I’m an Android user and I don’t really have any experience with iPhones and quite frankly I’m biased towards Android for a number of reasons. And I’m a geek so I’m not the right one to judge the “easy to use” test because it’s usually easy to use anything that works. There are also a lot of Android phones out there so it would also depend on which one you compared. For example I like the Motorola droids better than Samsung.
So – I keep hearing people say that iPhones are easier for “normal” people to learn. So skipping everything else, I’m looking for opinions from people who have significant experience on both phones. Is it true? Are iPhones really easier than droids? the question assumes that users are going to be somewhat heavy users. Lets assume that besides making phone calls the user is going to do these activities:
- Email Access
- Maps and Navigation
- Voice commands for voice texting and voice navigation
- Calendar
- Utilities such as Calculators, timers, alarm clocks, etc.
- Usability while driving in a car dock
- Web Browsing
Use the phone you’re comfortable with, and don’t worry about the rest.
Android can be customized to meet the individual users needs so it has a steeper learning curve. iPhone is WYSIWYG
most people I know don’t customize – only the develeopers, scientist and geeks do.
most people I know do….and none of them are develeopers, scientist or geeks.
avoid, they both log your ass off
1. Email Access – use Gmail already? Android integrates better, but iOS works just fine. Other email? Kind of a toss up.
2. Maps and Navigation – Currently Android, but iOS has turn-by-turn coming in the iOS 6 update this fall. No idea if it is any good yet though.
3. Voice commands – Siri seems good for some people, but useless for others. Easy to get to though. Android seems to work okay, but can be a pain to bring up.
4. Calendar – toss up.
5. I use the alarm on my iPod over the one on my phone. I’ve never liked a phone based calculator.
6. Car dock – no experience on either side, can’t say.
7. Web browsing – I hate safari on my iPod, actually enjoy it on my iPad. The Android browser seems awful, but there are plenty of third party alternatives (Firefox and Dolphin being the best).
I’m dropping Android when my upgrade period comes up later this year and switching to iPhone. The main thing is the apps. Many of the things I used to do on my Android phone, I now do on my iPad because the apps just feel a lot better to me on iOS.
All that said, I’m a geek as well, so none of this is really “ease of use”. For a lot of “normal” people, I think it will come down to how important the sexy factor is. If they need to have the sexy device and don’t care about maybe saving some money, then you’ll never be able to convince them to not go with a iPhone. Others will probably be just fine with Android.
Apple was the sexy phone.
The rate of innovation with the iphone is now much slower than with the android. I get the feeling apple is running hard playing catchup and doing a lot less real innovation. Coming out with one phone every year means you aren’t even in the race when it comes to being on the cutting edge of smartphone hardware during most of the year. It also means buyer preferences are extremely limited to say the least.
The catch is that unless you buy a new smartphone every few months you won’t have the hot new sexy phone. Unless you have money to burn you most likely will use your phone for two years or more which means you aren’t going to have the hottest, sexiest phone around during most of the phones life.
* This article is for SEO purposes only
Me, I’m still on my Blackberry – can’t type worth shoit (mistake on purpose) on a virtual keyboard
This is a typical question by a Fandroid, and a stupid one to start.
What is better, iPhone or Android?
How about, what is better, driving Ferrari or a diesel?
You can only compare the iPhone to a specific model, like iPhone 4s vs. Samsung Galaxy s3.
Android can be ok on one device, and a disaster on another. That’s actually a big advantage for the iPhone: if I like the iPhone like it is today, I can assume that I can use it next year with all Apps, Updates etc. And I will be able, to buy a phone, that is just like it but a generation better the next year.
I’m sorry to shatter your world but Apple has a solid track record for making large changes and leaving the past in the dust. Anyone who would even suggest otherwise doesn’t have a clue about the history of Apple Inc.
The new connector rumored to be included on the next iPhone is a good example…
No one asked but here is Windows Phone 7.
