10 things to keep in mind when switching from iPhone to Android phone

You’ve read the articles, you’ve seen the reviews, and you’ve finally decided to give up the iPhone and switch to an Android phone. You’re looking forward to exploring everything Android has to offer and testing out all of the fan-favorite features that come to mind.

Note, however, that Android has its own pros and cons just like the iPhone. This guide will help you know what you can realistically expect when switching to an Android phone.

1. There are more affordable options

While iPhones typically start at $799, Android phones are available at every price point, so you have more control over how much you spend on a new phone. Yes, there is the more affordable iPhone SE series, but it falls short in terms of specs, features, and design when compared to similarly priced mid-range Android phones.

2. Apple services are hard to give up

When you switch to Android, you’ll find it hard to let go of the Apple apps you’re used to on your iPhone, especially iMessage and FaceTime. This is even harder if you’re already subscribed to Apple services like Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple Music, and Apple Fitness+.

As a new Android user, you will feel a bit disappointed that although you have more freedom now, the Android ecosystem is a bit messy and scattered.

3. Android has more apps and features

One thing you will notice immediately after switching to Android is that there are more apps and features here than on iOS. This is because iPhones (and Apple products in general) prioritize simplicity and usability while Android phones prioritize functionality and convenience.

You’ll find Android features you never knew you needed. In fact, manufacturers even add a custom “skin” on top of the Android operating system to distinguish their products from others.

For example, some of the best features on Samsung phones are Edge Panels, Secure Folders, Modes, and Processes. Pixel phones have Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur and Call Screen. You won’t find them on other Android devices.

4. Android phones have more ads

While exploring all the apps and features on your new Android phone, you will also discover that there are sadly more bloatware and system ads. This is especially true for heavier Android skins like Samsung’s One UI or Xiaomi’s MIUI.

You can remove these pre-installed apps from your phone and turn off system ads, but leaving them there in the first place is a nuisance you don’t want to run into.

5. Android phones charge much faster

One area where the iPhone hasn’t made progress in a very long time is charging speed. While today’s Android manufacturers offer blazing fast speeds like 65W, 100W or even higher, iPhones are still stuck at less than 30W. That means the iPhone takes about an hour and a half to two hours to fully charge but some Android phones can do so in as little as 30 minutes!

6. Connect to Windows easily

Switching to Android makes even more sense if you own a Microsoft Windows computer. You probably already know that Apple MacBook doesn’t work well with Android and this can disrupt your workflow and reduce productivity.

Thankfully, you can easily link your Android phone to your Windows PC using the Microsoft Phone Link app. With it, you can access your phone’s apps and photos on your PC, share files between the two devices, read and reply to messages, make and receive calls, and receive and manage notifications.

7. You need to create more accounts

One annoyance of Android is that you have to manage more accounts. In addition to having a Google account, you’ll also have to create a new account with the manufacturer from which you bought your phone. This is necessary to back up your data and use the Find My Device service (unless you’re buying a Google Pixel phone).

This is even worse when you buy a Galaxy phone because Samsung outsources some of its cloud storage requirements to Microsoft to back up your photos, videos, and files. That means you will now have to have a Google account, a Samsung account, and a Microsoft account.

8. Bugs take longer to fix

Another complaint with Android is that software bugs often take longer to fix than on iPhones. This is because, unlike Android which is open source, iOS is proprietary software that gives Apple complete control over the software that runs on the iPhone. This allows the company to quickly spot bugs and issue patches to fix them.

Also, since Android phones come with custom skins, it’s even harder to find and fix bugs because you have to figure out if the problem is with Android itself or the skin you’ve put on it. That’s also why software updates are generally slower on Android phones.

9. You have more control over your phone

Android gives you more control over your device, and you’ll notice this in many ways. For instance, there are more options for customization, more tools for multitasking, and more ways to manage your storage.

As a former iPhone user, you’ll also appreciate the better file management on Android and the ability to run third-party launchers and be able to force stop apps and clear their caches.

10. Fewer accessories to buy

Since Apple only releases a few iPhone models in a year and doesn’t change many designs from generation to generation, companies see the production of accessories like cases, stands, wireless chargers, umbrella stands to… for iPhone just got easier.

By comparison, there are hundreds of Android phone models launched in a year, and so it’s hard for companies to keep track of all of them, let alone make accessories for them.