Android vs Apple iOS: The mobile phone war
Android vs Apple IOS: The world's biggest mobile phone rivalry.
Image Source: MediumApple iOS vs Android. The Messi vs Ronaldo of the Mobile Phone sector. This rivalry has been going on for a decade now, and is at the forefront of the digital world. These are the two mobile operating systems that have driven every other top mobile brand out of popularity, such as Nokia, Blackberry and Motorola. But what exactly rocketed them to the top of the game and what sets them apart from others and themselves?
You might not believe this, but Android and Apple actually used to get along with one another. Back when Google acquired Android for $50 million in 2005, the two companies were quite friendly, and Steve Jobs would collaborate with Google frequently, with CEO Eric Schmidt even being on Apple’s board. However, everything changed in 2007, when Apple launched the iPhone.
Before Apple put forward this ground-breaking new piece of technology, QWERTY keypad phones were still very much the norm. One of Android’s early prototypes included this, and drew a lot of resemblance to a classic Blackberry. In fact, Android had the intention of releasing one of these phones. As the story goes, Andy Rubin, co-founder and former CEO of Android was in a cab in Las Vegas watching the iPhone presentation. Blown away, he said ‘Holy crap, I guess we’re not going to launch that phone’. Ethan Beard, an early Android business development executive, told Fred Vogelstein: "We knew that Apple was going to announce a phone. Everyone knew that. We just didn't think it would be that good." Android knew that the touch screen mobile phone was the future of technology, and they also knew that with this device on the market, there was no way they could attempt to compete using their outdated prototypes. Therefore, they took quite a big leaf out of Apple’s book and partnered up with HTC, a Taiwanese electronics company to release the HTC G1, the first ever Android phone. The technology was not as sophisticated or as innovative as Apple’s, but it still drew enough resemblance to the iPhone to piss off Steve Jobs. "Everything is a f--king rip-off of what we're doing," Jobs said of Android. Steve Jobs felt that his product was stolen, that the idea he had worked hard on had been nicked for fame. And in the years that led up to his death, he was ready to start a ‘thermonuclear war’ with Android, filing several lawsuits against phone developers that use Android’s OS and setting restrictions in place for what features Android can’t copy. Alas, the great Steve Jobs passed away in 2011 and we never got to see that war take place with Tim Cook in charge.
This didn’t stop the rivalry, however, and the big question is, who came out on top? Well, the simple answer is that both companies did well. Apple blew up the market every time they released a new iPhone, and Android continued to work with different phone developers, putting out affordable phones as well as competing with Apple in the innovative phone technology that they put out.
Apple use closed-source coding, with their code only open to themselves. Apple use their own operating system, iOS, amongst their own iPhones, and don’t work with any other phone developer. Every year, billions of people wait expectantly for the release of a new iPhone, as it has possibly the best, most easy-to-use yet innovative and up with the times technology. Every year, these iPhones go up in price yet the upper and middle classes still flock to make their purchase. iPhone dominates these markets, and the simple touchscreen design combined with the most complex technology to give you the best mobile experience possible is enough to win many people over.
On the other hand, Android are also succeeding. Whilst also getting their fair share in Apple’s audiences, with highly futuristic technology like the Samsung Galaxy S and Note series, they also specialise in being able to operate many phones all around the world. Android still keep their cheaper, more affordable phones accessible so that many people from countries in Africa and Asia can purchase an Android phone. Think about it; Android have a 71.93% share in the OS market. If there is a fairly modest family looking to purchase a simple phone, however they can’t afford an iPhone then Android comes to the rescue. Apple doesn’t keep its older phones highly available, making their phones out of budget for many people across the world. Yet Android still have cheap, affordable phones on the market as well as the impressive Samsung technology run on Android and that’s what sets them apart from Apple. Android is also very popular amongst the older population, which completely contradicts the statement made by many, ‘iPhone is easier to use’. Older citizens are big strangers to technology. If a person who isn’t knowledgeable when it comes to technology opts for an Android phone, then you know that its interface is likely to be as easy to use, if not easier than iPhone’s.
Both these companies have been at the top of the game for over a decade now, and endless debates have been sparked over which one is better. Having weighed up my arguments, I’m going for Android, simply for the fact that they can match Apple when it comes to innovative technology but can also keep affordable, simple phones accessible across the world. Android also beat out Apple in many other features such as Google Assistant, battery life and more. However, Apple do overcome Android in many fields as well. Let us know in the comments who you think is better!
