iphone vs android

iphone vs android

iphone vs android

If you have an iPhone then it's simple as that. If you own an android phone then there are still many things to consider before you make your choice. The difference between iPhone and Android is to be found in a series of characteristics, but the most significant aspect is that an Android phone does not have a data connection when it's not being used.

Google's operating system, Android, has evolved from the OS that powered the very first mobile phone. Called Android Market, the software's central market place allows users to download apps – usually free – on a range of devices, from phones and tablets to televisions.

Apple has its own iOS app store, which means that you can use your iPhone to access the apps from which you download free apps. On Android devices, though, it's a little more complicated. There are specific apps for Samsung, Sony Ericsson, HTC, LG and Motorola, as well as for HTC and Motorola phones. On a top-end Samsung phone you will be able to use Twitter and Facebook, but no Whatsapp.

You could argue that the advantages of having an iPhone are greater, especially as it means you don't need to rely on your broadband connection for accessing all the apps and games you want to play. On the downside, you do lose out on apps such as Google Maps and Picasa.

Advantages

iPhone

iPhone vs Android

It's the cheapest and most popular choice, with the latest model available from £269 (though £499 without any of the apps). It features a touchscreen, a 2.2in (320 x 240) display, three MP camera and a data connection when you want it.

Android

Google's OS doesn't have a built-in browser, for instance, so that you can't look up an address in Google Maps on your phone and download the map to your device. But Android does allow you to download apps and browse the web, which is handy for checking out new features or email attachments. Some phones can also receive SMS messages when connected to a PC, so that you can read them.

Disadvantages

Android

Users aren't used to this approach. Apps don't come with the OS, and it's a little trickier to get to grips with because you have to download them through your browser. The most recent models are a bit bulky. The competition in the Android marketplace is tougher, and you might miss out on apps that are less popular, even if they're free.

iPhone

You will only get one. iOS 6 is almost the complete package, offering a top-end 3.1in (6400 x 600) Retina display, a 0.3MP front-facing camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a Wi-Fi calling facility so you can make phone calls while on Wi-Fi. But as soon as you leave a Wi-Fi network, you are locked out of the fun. And if you want to use another app that isn't built into the OS, you will need to use an iPad.

Did you know?

When your Android or iOS device connects to a computer over a USB cable, it will make your device a serial modem, allowing you to connect it to any compatible computer. You can connect the iPhone, for instance, to a TV to watch your movies or iTunes. However, Apple warns that this is a power-intensive task and might cause your phone to lose battery power.

Encryption and passwords

Both devices come with secure-text messaging software, but how secure is it really? Encryption, the practice of scrambling data, offers some protection from prying eyes, but it is not foolproof. Data can be sent via a simple text message, which means a hacker might be able to access that information by intercepting your message. Apple's iCloud, however, has strong encryption on its handsets – ensuring only you have the keys to your secrets.

Entertainment

iPhone

The iPhone comes with a selection of free games that can be played on the screen. Apple is famous for its stunning interactive world-building, and iTunes seems to have improved, too. The latest version, iTunes 11, makes it easier to browse music, movies and TV shows, and you can also sync your music and contacts to your computer using the same master password.

You can also download music and movies from sites such as iTunes to your phone. You can also play games on your phone, as well as listen to music and view images.

Android

In the Android marketplace, apps aren't quite as plentiful as they are for the iPhone, but the sheer variety can be overwhelming. It is possible to sync contacts, photos and settings between your phone and your computer, so that if you are away from your phone, it's easy to find them on your PC. Most of the latest phones come with full Skype and Gmail support, so that you can use them to call people on your PC.

Disadvantages

iPhone

iphone vs android

The iPhone is particularly short on serious games, although Apple makes a concerted effort to keep things interesting. The selection of games that you can download is pretty weak, and there is a lack of complete apps, particularly on Android, although most of the smartphone OSs have a decent selection of free apps that work on other platforms.

Android

There is a lack of polish to some of the apps you can download from the Android marketplace. And just as iOS doesn't offer that many free games, the games available are very simplistic and underdeveloped.

