After having been a die-hard Android user since I got my first smartphone (HTC Hero) through several Samsung Galaxies and lately the Google Pixel I finally made the decision to go the iPhone route.

While there was a lot of hemming and hawing about the decision and some trepidation about the lack of superiority I would be able to exude without an Android device, after seeing how my wife was using her iPhone, I decided it was time to make the jump. Several Android features had previously kept me in that ecosystem, almost all of which iPhone has now:

• Automatic call screening and direct-my-call features
• Automatic SMS code copy/paste
• Always on display
• Split screen CarPlay
• Long press for keyboard symbols (iPhone still missing this)

Some new iPhone features were also drawing me that direction due to Android's lack of native support for these features:

• Dynamic wallpaper from photo albums
• ScreenTime app groups
• Sensitive content warning and blocking (more for kids)

The Transition

The transition has been surpassingly easy and at the very least, I feel like I have equal enjoyment in the iOS ecosystem. However, except for a few one-off items, I think I do enjoy iOS better. I have actually been surprised by a few nice features I didn't even expect:

• Better integration for browsers for apps blocked through ScreenTime (i.e. blocking the Reddit app will also block reddit.com).
• Brave browser also supports app domain blocking via ScreenTime, just like Safari.
• Native app support for WireGuard to automatically turn on when not on my home Wifi. On Android, this required a separate app.
• Parental control from my phone of other devices (kids' iPad).
• Visual voicemail seems to work better.
• Lock screen widgets for the always-on display are awesome an in a rare case, actually offer more customization than Android.
• Location sharing is just easier on iPhone. Previously we shared our location via Google Maps, but the navigation to find someone's location was clunky and not intuitive. On iOS, I have access to people's location within 2 taps usually.

Here are the things that I have NOT liked:

• The iOS keyboard is less accurate when swiping than the Android keyboard seemed to be. I find myself having to retype at least 50% of the things I type.
• The iOS keyboard lacks the long-press functionality to access symbols. Having to go to another keyboard page for every symbol and numbers is a huge pain.
• Alarm volume cannot be set independently of ringer volume. I want me ringer loud and my alarm not so loud. iOS does not let you do this.
• Push Notifications in the iOS ecosystem work very differently than Android. You can have a notification and then when you open an app, the new information is not there yet and you often have to force refresh the app to get the new data. Android had notifications and the data more tightly synced so you would never have this situation. Additionally, Android seemed to do a better job of clearing a notification if it was read on another platform, like on the computer.

Verdict

At a minimum, this change has been an even trade of losing some features while gaining others.

That being said, as I get more used to my dislikes of iOS over time, I think the benefits of the new features will greatly outweigh the things I miss and this will become a very positive change.

Android used to be the frontrunner in features but over the last several years, Android has stagnated and iOS has been able to catch up to near parity or even surpass Android.

I may go back to Android someday, but for now, I am happy with the transition.