it as soon as it is out of the box and hence is a suitable alternative if this is your first smartphone.

Device Choices

Need we mention that Android wins hands down? An extensive range of devices from major carriers and tech manufacturers namely Samsung, LG, HTC and Sony ship with Google’s operating system. This means an endless list of choices with countless configuration possibilities. Not only this, every second month there is a new Android device on the market. As far as Apple is concerned, it restricts itself to one major release per year. Thus, users will have to wait longer for hardware and software advancements with an iOS device.

App Store

Android has a large market share, but Apple has a larger app store. Apps are very important because they raise the functionality of a smartphone. Apple’s app store boasts of more than 2,00,000 free and paid apps while Android’s marketplace is restricted to half the number. It is catching up soon, but currently iOS prevails.

There are plenty of differences between the two mobile operating systems. Android as an open source platform is better suited for multitasking. It is also a worthwhile pick for power users. Apple is unrivalled in its polish and finish.

Thus, the above comparison makes it evident that neither emerges as a clear winner. Each has its strong and weak points. Compare the features and decide which operating system or device best suits your needs.