Camera

iPhone

The iPhone's camera is not as powerful as some of the top Android models, but it is still a decent performer. It does, however, only have one megapixel. The camera in the latest models is 6-megapixels, so there should be more detail. The iPhone also has an LED flash for decent low-light shots. The iPhone 4S also has a 2.0-megapixel front-facing camera.

Android

The camera on the Samsung Galaxy S II is pretty good, with a 5-megapixel resolution. It is capable of capturing clear images in low-light conditions and does a good job of keeping the colour and detail in images. In addition, the Galaxy S II also offers a 4x digital zoom feature, which you can use to get closer to your subject.

Connectivity

iPhone

The iPhone comes with Bluetooth 3.0, which is three times more reliable than Bluetooth 2.0. It also features 802.11b/g wireless, and provides a handy and fast camera interface. You can plug in a USB cable to charge it, or connect it to your PC using a USB cable. The iPhone can also support wireless charging using the standard Qi technology.

Android

The Google Nexus S smartphone, for example, has a 2-megapixel rear camera that can be used to take some decent pictures, along with a VGA front-facing camera that will serve you well for video calling. Bluetooth 4.0 is also included, but there is no NFC chip. But like the iPhone, the Samsung Galaxy S II smartphone can be used to connect to wireless routers, for example, to share files from your smartphone.

Pricing

iPhone

iphone vs android

If you want the latest iPhone, you have to pay a premium for the privilege of owning the latest model. The base model, which is now discontinued, was available for around $549 with a two-year contract.

iPhone 4S pricing starts at $649 without a contract. It's now possible to get a used iPhone 4S for around $300.

Android

The Samsung Galaxy S II has been available since May 2012, with a range of models including the Galaxy S II, S II Skyrocket, Titanium and Titanium S. The Android Market is currently the third largest app store in the world, with over 40,000 apps available for download. You can find a similar range of Samsung Galaxy S II phones on the Android Market for as little as $250.

Performance

iPhone

You have to wait a couple of seconds to wake up the screen from sleep mode. And the iPhone is pretty good at performing low-power tasks, such as loading apps or turning on the WiFi, without using a lot of battery power.

Android

iphone vs android

The S II is very fast when you are using it for basic activities like browsing the internet or reading emails. But it doesn't perform as well in intensive tasks, such as running games, and its battery life is better suited to those rather than web surfing and email-browsing.

iOS 6 is also pretty good at performing intensive tasks, such as turning off the WiFi network and backing up photos from your camera to your computer. However, the browser on iOS 6 is fairly slow, particularly when it comes to loading pages.

The Galaxy S II handles websites well. The only problem we found was with the S II's keyboard, which is relatively big for an Android phone and has a keyboard in the corners of the display.

There are a few minor bugs in the OS that you need to be aware of, including some slow app processes, an issue with Bluetooth communication, and an occasional problem with the touch-screen occasionally crashing.

The performance is not as good as the iPhone 4S, which has Apple's brand new A6 processor. However, even when you use an older iPhone 4S with iOS 6, the S II is still faster than Android smartphones.

The Samsung Galaxy S II also has a gyroscope sensor, which means it can work as a digital compass. But while the iPhone can be used as a compass, it doesn't always give you accurate directions. The S II, on the other hand, can work out where you are going pretty accurately. It does sometimes get confused and route you in the wrong direction, however.

One other thing to bear in mind is that you need a minimum of 6 to 8GB of storage on a smartphone to fully use the Galaxy S II's app store. This isn't unusual on Android devices, but iPhones tend to come with 32GB or 64GB of storage.

Samsung Galaxy S II vs iPhone 4S: Accessories

iphone vs android

iPhone

If you buy a used iPhone 4S, you're going to want to grab a case to protect it. The cases that Apple sells are pretty good and are available in a wide range of styles and colours. However, Apple's own cases can get pretty pricey.

They start at $29.95 (£19.46) for a case that only protects the back of the iPhone.

You could buy a cheap case for your iPhone 4S for $15.99 (£9.37) on Amazon. This one, however, doesn't protect the screen and lacks protection for the antenna.

You can, of course, buy cheap cases that are just made out of plastic, but they don't protect the screen and are likely to cause scratches on your phone.

The bottom line is that if you get a used iPhone 4S, you should buy a decent case to