10 Issues That Stunned Me About The iPhone (After A Decade With Android)

After over a decade utilizing (and loving) numerous Android telephones and tablets, I by no means thought I would dive again into the Apple ecosystem. I had two fairly good causes to keep away from iPhones, one being that my final iPhone randomly died on me with no clarification, by no means to be revived. The opposite was the truth that after transferring to Android, I fell into the Google ecosystem and preferred how simply interconnected every little thing was.

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In fact, my final iPhone was in a unique period, circa the discharge of the iPhone 4 (I used to be a bit behind with a 3GS). Not solely that, however I had some misconceptions about Apple’s willingness to shake fingers with Google’s ecosystem. When my dad upgraded to the highly-rated iPhone 16 and provided me his hand-me-down iPhone 14, I admit I had some reservations, however who says no to a free iPhone?

In addition to, it would not really feel like a used cellphone. True, there are some options Android has had for much longer than iOS, however for probably the most half, I am impressed with what has modified (and what hasn’t) for the reason that final time I used an iPhone over a decade in the past. With the launch of the iPhone 16, the 13 was discontinued, so it is true that I am barely behind with the 14. That stated, I haven’t got any regrets. Listed below are all of the issues that stunned me concerning the iPhone once I swapped from an Android gadget.

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Certainly one of my first considerations about making the shift from Android to Apple was getting all my knowledge transferred. I discussed it to my dad, and he identified that there was a technique to make it simple, similar to a swap from Android to Android or Apple to Apple. It seems he was proper, and there is a easy app for Android that may get you arrange in a matter of minutes.

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The app is actually known as Transfer to iOS, and after making some decisions about which knowledge I needed to maneuver, I had the brand new iPhone arrange. My solely mistake was transferring every little thing (together with my textual content messages) earlier than confirming that I used to be able to swap my service. I might have needed to wipe my iPhone to do one other Transfer to iOS switch to get all my newest texts to go along with. Lesson discovered — do not switch the info till you are completely positive you are prepared!

I additionally did not use the Transfer to iOS app to switch any of my apps over, partly as a result of I needed to downsize throughout that swap. Nevertheless, it is doable to get your apps moved, too, in the event that they’re free and obtainable on each the App Retailer and Google Play. In my case, I did not lose any apps transferring to iOS, however I additionally stick with the fundamentals like Slack, Fb, Reddit, and different frequent ones.

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It may be a holdover judgment from a decade in the past once I had an iPhone 3GS, however I all the time held the notion that iOS was type of snooty. As such, I figured I would not be capable of use a few of my tech with an Apple smartphone as a result of would not Apple need folks to purchase into its whole ecosystem? Because it seems, I used to be unsuitable in my assumptions, and it would not be the one time throughout this Samsung to Apple swap.

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My first aha second was once I realized the Apple Watch my dad gave me was nonetheless related to his Apple account, which meant I could not use it instantly. No downside, I might nonetheless use my third-party smartwatch, which is neither Google nor Apple affiliated. I did not anticipate it to work, however my Amazfit Bip 3 Professional smartwatch works simply high-quality with Apple, and downloading the Zepp app to pair the 2 was no downside. My off-brand Bluetooth ear buds have been the identical story so far as pairing goes. Though it feels bizarre not having a headphone jack, I can not say I would like one — and I did not must spring for AirPods to take pleasure in music on my new iPhone 14.

Whereas it is true that Google’s Play Retailer has extra apps than Apple’s App Retailer, I by no means used lots of Google’s 2.3 million choices. Apple is not too far behind, both, with 2 million as of 2024. Nevertheless, proper after organising my new-to-me iPhone 14, I noticed how in another way the identical apps behave in iOS versus Android. A disclaimer is critical right here as a result of though transferring from a Samsung (Google-powered) cellphone is an enormous adjustment, I used to be additionally coming from a way-old Android gadget. My Samsung Galaxy S9 has not been supported by the producer for some time now, and it was discontinued in 2019.

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Whereas I stored it as up-to-date as doable, the S9 has been off Samsung’s radar for some time, and it is doubtless that I used to be lacking out on the total Android expertise given how outdated my cellphone was. My household additionally has Samsung units, however none of them are very new. I did not know what I used to be lacking till I opened up an app on the iPhone 14 and began tapping round.