1.Email Access, Excellent with MS Exchange.
2.Maps and Navigation, Fair maps but never used it for nav.
3.Voice commands, again fair.
4.Calendar, see number 1.
5.Utilities, all I need.
6.Usability in a car dock, no dock but excellent integration with my car. Automatically syncs with my families phones and contact list for a personalized experience. Voice command all the way.
7.Web Browsing, depends upon the site.
I have a stress-free life.
I don’t have a smartphone.
I have never had a problem navigating with a paper map and I answer my cell phone only when I feel like it.
My email can wait until I get a few minutes to bother with it and I have a calendar on the wall with naked beauties to look at.
I cannot begin to describe the feeling of freedom and serenity I enjoy because I am not tethered like a slave to an internet device and I don’t fret and worry about which device is a crueler master of my life.
You are a wise person.
Well said…
My hero!
My friend switched from the EVO to the iPhone He is 42 and says that iPhone screen is way to small and did not consider the Hardware (form factor) an upgrade.
It’s way easier to pick up chics cause they all have facetime and like to share the “goods” before meeting. He could not do that efficiently on Android. So major win for iPhone
His company switched to iphones, but they did not switch any corporate computers to iOS or hardware. Strange, they trust their communications to apple, but not their manufacturing business.
I need a big screen because I don’t want to put on glasses to see text. I can’t wait for the Samsung Note. 5+ inch screen.
Both are fine, just avoid the long term contracts and you will be much happier in the long run. Here in Canuckistan 3 year contracts are common, and most people grow tired of a device after only a year. Most warranties are at most a year. And then there is always dropping it in the pool/toilet/golf water hazard…
If you can make and receive calls, none of the other @#$% matters. It is just a cell phone, and I would rather have one of those old 3-pound bricks that made and received phone calls, than either one of those phones that you can’t figure out how to make or receive calls.
More hero speak!
The tiny screen of the iphone is a turn off to me. Plus if Apple lays an egg, like they did with the iphone 4 and antenna gate, you are stuck with it for a year. With Android, you have choice.
I started Android, switched to Iphone, now on Galaxy S3, but might do Iphone 5 if they make it good. At this point I honestly think they’re equal.
When using an Iphone it irritated the hell out of me and I yearned for an Android to get me out of Iphones tight grip on what I could and couldn’t do with my own phone. When I switched to Android, it irritated the hell out of me and I yearned for a more seamless experience provided by the Iphone.
Just today my S3 irritated me with an app not responding fast enough and having to go into task manager to free up Ram. While it was really annoying I had to remind myself that the s3 probably could be more stable but it’s the very freedoms the apps have on Android (one of the reasons I wanted to go back to Android) that mean the price to pay was it would occasionally behave like this. That’s the price.
Similarly, it’s frustrating when you want to share something on Iphone and they only offer you 2-3 options. But it’s equally frustrating when you try to share on Android and they offer you 30 options.
FWIW, the company I work for does BYOD(bring your own device) and I handle support of these devices with our servers(we use GOOD and BES). I use both Android and IOS devices for support reasons. Prior to work needs I used Android exclusively. Now that I’ve had more time with IOS – I prefer it over Android.
But honestly the differences are so slight that it really does come down to personal preferences. If you’re happy on Android then stick with it — you’re not missing out on anything IMHO.
I carry an iPhone 4, a Nexus S and a Blackberry Bold.
– Email Access
The is best because you can zoom. This might change since google bought sparrow. The blackberry used to be best with the hot keys but it sucks. You can’t use subfolders. On the iPhone you can tell it which subfolders to check for new mail.
– Maps and Navigation
The Android wins this hands down. Nav on 2.3+ is way better then apple. With waze and traffic the iPhone is pretty good but with jelly bean and voice control over nav you can say map to place and it does a good job.
