How does everyone feel about iPhones?

Surprise.

Bet you didn’t see this one coming.

This week’s post has been pretty late. I’m a bit troubled by yesterday’s thread on Apple. So, a foreword: It’s OK to prefer something over another, it’s not OK to say people who like different phones than you are somehow more childish or less intelligent than you. Again, we are going for casual, yet intensely helpful here, so please don’t call people names over petty reasons, we have rules here.

Previously on Lemmy:

Past Discussions:

In this post, it’s not about saying how bad iPhones are, but I’d just like to hear the perspective on iPhones from Android users. I, for one, had an old iPhone 4 for a long time (call it nostalgia, or laziness, or just being cheap), and it was my general frustration with the device that ultimately led to my preference for Androids, (It was quite a while back though).

  • It was absolutely painful to transfer files from the phone to my computer (Ugh, iTunes).
  • I got it pre-jailbroken and didn’t realize you can’t just update the system casually, so it was really fun trying to find ways to downgrade the system until I realized that I can’t and have to pray for the next jailbreak to get half my things working again.
  • The 40-pin cable wears out so fast, and always in the same spot on the strain relief. I swear I’ve gone through 3 of these cables in one year just from normal use.
  • All the browsers are somehow flavors of Safari. To do anything, I will have the choice of ad-filled websites, or ad-filled apps.

It always just seemed like I’m fighting against the system. Never did I have that “it just works” moment, until I’ve got my first Android, and realize I have the freedom to do whatever I want with it, and I can install what I want, and if there’s a problem, I can look things up and fix it myself.

(Having a back button is also a game changer.)

Of course, there is a lot that Android manufacturers can learn from Apple as well, one of the most obvious one is the time for software support: I think my old iPhone has gone through like 3 version updates over the years, whereas currently I’m lucky to get 2 out of any Android manufacturer.

But it seems that Android manufacturers are more content on copying things that works for iOS, but doesn’t work for Android, like removing the headphone jack. Or big notches. (It makes no sense to do that because of Android’s notification system uses the full length of the bar.) It’s gotten to the point that I don’t think people who makes Android phones actually uses Android but are content to copy superficial features from Apple without understanding why Apple do them.

Like a bunch of lemmings. (Heh)

Again, these are my personal preferences, I have nothing against people who prefers iPhones, nor do I think they are lesser for it, but it’s just not for me.

I’d use a one as a work phone/for iMessages though.

Kolanaki,
@Kolanaki@yiffit.net avatar

I thought they were neat when they were the first smart phone I handled. But when I got to try out some 'droids at the store when buying my first device, I liked the interface better and knowing they were more open and customizable, not to mention way fucking cheaper, it was no contest. The only Apple product I ever really thought had no equal was the first couple generations of iPod.

Knusper,

I think that iPhones are unacceptably locked down. But I also think that stock Android is unacceptably privacy-invasive (as in, illegally so, here in the EU).

So, I actually recommend iPhones to non-techies, while running an Android Custom ROM myself. Not particularly happy with that solution either, though. Might see, if I can help push along the Linux phone ecosystem…

TheBenCommandments,
@TheBenCommandments@infosec.pub avatar

I agree and wish we had more options aside from basically just Google or Apple.

recreate,

What’s your current phone and which custom rom are you using? I’m in the market for a new phone but I’m not sure which will have good custom rom support.

Knusper,

I’m using this thing with GApps-less LineageOS: www.shift.eco/en/shift6mq/

(GApps = Google Apps)

It is expensive. But if I remember correctly, they’re the only manufacturer I could find, who actually officially advertised basic Custom ROM compatibility.

So, they obviously can’t promise compatibility with all Custom ROMs and forever, but unlocking the bootloader is literally just a toggle in the Developer Settings and your warranty doesn’t expire, if you do dabble with Custom ROMs.
(They do also actually help out the Custom ROM community, and therefore the community does support that phone quite well.)

As for LineageOS, I’ve never looked around terribly much for other Custom ROMs. I find stock ROMs too limited in features and I especially appreciate being able to wipe all that pre-installed crap by just installing a fresh OS. LineageOS is perfectly alright for that and it’s widely supported.

