6 Ways the iPhone Is Still Years Behind Android
Every time Apple releases a new iPhone, the company does its best to market it as the most advanced smartphone ever. But a lot of the time, that simply isn’t the case.
Whether it’s the notch, the lack of a folding iPhone, or the fact that we’re still stuck with the Lightning connector, in a lot of ways, the iPhone seems hopelessly far behind Android.
So, here, we’ll look at six ways the iPhone is struggling to catch up to Android.
1. The Notch and Dynamic Island
We got introduced to Apple’s infamous notch way back in 2017 with the release of the iPhone X, and more than half a decade later, it’s still alive and well. Even though Apple has shrunk the notch slightly over the years, if you pick up a base model iPhone today, it’ll still have a notch just like your last iPhone did.
In 2022, Apple unveiledthe Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Proand Pro Max. Instead of an old-school notch, Apple moved the front sensor package into a large pill-shaped cutout at the top of the iPhone’s screen.
Although Apple decided to turn the notch into an island, it actually didn’t get any smaller. Because Apple’s Dynamic Island sits much lower on the iPhone’s display than the notch did, it’s actually more intrusive than before.
That’s especially true any time your iPhone is in landscape mode. So, while most people were able to ignore the notch while watching movies or playing games, a lot of the time, the Dynamic Island sticks out like a sore thumb.
The truth is, although many Android phones have had tiny hole-punch cameras for years now, the iPhone still seems years away from an all-screen display.
2. A Folding iPhone Is Only a Dream for Now
Let’s face it, folding phones aren’t new anymore. The original Galaxy Fold came out in 2019, and in just a couple of years, Samsung has managed to transform folding phones from expensive toys to devices that almost anybody should consider picking up.
The Galaxy Fold is leading the pack when it comes to folding phones, but it’s not the only device making a splash in the foldable space. We’ve seen devices like theMotorola Razr and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flipseries continue to push boundaries and rethink the smartphone form factor in a big way.
But when you take a look at what Apple is doing with the iPhone, things feel a lot more… traditional. Apple hasn’t released a folding iPhone yet, and it doesn’t seem to have any plans to release one in the near future.
Apple has always been firm about doing things in its own unique way, even if it’s not where most of the industry is heading. Tons of Windows laptops have had touch screens for years now, but we still haven’t got a touch screen MacBook. So, although folding phones are becoming more and more commonplace, we might never see that tech on the iPhone.
3. The iPhone Still Doesn’t Have USB-C
It’s sad that we’re even saying this, but USB-C is still missing from the iPhone. While the vast majority of Android phones made the switch to USB-C years ago, the iPhone has been stuck with the Lightning connector since the iPhone 5 launched way back in 2013.
It’s no secret that keeping the iPhone on Lightning makes Apple money. Companies are forced to pay licensing fees to Apple if they want to make Lightning cables and accessories. While that may be a win for Apple, it’s definitely not a win for consumers. Whencomparing Lightning to USB-C, the Lightning connector charges slower, and it doesn’t have nearly the same data transfer speeds.
Although Apple has been firm about keeping the iPhone Lightning-only until now, in 2022, the EU enacted a law forcing manufacturers to add USB-C to any new devices sold within its territory. That means we’ll probably be seeing a USB-C iPhone in the near future.
4. No Reverse Wireless Charging
Wireless charging is a feature that a lot of people use every single day. But while it’s great to use a charging pad to juice up your phone, many Android phones can actually turn into a wireless charging pad themselves.
Reverse wireless charging lets you use your phone’s battery as a portable wireless charging pack. That means you can charge wireless earbuds, smartwatches, or any other compatible accessory directly from your phone.
Unfortunately, iPhone users don’t get access to this feature. The iPhone does have some great exclusive wireless charging features likeMagSafe, but we’d love to see an iPhone that can reverse wireless charge your other devices too.
5. The iPhone Doesn’t Have the World’s Best Smartphone Camera
Every year, Apple markets the iPhone’s camera as one of the biggest selling points. But while the iPhone’s camera is no slouch, some Android phones are blowing it out of the water right now.
Apple brought massive camera upgrades to the iPhone 14 Pro, bumping the main camera’s resolution from 12 megapixels to 48 megapixels. However, that’s nothing compared to the massive 108-megapixel sensor packed into the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
And that’s more than just an impressive number on a spec sheet. When compared to the iPhone 14 Pro, the Galaxy S22 Ultra delivers more vibrant colors, better low-light performance, and offers an incredible 100x digital zoom feature.
It’s no secret that the iPhone has a great camera. And most people are going to be satisfied with it. But, if you’re serious about photography and want the best camera possible on a smartphone, you probably won’t find it on the iPhone.
6. Android Gives You So Many More Choices
Steve Jobs famously said, “People don’t know what they want until you give it to them.” And Apple has really developed a reputation for not giving its buyers much choice.
If you want to buy a new iPhone, you’ve really only got a couple of options to choose from. You can choose between a budget iPhone SE, two sizes of the base iPhone, and two sizes of the iPhone Pro models. That’s really about it.
If you’re looking for an Android phone, however, you have an incredible number of options to choose from. You might want a traditional smartphone like a device from Samsung’s Galaxy series or one of Google’s Pixel phones. Or, it’s possible to pick up a really cutting-edge foldable phone likethe Galaxy Z Fold 4 or Z Flip 4.
You can even find phones that are all about style and being unique, like the Nothing Phone (1). The point is, going Android means getting more choices where it counts.
In Many Ways, Apple Is Still Playing Catch-Up
There’s a reason the iPhone is the world’s best-selling smartphone—iOS is simple and designed to be easy to use. The iPhone has great integration with the Mac and the rest of the Apple ecosystem, and every iPhone is sleek and well-made.
While the iPhone has a lot going for it, when it comes to cutting-edge technology and features, Apple is years behind many Android manufacturers.
So, if you’re somebody who loves technology and wants the latest and greatest, a lot of the time, choosing the iPhone means getting left behind.
What’s so special about iOS that people keep coming back to it? Let’s find out.
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