– Voice commands for voice texting and voice navigation
I don’t have a 4s so I can only talk about Jelly Bean on my Nexus S. Siri still wins this one as it has personality. Jelly Bean is close with the google now cards that look more useful than Siri. It is closer. The voice stuff on Jelly Bean is good enough and the now cards help it go a long way. Both could be better.
– Calendar
Again apple wins this as the cal app just works better. Android cal looks like a web app put on the phone and on the blackberry it cal is old and reminds me of my palm. Blackberry is so 90’s.
– Utilities such as Calculators, timers, alarm clocks, etc.
This is interesting as I like calc, world clock and timers on iPhone better but I always use android for the alarm clock. They are about the same. Some utilities are easier to get from Android as apple likes to block some types of utilities like wifi scanners and such.
– Usability while driving in a car dock
This better on android as it has car mode with big icons and the nav voice control works pretty good. iPhone doesn’t do this as well.
– Web Browsing
With Ice Cream and better Android is right in line if not a little better then iPhone. Before Android 4 (ics) this was not the case. Plus with Jelly Bean the bookmarks and tabs come over from your desktop and it works well just as Safari on iPhone allows you to sync bookmarks.
The real point here is most Android phones are still shipping with older versions of OS that are not really good at all. With new phones of bigger and smaller size with ics or better Android is getting ahead of iPhone unless they pull a rabbit out of a hat with iPhone 5. But really I can get a tiny Sony Xperia Mini or I can get a big Samsung Note. Android has the range where iPhone has been a similar form factor the whole time and the new iPhone 5 is not going to be that much bigger. I doubt they will make a smaller one. With Jelly Bean and the latest phones Android wins. Look at the Sony phones with 12 megapixel cameras, Nexus phones, Samsung Galaxy III and Note. Even Verizon has a cool HTC Incredible 4g that is small and light but has 4g LTE.
I am happy with my iPhone, but am very disappointed that the iPhone 5 will probably not have a significantly larger screen.
Cell phones have become portable computers and the main differentiating features between them are the apps and how easy it is to use the apps.
A larger screen allows for more data to be shown on the screen and/or larger or more controls in the apps.
Windows Phone
Simplest question to answer.
User neither. Windows Phone 7.5 (and future 8) are so much more efficient and productive to use.
iPhone has an outdated and slow interface. (I have an iPhone4S as a corporate phone)
Android is clunky unless you spend the time to set it up right. (I have an ASUS Transformer Prime Tablet)
Windows Phone 7.5 smoother and quicker at performing all the important tasks. So much so, I forward my corporate iPhone4s to my older Windows Phone 7.5 (HTC HD7s).
Really sad that people are immature in just saying, “It’s not cool cause it’s Windows.”
P.S. If you use the App excuse regarding Windows Phone, then you are not in the majority of smart phone users. Constantly downloading apps is a niche market. The quality of the apps you have is more important than the number.
If you’re having a hard time using either it won’t matter which phone you use beside your plain old regular phone. My brother in law is this. Anything beyond a regular phone for making phone calls and he’s stumped and can’t retain what he’s been taught.
18 months ago I did a comprehensive usability test between iPhone 4 and the then top of the line android phone. The iPhone was a slam dunk winner. The Android swipe smoothness really sucked and a fatal flaw.
My upgrade term (2yrs) is coming up and will give the same test. I’m guessing Android doesn’t suck anymore but the gold standard is likely to remain iphone. I would like a larger screen and thinner phone but would be satisfied with better responsiveness and better camera which is a given from what I here.
I love my iPhone 4 and love Apple and Steve Jobs too.
Both OS’s incredibly easy to use now. Asking this is now like asking which word processor renders your text better. There is lots left to fight over, but ease of use in is largely solved and is in the last refinement stages – at least until the next paradigm shift (e.g., Google Glasses).
If you can answer this question, then perhaps you dare to venture into some of the other age-old questions that have forever haunted us?
Ford or Chevy?
