While deciding to buy a new smartphone, one always has to choose between Android and iPhone. The general advice one will get is to go for an iPhone if you want a device without much tweaking and wish to build an ecosystem around it, but if you are fond of customizations, Android phones are the way to go. This debate between Android and iPhones has been going on for decades now, and there is still no clear winner as both have their own strengths and weaknesses. Although over the years, Android phones have become more feature-packed and safer, and iPhones too have started becoming customizable, there are still some things that iPhones can do that Android devices can’t. In this article, we have tried to summarize ten such capabilities that iPhones have but Android phones don’t.
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- 1. Using iMessage
iMessaging services are exclusive to Apple devices. It comes with special features like end-to-end encryption, Animoji, and Memoji. This green and blue bubble is a very handy aspect for iPhone users, and until Android brings something like this, the iPhone will remain exclusive. iMessage proved to be a boon in the days before cellular contracts, as it could use WiFi or mobile data to send messages, so it didn’t eat into SMS allocations from the carrier. The best part about iMessage is its synchronization across devices, so the same iMessages can turn up on an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or any device signed into Apple ID. It also supports inline replies, pinned conversations, tagging participants in a group, sending handwritten notes, sharing locations, and more.
- 2. Video calling with FaceTime
Just like iMessage, FaceTime is also deeply integrated into iOS, allowing video calling. FaceTime comes pre-loaded on iPhones, iPads, and Macs and offers a consistent video calling experience across all Apple platforms. However, in the case of Android, Google is often unable to decide if they should use Meet or Duo, and Android users end up using third-party apps like Zoom, Skype, or WhatsApp.
- 3. Sharing Lossless Music with AirPlay 2
Sharing music is almost similar on Android as well as iPhones. While iPhones have AirPlay2, Google uses Google Cast to take a streaming media file from your phone and cast it to other devices, like a TV. Video, audio, images, and screen mirroring are supported on both, so they might seem similar. However, the difference is that while AirPlay 2 can work without an internet connection, Google Cast can’t. This is because there is a difference between how both work. While AirPlay 2 pushes streams to your iPhone first and then pushes them to whichever device you want via Bluetooth or WiFi, Google Cast starts the stream off, then hands it to the host device to pull the content from the internet.
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- 4. Continuous OS updates without much red tape
Apple makes sure that compatible iPhones keep receiving software updates regularly, which means iPhone users stay updated with the latest features and functionalities. This uniform schedule of updates is in contrast to Android, where the updates keep getting delayed for various brands and models. This leads to fragmented updates and an inconsistent experience. Since Apple has limited device models, it becomes easier to roll out uniform updates. For example, if an update is rolled out today, it will have to support 5–6 generations of iPhones at maximum. This is easier to roll out in comparison to Android, which has to be rolled out on tons of smartphones across various brands.
- 5. Tighter Security
Apple offers better safety and privacy features with iPhones. Features like app tracking transparency allow users to have control over how apps are tracking their data. Security features like Face ID, Touch ID, and hardware-based encryption also make iPhones more secure than Android devices.
- 6. Seamless switching between devices: Apple Ecosystem
Apple’s ecosystem, including the iPhone, has been designed for seamless switching between all its devices. These include iPhones, iPads, watches, Macs, and AirPods. Calls can be started on an iPhone and transferred to Macs or iPads seamlessly without any hassles. One can even copy images, text, or files on your iPhone and paste them on a Mac wirelessly. Features like Handoff, AirDrop, Universal Clipboard, and Continuity allow effortless switching across the entire ecosystem. Android also offers some integration, but it doesn’t offer the same level of cohesiveness.
- 7. Siri Shortcuts
Siri is Apple’s assistant, just like Google is for Android. Siri allows the creation of shortcuts to create custom voice commands to automate tasks and launch apps, deeply integrating into iOS. Users can streamline their experience with voice commands. Android supports assistants like Google Assistant, but it doesn’t offer the same level of personalization that Siri does.
- 8. Private email with iCloud+
Apple’s iCloud+ might charge a fee for above 5 GB of storage space, but it offers a way cleaner and safer mail experience. iCloud+ comes with the Hide My Email feature, which creates randomized but unique email addresses for signing up for online services. Apple servers know that those email addresses are attached to Apple ID, and they forward any incoming mail to your inbox. Your iPhone will ask if you want to enable the Hide My Email feature on any account creation pages in Safari or apps. It takes a few taps to safeguard your identity and primary email addresses from threats. Thus, you can make your email more personalized and safer on iCloud+.
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- 9. SharePlay to Host a Watch Party
FaceTime is not only a video calling tool but can also be used to host get-togethers with family and friends who are far away. It comes with SharePlay, which allows watching shows, movies, and videos together over FaceTime. Apple users can start content while already on a FaceTime call, which gets synced on the screens of everyone on call so all can watch together while apart. So you can use it to host a watch party with friends or family or watch videos of family functions together.
- 10. Family Sharing and Screen Time
Family Sharing is an easy way to share subscriptions, purchases, and iCloud storage among family and friends. Screen time offers extensive insights into device usage and allows parents to set limits and controls for their children’s devices. So as a parent, they can be sure of how much and what their child is watching in their absence. Android does offer similar features, but the integration of screen time and family sharing is way better in the Apple ecosystem.
So, these are ten things iPhones can do, but Android phones can’t.
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