Among the app behaviors aggravated me. For instance, we use a system of Blink Out of doors cameras outdoors our residence, and the second I downloaded the Blink app from the App Retailer and signed in, I had a whole lot of notification counts on the app. It did not alert me each time the cameras recorded video, however watching the app icon tick up in its depend frustrates me, and there would not appear to be a setting to vary it.

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I all the time heard that Apple cared about person safety, however nothing particular got here to thoughts. The truth that Apple is thought for having its clients’ backs was one thing I kind of took with no consideration. A fast Google suggests different folks have the identical assumption, with questions like “Why is Apple so good at privateness?” and “Does Apple shield privateness higher than Android?” popping up within the suggestion bar.

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Though Apple states that it does adjust to regulation enforcement requests for info, even the language surrounding its insurance policies reinforces the model’s views on privateness. In Apple’s Authorized Course of Pointers doc, the corporate writes that “Apple believes that privateness is a elementary human proper and Apple implements that perception by way of not solely its services and products however its regulation enforcement response tips as properly.”

From the second you swipe open your new iPhone for the primary time, you are virtually bombarded with all kinds of safety info and solutions. Not solely does Apple use encryption, differential privateness, random identifiers, and on-device intelligence to take care of your privateness (based on the Apple’s Privateness web page), however it additionally controls apps in a manner that was by no means seen on Android, regardless of it current.

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The distinction was vital to me once I started downloading apps and signing in to my accounts on the iPhone, and whereas it was a bit annoying at first, I shortly got here to understand Apple’s consideration to element with regards to safety.

Each main cellphone producer has safety and client protections constructed into its units, however Apple has probably the most seen ones that I’ve ever skilled. Shifting from an older Android gadget that, even when brand-new, didn’t have the identical seen protections as iOS does was a little bit of a watch opener.

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I used to be stunned that each time I downloaded a brand new app, the cellphone prompted me to restrict what knowledge the app might use. iPhone customers are already accustomed to the Ask App To not Monitor characteristic, however it was stunning to me after years away. Even when it was new, my Android cellphone by no means prompted me to set app permissions once I logged in.

Whereas there are comparable settings on Android units, I, for one, by no means knew about them. It seems you may go to your Android cellphone’s settings and delete the promoting ID in order that apps can’t monitor your info, however it’s not practically as in-your-face as Apple’s methodology for prompting you to decide in or out.

In fact, one other caveat right here is the truth that my older-model cellphone additionally had older-model apps. As typically as I needed to replace my Google apps, I am positive there have been options I used to be lacking out on merely due to having an outdated gadget. That stated, the iPhone appears to guide the cost with regards to client privateness whether or not in-iOS or in-app.

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Talking of apps, there was one which I used to be significantly frightened about when migrating to iOS. I reside in Google Suite, and I depend on a number of Google logins to entry all the knowledge I would like for my freelance work. I additionally prefer to have file and photograph backups, however did not wish to pay for iCloud. Thankfully, I used to be pleasantly stunned to seek out that Google Suite labored fluidly on my new-to-me iPhone.

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I often use Google Drive, Sheets, Gmail, and even Google Images, and had zero issues setting any of them up on my iPhone. I used to be a bit involved about Google Images, however Apple would not strain you to stay to its proprietary cloud for backups, which means I used to be simply ready to connect with my Google Images account. Since I am so used to utilizing Google for every little thing, I additionally downloaded Google Maps.

I’d finally adapt to utilizing iOS for extra options, however for now, I can keep in my consolation zone with out sacrificing efficiency. All this to say, if apps like Google Maps cease working, it is a signal that one thing is unsuitable, not that there is a compatibility problem.

I used to be additionally completely happy to seek out out that Microsoft apps are appropriate with iOS. As dedicated as I’m to Google, I do have some Microsoft favorites, like OneDrive and Notes, and people work seamlessly, too.

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After over a decade utilizing Android units (telephones and tablets), there have been some issues I admittedly by no means tried as a result of I by no means knew about them. I really feel like not understanding about some actually cool options is extra a failure of the working system than a person error, partly as a result of Android’s built-in features are type of obnoxious.

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I grumbled many occasions as I by chance activated Samsung’s Bixby assistant, and in over a decade I by no means as soon as used it. It was solely after I started researching Android options to match to my iPhone that I discovered you should utilize Samsung’s Bixby assistant to dictate textual content messages, set an alarm, or make a name hands-free. Google Assistant can do the identical issues.

