Android or iPhone? We asked 3 phone experts which is best — here’s what they said

How did you feel, dear reader, after reading the headline? Were you consumed with curiosity over which mobile operating system — Android or iOS — reigns supreme in the eyes of experts? Did it trigger a flashback to a heated memory when you butted heads with a phone-brand loyalist? Perhaps you’re just mildly irked by how contentious the Android vs. iPhone debate is. After all, it’s one of those topics that gets people riled up.

When I told the Laptop Mag crew that I planned on diving into the Android vs. iPhone debate for our “Ask a Phone Expert” series, I couldn’t help but chuckle over Laptop Mag Assistant Managing Editor Sean Riley’s reaction. I could tell he, our resident phone specialist, was internally rolling his eyes — needless to say, he’s in the mildly irked camp.

Adam Ismail, Jalopnik staff writer and former Tom’s Guide phone expert

Interestingly, Jalopnik staff writer Adam Ismail, a former colleague who immersed himself in the world of smartphones as an ex-Tom’s Guide editor, shared the same sentiments as Nelson when I asked about his thoughts on the Android vs. iPhone debate.

“Once upon a time, I would’ve said Android for the greater opportunity for personalization, but these days, [my answer is] neither!” Ismail said. "Both operating systems are so mature now. There’s very little one can do that the other can’t. It’s really just a matter of which one arranges the furniture in a way you prefer. In terms of features, they’re closer than they’ve ever been,” Ismail said. The Jalopnik staff writer broke down the strengths and weaknesses of each operating system, starting with the Cupertino-based tech giant’s brainchild.

“Apple’s strength is an easy-to-understand, slick user experience where everything is consistent. All software, first or third party, is highly produced with beautiful graphics and slick animations,” he said. However, Apple’s biggest drawback, according to Ismail, is that it’s always late to the party. He’s right. For example, I remember Apple introduced “new” iOS features such as picture-in-picture video, an app drawer and customizable home screen widgets atWWDC 2020— perks Android users already had for years.

“I used to be a Pixel user,” Ismail said. “I miss Google’s built-in Recorder transcription and Call Screen. These are useful features that actually leverage AI in beneficial ways for regular folks, and yet, Apple is still struggling with, say, making Siri respond as if it’s actually listening to me half the time.”

Ismail had some choice words for iOS’ rival, too. “Android phones are just too big, too power hungry and too complicated for their own good,” he said. “The third-party app ecosystem also isn’t as polished, and lots of manufacturers still put ugly, confusing software skins [on top of the] OS.” In fact, Android’s clunkiness irked him so much, Ismail, who initially fence sat between iOS and Android at the onset of the conversation, took more of a definitive stance as he pondered my question deeper.

“In doing this exercise, I think I’ve changed my mind! Until I can get an Android phone that fits in my pocket and lasts as long as my [daily driver] iPhone 11 Pro without a 12-volt sized battery, I’ll probably stick with Apple,” he said.

Still, this doesn’t mean that Ismail doesn’t recognize Android’s strengths. “I’m a big fan of the technology Google has brought to dealing with annoyances like spam calls. Also, I still believe the Pixel’s computational photography tricks are second to none.”

Shop for Adam Ismail's daily driver

Sean Riley, Laptop Mag’s Assistant Managing Editor

I regularly pick Laptop Mag’s Assistant Managing Editor Sean Riley’s brains because he’s like a smartphone encyclopedia, offering useful historical context to the many questions I have about mobile devices. Naturally, I felt compelled to ask Riley about his personal stance in the Android vs. iPhone debate.

“From an academic perspective, I think there is no clear winner between the two, but when it comes to which mobile platform captures my heart, there is no question that it is Android,” Riley said. Why? There’s much more to choose from in the Android world as opposed to the iOS’ portfolio. Need a stylus? You got it! Want afoldable? It’s yours! What about a gaming phone? Your wish is Android’s command!

If you think for one second that you can get that same breadth of hardware options in the iOS sphere, you’d be dead wrong. Riley added that this sense of flexibility carries over to the software side, too. “While iOS offers users a greater degree of freedom than it once did, it’s still a much more locked down experience than what you get on Android. From the ability to install apps from outside of Google Play to organizing every home screen exactly as you like it, Android gives you that freedom.”

However, Apple has an edge over Android in other aspects. Riley concurs with Nelson that Apple’s ecosystem is iOS’ greatest strength. “There is no combination of hardware from any Android manufacturer that is as cohesively brilliant as the iPhone,” he said. Plus, Apple crushes it in the video department. “No Android phone comes close to either the video quality or video camera software that is available on theiPhone 13 ProandiPhone 13 Pro Max.”

It’s also worth noting that there isn’t an Apple Store equivalent for Android devices.“While I’ve had outstanding and atrocious service experiences at Apple stores, it’s comforting to know the option is there as opposed to waiting on hold with tech support and potentially waiting days or weeks for a replacement if something is broken,” Riley said.

When I asked Riley about his daily driver, he told me that he rotates between the iPhone 13 Pro and theSamsung Galaxy Ultra S22. "I don't think there's an obvious winner or that one side is truly better than the other," Riley said. "There are absolutely people who are better served by iPhone and those that are better served by Android."

Shop for Sean Riley's daily driver

Bottom Line

Riley makes a good point. For example, YouTuber MrMobile is a content creator who is highly dependent on Apple’s Final Cut Pro. Everything in his tech workflow world, which includes his$6,000 MacBook Pro, must seamlessly interact with this app. As such, iOS is a better fit for him (even though he absolutely adores the Android-based Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series).

As a cryptocurrency investor, I was frustrated with how unwelcoming the Apple App Store is to Web 3.0-focused apps compared to the Google Play Store, so I ditched my iOS-basediPhone SE 2020for the Android-equippedGalaxy Note 20 Ultra. I have nothing against iPhones, but Android is simply a better fit for my blockchain-based activities.

To conclude, you can have a personal favorite (e.g. Ismail prefers iOS and Riley leans toward Android), but there’s no right or wrong answer. It all depends on which operating system best fits your lifestyle.