Coke or Pepsi?
Blondes or Brunettes?
Innie or Outie?
Chrome or Firefox?
Canon or Nikon?
Underhanded or Overhanded placement of the toilet paper?
Chevy
Neither
Both
Innie
Chrome
Nikon
Overhanded
Orchi—isn’t that fun to do?
Yes indeedy.
I used to think toilet paper should go under to keep it out of the way, but my mother instructed me that over kept it clean. I’ve never seen a dirty bathroom wall behind the toilet paper, but I never disagree with Mommie.
I also assume you are a good son as well. With this as my guide, I assume the rest of your answers are as well founded.
A leader among us has been identified.
If I said: “Get him boys!” would you see the humor?
Kia
Grape
Blue
Innie
IE6
Kodak
3 Shells
Cats will often unwind toilet paper if it’s overhanded. If you have no cat then it doesn’t matter unless you’re OCD.
I like my Android phone. The iPhone is good too, but I refuse to join the cult of Steve Jobs.
I’m all for the vertical toilet paper roll… no debate there. Damn, just remembered right or left?
Scruncher or folder?
Folder. TMI alert.
Because it is already folded, it is easy to learn to fold it one handed (used surface in of course) so you can get two wipes from it. I doubt you can do this if you scrunch without wasting even more paper with a big wad to scrunch.
Ford
Neither
Redheads
Innie
Firefox
Canon
However I feel at the time
Ford or Chevy? Vauxhall.
Coke or Pepsi? Curiosity Cola
Blondes or Brunettes? As long as collar and cuffs match, who care.
Innie or Outie? Innie.
Chrome or Firefox? Firefox.
Canon or Nikon? Nikon.
Underhanded or Overhanded placement of the toilet paper? Muslim shower.
Problem with these choices is there is no metric assigned. For instance, a blond vs brunette choice would begin as follows:
Blond : good facial symmetry, physically fit, nicely proportioned body and nice teeth.
Brunette : good facial symmetry, somewhat pudgy, proportioned body and beautiful teeth.
I would choose the blond guy. Would you choose the brunette guy?
When it comes to toilet paper — over-handed! And there’s a damn good reason for it. Toilet paper that lies closest to the wall is much more likely to pick up germs from the wall which you end up smearing on your private areas. It’s not a lot different than using toilet paper that has been lying on the ground. But when toilet paper is loaded over the roll the chances of picking up any germs is less likely to happen. Aren’t you glad you asked? (Sometimes, the obvious right choice isn’t so obvious.)
BTW, for any women reading this, studies have been made over and over again that a woman’s purse (hand bag) is usually like a million times more germ infested than even rotten toilet paper. Think for a second just where that thing has been – usually near toilet paper! So stop putting it on the counter, desk or table where your FOOD is prepared/consumed!!! (Want to talk about taking shoes off? Let’s talk about that germ infested bacteria factory you call a purse, first!)
And when it comes to Apple vs. Android there’s also a right and wrong decision. Try looking at the history of each company if you need a nudge. Hopefully, you’ll make the right conclusion that Apple is also NOT a very good choice!
This is all well and good, but how about this question… which one bleeds off your wallet less?
If you really want a phone thats the easiest to use then you shouldn’t discount the windows phone handsets. Rather than requiring you to launch a seperate app for every damn thing you want to do, the WP platform is task based not app based.
Those ‘smoked by windows phone’ videos are pretty much spot on, the OS really is that much more intuitive for most day to day tasks.
When we get the windows phone 8 devices in sep/oct it will be even better.
Honestly, it boils down to:
If you want a plethora of games and apps, Apple hands down.
If you want huge screen, performance, multitasking, and customization, Android hands down.