Clearly, I used to be not as savvy with my Galaxy S9 as I believed I used to be, however I blame that (a minimum of partly) on Samsung for not making these features clearer. Third-party apps for issues like scheduling textual content messages in Android are additionally not vital with the iPhone, because it has the Shortcuts app. Everyone knows that Apple’s voice assistant Siri can do a ton of issues like ship a textual content, make a cellphone name, arrange a calendar occasion, inform you the climate, and extra.

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In my expertise, Apple’s intelligence options are extra sturdy than Android’s, and the iPhone shouldn’t be restricted to Siri’s capabilities. From intuitive digicam controls to built-in ChatGPT, there’s much more utility within the iOS bundle than I anticipated.

Within the early iPhone days I arrange an Apple account, after which kind of forgot about it. Apple did not neglect about me, although, and sometimes, I would get a reminder that my iCloud was virtually full, regardless of me by no means placing something in it. That was, admittedly, one of many causes Apple aggravated me and I did not search out an iPhone each time it was time for an improve — that, and value!

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Then, the primary time I needed to monitor down one among my youngsters’ iPads to authorize using my very own iPhone 14, I obtained aggravated. Given Apple’s dedication to client safety, it is smart that I would like some kind of dual-factor authentication to log in. So why do I’ve to trace down one other Apple gadget in my mixed-iOS family to get into my cellphone?

In fact, there may be some workaround to this problem that I have never found but. Nonetheless, Apple’s default system bothers me. Particularly once I needed to monitor down a logged-in gadget that stored ringing and pinging once I acquired cellphone calls and iMessages.

I additionally am not thrilled with organising Face ID. Apple insists that Face ID is probably the most safe solution to lock my cellphone, and I can also’t arrange stolen gadget safety with out first establishing Face ID. I do not like it, however possibly in the future I am going to adapt.

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Bear in mind, my final iPhone was a 3GS circa 2009, so it has been a really very long time since I’ve used an iPhone every day. Nonetheless, the iPhone 14 did not really feel solely international once I first swiped it open, and that is not a damaging. The format, settings, and basic navigation being a lot the identical as they have been over 10 years in the past undoubtedly helped ease the transition to iOS 17.

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I did must relearn the gestures for the iPhone, and the scale of it means my fingers typically get a exercise even whereas doing one thing so simple as coming into my passcode. That is one factor that has modified, however each different smartphone has had the same peak and width replace. I can not blame the iPhone for maintaining with — or setting — the traits, however I do want that the house button was nonetheless round. Although my Galaxy S9 did not have a bodily residence button, it did have an on-screen one, and I discover that extra handy than lots of Apple’s navigation choices on iOS.

Only some days after organising my iPhone the iOS 18 replace rolled out, which modified a couple of issues, however nonetheless not sufficient to utterly confuse an Android holdout. Though I used to be shocked to listen to about satellite tv for pc iMessaging being a part of the replace, it is additional proof that Apple remains to be far forward of Android. Compared, Android has satellite tv for pc messaging for emergencies/SOS solely, though we will assume it is going to finally change into customary.

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Household Sharing is one other spotlight of iOS that I hadn’t totally appreciated in a few years. It is a credit score to Apple that I used to be capable of log in to my Roku TV to observe Apple TV because of Household Sharing. Plus, utilizing my Apple account, my youngsters have been capable of obtain apps free of charge that their cousins had beforehand purchased. Having an iPhone once more strengthened how handy the household plan is, particularly in comparison with Google’s Household Hyperlink.

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Once I tried to arrange Household Hyperlink on my household’s Google units, it positive did not really feel easy. I additionally bumped into issues as a result of my youngsters’ Google Accounts weren’t really youngsters’s accounts — oops! Whenever you do arrange a baby account, there are some limitations, together with the truth that if you happen to did not arrange the account, you then can’t handle that kid’s account as a part of your Household Hyperlink. It felt very difficult in comparison with a single signup e mail for Apple’s Household Sharing.

In distinction, Household Sharing with Apple was far simpler to arrange and handle, and my youngsters can really use my Apple account to entry the shared companies. They love the Apple Arcade, and I’ve a sense they will like Apple Money, too, if I set that up. Google’s Household Hyperlink, alternatively, is extra about guaranteeing youngsters are protected on-line, however would not embrace all of the enjoyable perks that Apple does.

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