The two platforms iOS and Android are much similar, with most apps available for both iOS and Android. But there are also some actual modifications in terms of hardware, price tag, security and software properties.
Breakdown of what to look for between iOS and Android
- iOS and Android #1 Hardware options
iOS and Android phones come in various shapes and sizes, with a wide range of feature sets. Whether you want the latest flagship device, such as the Samsung Galaxy S7, a big phablet such as 5.7, Android has you covered.
In comparison, Apple’s selection is limited to just a handful of different devices. There’s the flagship 4.7-inch iPhone 7, as well as the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus. Apple also still sells its previous generation of phones, which include the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, which are pretty similar but aren’t quite as fast or durable, and have less fancy cameras than the newer iPhones.
iOS and Android devices can be both a blessing and a curse. In theory, the big selection lets you pick out just the right device for you. If you plan to use your Android phone for games or virtual reality, you’ll want a phone with a Snapdragon 821 chip or the latest Snapdragon 835 platform.
In contrast, buying an iPhone is easy. Just decide how big you want it to be, and then decide how much internal storage you want. The A10 chip inside the latest iPhones is very speedy and shouldn’t give you any performance issues.
Read Also: Business Phone System Questions Asked in Nigeria
- iOS and Android #2 Security
Strong security is crucial for keeping your work phone locked down. So which platform is more secure: Android or iOS? The answer isn’t so clear-cut.
There is two main advantage for iOS security. Apple tightly controls the entire ecosystem, from hardware to firmware to software. Also, iOS devices have very good legacy support, meaning older iPhones continue to get firmware and security updates for many years after their release.
In contrast, the Android platform is extremely fragmented — there are dozens upon dozens of devices from many different manufacturers on the market. Each device ships with a specific version of Android — and it’s usually not the latest, greatest version.
So, iOS and Android take very different approaches to security — so which is better? The answer is that both platforms offer very strong security most of the time.
Read Also: Technological tools in Nigeria business
- iOS and Android #3 App selection
Apple’s iOS used to boast the best app store, but Android has made huge strides in matching it in recent years. These days, nearly every app you can think of is available for both platforms.
However, the iPhone still has a slight edge here, because the platform generally gets new apps first, and those apps tend to be updated with new features more quickly. In a few cases, the iOS version of a given app can look a bit better than the Android version, seemingly with more care put toward their designs — but that’s becoming less and less common.
It’s also true that iOS apps are generally better optimized for tablets than Android apps, with scaling interfaces that work really well on an iPad. All that said, there isn’t a huge difference in app offerings between iOS and Android.
- iOS and Android #4 Software features and interface
Historically, iOS has been thought of as a more user-friendly operating system compared to Android. These days, that’s not really true — both platforms are extremely polished and easy to use. But as a general rule, iOS is slightly simpler and more streamlined, while Android offers more features for power users.
One area where iOS handily trumps Android is its ability to integrate with other devices. Using Apple’s new Continuity features, you can beam email drafts, documents, and files directly to or from your phone or tablet to your Mac computer with just a couple of taps. Android doesn’t offer anything quite like that, though cloud storage apps such as DropBox offer similar (but clunkier) functionality.
Read Also: 10 best iOS App(s) for business in Nigeria
- iOS and Android #5 Cost
Workers on a budget will probably want to stick with Android. The cheapest Android phones cost around $240, or as little as $5 per month when you sign up for a monthly data plan. And some very solid mid-range devices can be purchased unlocked — that is, compatible with any carrier — for around $300. In comparison, iPhones are just more expensive.
The cheapest iPhone is the 4-inch iPhone SE with 128GB of internal storage, which will run you $400. The priciest model is the iPhone 7s Plus, which costs $650. Again, those payments can be spread out over the course of several years if you buy through a carrier, but the fact remains that Apple doesn’t sell any iPhone at a budget price.
- iOS and Android #6 Conclusion
So, which mobile operating system is better for business? That’s a difficult question to answer, but the two platforms do have some different strengths. The iOS-powered iPhone is a good pick for Apple fans who use Mac computers since the devices can integrate seamlessly. iPhones are extremely polished and easy-to-use devices with strong security and handy features such as Siri.
Android, on the other hand, is a good pick for users who want more options. Android phones come in more shapes and sizes than iPhones, so you can purchase just the device you need.
