SALTZMAN: Seriously, which is best, iPhone or Android?

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When the time comes to replace your smartphone, which model should you choose? The least expensive? The one with the best camera? The same brand you’ve always used?

Although the two camps have many similarities in hardware and software, the two main operating systems – Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android – have different looks, feels and feature sets. Price and screen size also can vary greatly.

Choice is good, but it can also be overwhelming. So, it could be tough to know which phone will best suit your needs and budget.

The following is a closer (and somewhat subjective) look at the pros and cons of each of the two major platforms.

EASE OF USE

Winner: iPhone.

iPhone, which runs Apple’s iOS operating system, is arguably the easiest to use – not only because its design is intuitive, but also because other Apple devices, such as Apple Watch and iPad, work very smoothly with iPhone.

That said, iPhones are getting more complicated, as they can do much more than in years’ past (and the interface is more gesture-based since the Home button is gone).

Because Android is an open and freely distributed operating system (OS) – every non-iPhone will run Android – the experience and quality control can vary between devices. The learning curve for Android is slightly steeper, overall, plus companies often add their own tweaks to the OS.

AI can help, too, though Apple Intelligence (on iPhone) lags behind Google Gemini, at this point in time. Using your voice to operate a smartphone is also good idea for both platforms: Siri for iPhone or Google Assistant for Android.

COST

Winner: Android

Both iPhone and Android have premium devices, such as the iPhone 16 (from $1129), Google Pixel 9 (from $1099) and Samsung Galaxy S25 (from $1198).

But even the least expensive iPhone is $899 (for the iPhone 16e), whereas you can buy a decent Android phone for much, much less.

For example, you can score a Samsung Galaxy A06 for $129 or a Moto G Play for $149. This is where having competition from several manufacturers helps consumers.

That said, Apple’s devices tend to last longer than the average Android device.

FORM FACTORS

Winner: Android

Because Android is an open operating system, you’ll not only get a selection in companies, devices and prices, but also in phone design, too.

Only Android has phones that flip or unfold into a tablet (like the Samsung Galaxy Z family or Pixel Fold), phones with physical keyboards (like BlackBerry or Unihertz), phones with large buttons for older adults (such as EasyPhone), and other form factors.

Apple only has rectangular, one-piece, candy bar-style devices, though they vary in size from 6.1- to 6.9-inch devices.

PHOTOS

It’s a tie (sorry, haters)

A more expensive phone, whether Android or Apple, has better photo and video quality than its cheaper counterpart. So, you get what you pay for.

While each manufacturer will tell you their camera is best, you really can’t go wrong with any of the premium devices. My top pick is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, followed by Apple 16 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro (tied). Some devices you may not have heard of, like OnePlus 13 or Xiaomi 15 Ultra, are also incredible camera phones.

Apple, Samsung and Google Pixel phones leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to help make photos look better. That includes simple ways to edit the pictures, such as removing unwanted people ruining your perfect shot.

VIDEO CALLING

Winner: iPhone

FaceTime video calling is popular among iPhone users as an engaging way to chat with friends and family.

Video calling is not new on Android, of course, but Google has changed the name of its video chat service a few times over the years – now Google Meet instead of Google Duo – and that can be confusing.

FaceTime used to be an Apple exclusive, but Apple now makes it possible to FaceTime with an Android or Windows user via a web browser feature – though the experience is way better on iPhone.

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SECURITY

Winner: iPhone

iPhones and Androids have robust security features for both the device and the apps within them.

iPhone, though, is a “walled garden,” a closed-platform where the company controls access to its hardware, software, and ecosystem. For example, you can’t easily download apps to iPhone that are not on Apple’s App Store, which may frustrate advanced users who want more freedom and flexibility.

But kudos to Apple for iPhone’s “Ask App Not To Track” pop-up that appears when you install a new application, which lets you keep the app from knowing where you were or are online so it can’t target ads. Android doesn’t offer this – but should.

OTHER THOUGHTS

– Apple has almost caught up to Android in terms of customization, as you can now choose default programs, such as Gmail or Yahoo Mail instead of Apple’s own Mail app, for example, and iPhone now supports widgets. But Android still lets you do more, including “live” (animated, and sometimes interactive) wallpaper.

– Apple’s App Store and Google Play each have about two million apps to customize your experience. Many are free but be aware you might be nudged to make in-app purchases to unlock all its content.

– iPhone users can download Google apps, but Apple apps aren’t available to Android users. Many third-party apps work with both operating systems, such as Instagram, Uber, WhatsApp, and many games.

– iPhone and Android phones are compatible with most smart home devices, so it really doesn’t matter which platform you go with in this regard. iPhone and Android work in many vehicles’ infotainment systems, too, thanks to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, respectively.

– Both iPhone and Android offer a plethora of accessibility features, for those with hearing loss, low vision, poor motor control and other challenges. But Apple edges out Android, overall, in its suite of helpful tools.

So, which smartphone platform do you prefer, and why? Let us know in the Comments section.