Honestly, the Iphone needs a huge revamp cosmetically. Compare an Iphone 4S to a Galaxy S3…
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LK33t_0MoHY/T6O3QwuAXcI/AAAAAAAAABQ/0AkLyUJKEs8/s1600/galaxy_s_iii_iphone.jpg
I used an HTC Hero for over 2 years, and have used an iPhone 4S since October. A possible grain of salt to keep in mind with my thoughts below is that iOS 5 is two years newer than the Android release on the Hero when I bought it. Android may have made things easier in the past 2+ years.
Email Access – iPhone. Took just a few minutes to set up one email account for work that uses MS Exchange, and 4 separate Gmail accounts. If I recall, the setup was more complex on Android, and the Gmail accounts had to be set up in a certain order with the main account (the one that would be billed for purchases) being set up first.
Maps and Navigation – iPhone 4S with Suri is easier to set up directions as all that needs to be done is tell Suri where you want to go. However, the voice directions on Android were very good, but I have yet to set up any audio directions on the iPhone. Of course, both currently use Google Maps by default.
Voice commands for voice texting and voice navigation – iPhone with Suri, hands down. I never was able to get voice commands working on Android. Maybe Android’s voice command system (including texting) is easy to use, but the 4S has it built in.
Calendar – Android’s calendar worked fine, but the iPhone calendar automatically combined my calendars from work (Exchange email account) and my 4 Gmail accounts. Again – this is something that probably works better with the updates done with Android than when I used it.
Utilities such as Calculators, timers, alarm clocks, etc. – 6 of one, half a dozen of the other – a complete tie/wash
Usability while driving in a car dock – Did not really use with either phone except for the GPS functions. Android wins there.
Web Browsing – Android’s browser was better
One thing Android phones have that I wish my iPhone had – 4G… My neighbor got an Android phone with 4G at the same time my 3G 4S came out. That iPhone 5 better be able to handle 4G well.
Dude, are you comparing a Hero to an Iphone 4S? Why dont you compare a first gen Iphone to a Galaxy S3? Unless you’ve used ICS or Jelly Bean, you are comparing apples to oranges.
I know it just based on what you’ve actively used, but Android has come a megahuge way since the Hero was in production.
The only true way to answer the question is to compare based on the platforms current selling phones.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=121ofj_l6vM&feature=related
DroidX here….
Frequent re-boots.
Even more frequent need for _me_ to re-boot.
Occasional lockups requiring a cold boot (remove battery).
Two total crashes requiring digging on the web for how-to instructions necessary to do a “back to bare metal” restart. (Bless “Missing Link” for re-loading from backups, but it’s not all that reliable either.)
Large screen’s nice, and the browser’s actually pretty decent (couldn’t get Opera to behave, nor Firefox), but no Java support (hate to say it, but I have a site I need to access with it).
Kinda Win98ME…. But the interface is pretty clean.
My daughter bought an iPhone (last version) at about the same time, and hasn’t reported any problems at all…. I just don’t like it….
My last smartphone was a Samsung Omnia. Win Mobile 3.x. Supported Java, too…. Very reliable, and re-bootable without removing the battery…. But it was apparent that the designers never actually tried to use it. No built-in stylus – the one supplied sort of hung on the side, and the same function often was handled differently in different applications. If it’d had a bigger screen, I’d have stuck with it….
On the plus side, the Verizon tech gal was a cute little thing, and the “valley girl” that sold my daughter her iPhone (like a 22D) made the experiences interesting….
The only other disapointment – the “brochures” made a big deal out of the ability to use the phone as a WiFi hotspot. But what they didn’t tell me was Verizon wanted another $30/month to use the feature, although everything needed to do it was built into the phone. I’m using a “Tether” app once in a while…. Beats paying $10/night to use a hotel’s WiFi….
Probably will be another Android phone next October, but each software rev (although one of them required a suicide re-boot) has been a bit better. (I really think that the Google Play aps are of variable quality, and some destabilize the phone.)
I am also using the i phone app and its application plus already used the android but i am felling more comfortable with i phone because of its processing time
Thanks