Is Android Better Than iPhone

After its introduction in the consumer market, Apple iPhone has taken the world by storm. Another strong contender in the field of smartphones was soon introduced, that goes by the name Android. The only phone that can match up to the features of iPhone, is probably the one that uses an Android platform. There are many loyalists who still find iPhone hundred times better than an Android. Yet, those who use Android (including me) find it a tad better than iPhone. Android vs iPhone, a new burning argument has begun around the world. If you too are wondering 'is Android better than iPhone' then welcome aboard. The following paragraphs will cover some reasons that will help you learn why is Android better than iPhone.

Is Android Better than iPhone OS

Many people who go for Android do so because it is a platform that is similar to iPhone, but comes free. This means, those who cannot afford an iPhone or do not want to get into the contract mess, prefer buying an Android phone. Many users love trying out new apps and customize their phone looks. They may prefer an Android as Beta products gives amazing results on this platform. Since the time it has been introduced, Android has evolved to provide better functionality to the user. The Android marketplace today, boasts of thousands of great applications that users can install on their phone. Apart from being cheaper than iPhone, there are many factors that have added fuel to the Android vs iPhone debate. Let us have a look at 10 things that Android does better than iPhone.

Why is Android Better than iPhone OS

As we continue our debate on why is Android better than iPhone, it is important to have a look at the features. There are 10 things that Android does better than iPhone. And these are not just things, but some include very important functions that form the main reason of buying a smartphone. Let us have a look at the reasons that will help you understand why is Android better than iPhone OS.

1. Freedom to Choose Carrier
The first reason that helps answer which is better: iPhone or Android, is freedom to choose your carrier. Those who want to buy an iPhone, need to get into a contract with AT&T. Whether you like it or not, you have to survive on AT&T as your network carrier. The only way you can get freedom is either wait for 2 years to complete your contract with AT&T (till then your version of iPhone will be outdated as new version may have got introduced), jailbreak an iPhone or move to another part of the world. With an Android, you have the freedom to choose your carrier. You can change your mobile number or carrier anytime you please.

2. Removable Accessories
An iPhone comes with a sealed battery that may cause a bit of inconvenience. Wondering how? Well, in case your battery begins to drain out too fast or has some problems, you will need to ship the entire phone back to Apple for diagnosis and repair. This means, till you don't get your iPhone back, you are cut out from the telecommunication world to some extent. In case of Androids, if you come across any battery problems all you need to do is buy a new battery and send your old battery for repair. Thus, you still have your phone in hand and get the problem solved.

3. Expandable Memory
When you buy an iPhone, you have the choice of 8GB, 16GB and 32 GB. However, you may think of purchasing an 8 GB model and then realize that 16 GB suited you the best. There is no external memory slot thus, you end up with an 8 GB model. In case of Android, there is an external micro SD slot provided along with the phone's built-in memory. If you run out of space, you can quickly expand memory in your Android.

4. Multiple Applications
One of the 10 things Android does better than iPhone is allows multiple applications to run simultaneously. This is regardless of the fact whether these apps are downloaded from Android Marketplace or are system apps. The multitasking feature in iPhone is a bit difficult as it offers limited number of applications to run simultaneously. This means if you are an Android user you can listen to your favorite songs, receive notifications, check your mail, etc. all at once, without closing any of the previous apps. Multitasking is still not very fluid when it comes to iPhone as well as with the latest iPhone 4G.

5. Customizable Home Screen Widgets
One of my personal favorite features on my Android is the customizable home screen. Android allows you to keep all your apps accessible and on your fingertips. You can place small widgets and shortcuts to your favorite applications on the home screen. This reduces the time taken to locate a particular app in the folders. In case of iPhone, you need to first search for the application within the folders, then launch the application to use it. All I need to do with my Android is use a single finger swipe and enjoy my application right from the home screen.

6. Notifications on a Platter
If you are an iPhone user, you will need to navigate through the applications and open them in order to get a glimpse of the latest notifications. For example, a Facebook user will have to open the application and take a look at the latest notifications. This is because iPhone lacks the feature of multitasking and requires one to navigate through the various apps. Android users are lucky. They get an icon for every notification received from Facebook, Twitter, email, even messages and missed calls. You can even view your notifications from a locked screen without having to unlock your phone.

7. Integrate Your Virtual Life
If you are heavily involved with social networking sites or carry out most of your business transactions with the help of your email ids, then this is one feature that you will love. Integration of Google as well as social networking sites is one reason that answers why is Android better than iPhone. You can integrate your Gmail account, Facebook account, even Flickr on your phone. Once you sync your account with your Android phone, you can view all your contacts along with their email addresses, profile images and phone numbers in your contact folders. Thus, if you are searching for that very important email address of a client, all you need to do, is go through your list of contacts and scroll down to the person you are searching for. In his personal information, find his email address that you need. This feature is possible with an iPhone. The catch is you need to download a third-party software to be able to do so. If you do not have this iPhone application, you cannot integrate your online accounts with your phone.

8. Money Saver
The first thing that will come to your mind about an iPhone is the price tag. iPhone 3G costs about USD99 and comes with a 2 year contract. If you update it to 3GS, then you pay a whooping $199. But, if you go for an Android, you can choose any carrier you want along with a plan that suits your pocket. And most of the carriers are free from the 2 year contract.

9. Open Source
Which is better Android or iPhone in terms of system? No doubt iPhone is no less than Android, but Android is an open source system. This means developers can get access to Android source and upload more applications. Thus, many phone companies can customize their Android system according to their preferences. When it comes down to iPhone, open source community is a far-fetched dream.

10. Market
And finally, another reason Android is better than iPhone is a better application market. There are over 70, 000 applications available in the Android Marketplace. The Android marketplace is consumer oriented and therefore the best apps win the race. Whereas, Apple tends to filter the best apps and then serve them to consumers. Censor factor is more stringent with Apple, that makes the possibilities limited.

As you can see from the above argument on, is Android better than iPhone, there are many user-friendly features that make the former better than the later OS. If you are wondering, is iPhone better than Android, then I can come up with a list that will show you what makes iPhone a better contender. However, I shall cover pointers on - is iPhone better than Android some other time. I am an Android user myself and have loved this user-friendly platform. Without being biased, I have to say, iPhone too has many USPs that make it worth every buck. If you are wondering which is better - Android or iPhone, then you probably should understand your needs and budget first. Then decide for yourself and find the pros and cons for Android vs iPhone. Whichever you choose, I am sure you won't be disappointed.