Alternative phones that I’d also expect to work fine:

  • FairPhone 4. My mum still uses my old FairPhone 3 with LineageOS. Unlocking the bootloader was also just one ADB command, if I remember correctly.
  • Google Pixel phones. I wouldn’t buy one myself, because they make me feel icky, but from what I’ve heard, they generally work well with Custom ROMs. In particular, they have a special encryption chip, so for example GrapheneOS only really works on them.
  • Most flagship phones of non-stupid manufacturers. If it’s a popular phone from a manufacturer, who doesn’t lock down the bootloader to ridiculous levels, then there’s usually folks who’ve made Custom ROMs available for those phones and written guides for installation.

But yeah, this list is basically sorted from easy to not-so-easy, as the concrete steps can vary wildly.
I should also add that “easy” is on your second rodeo. The first rodeo is always a bit tricky, even for techies.

Coffeemonkepants,

Apple is winning the communications game and I’m afraid I’ll wind up switching once they go usb c. I’m sick and tired of the iMessage walled garden when messaging nearly everyone I know, and also tried of the hit or miss debacle of rcs. I will miss the customization freedom (currently using Niagara launcher and it’s super unique ux), but Android phones have deleted all of the other benefits that separated them from iPhones, like expandable storage, ir blasters, headphone jacks, etc. I hate to jump on the bandwagon, but I’m sick of waiting for this all to be worked out. Before anyone says to use signal or Whatsapp, etc, it just isn’t a standard here in the US. Folks will never switch off iMessage.

MargotRobbie,
@MargotRobbie@lemmy.world avatar

I think having Sup. will change that, since you can tell them “Hey, check out this cool Instagram/Twitter/reddit/Facebook thing! It also comes with this cool messager!” and they’ll switch.

Hopefully.

Coffeemonkepants,

I don’t know what you’re referring to

MargotRobbie,
@MargotRobbie@lemmy.world avatar

Oh, the maker of Pixelfed (Instagram equivalent) announced that he’s making a secure messanger called “Sup.” with the Signal protocol that should work for ALL Fediverse accounts (Mastodon, Lemmy/Kbin, Pixelfed, Friendica, etc.).

DharmaCurious,
@DharmaCurious@startrek.website avatar

Damn, really? Anywhere to follow the progress? Not a techie, and I do not understand GitHub. Lol. Mastodon account or lemmy community to follow?

MargotRobbie,
@MargotRobbie@lemmy.world avatar

lemmy.ml/post/3697221

Dan Sup’s Mastodon should have some progress, but he works on multiple projects at once.

He said the beta should be out at the end of month though.

DharmaCurious,
@DharmaCurious@startrek.website avatar

Whoops, just saw this. Thanks!

MargotRobbie,
@MargotRobbie@lemmy.world avatar

I haven’t seen much new info on this even though its supposed to be coming out soon.

DharmaCurious,
@DharmaCurious@startrek.website avatar

Just scoured the mastodon, and haven’t really seen anything. It sounds like a huge undertaking, so I’m guessing it’s probably delayed? The dev seems like a good guy, though!

Coffeemonkepants,

I’m literally the only person I know who uses any of these platforms. A new messaging service out of those won’t ever be on their radar.

weeeeum,

Yeah I understand your pain too, in the US almost everybody has iPhones. Thankfully you can get iMessage on Android by having an old iPhone and connecting it to an open source app on Android.

As for the lost features, it is extremely unfortunate too. I can’t fathom why execs would even attempt copy them because no one does apple better than apple (undying loyalty and brand). All they are doing is alienating those who want an alternative to apple by making a shitty knock off iPhone.

Sony is a god send though keeping the android spirit alive. New phones have a headphone jack, expandable storage, fingerprint sensor, light indicator, dedicated focus and shutter button, assistant button, 4k 120hz display and probably more. They are expensive but you can get the last gen top model for like 700$ (or last last gen for 500$ which is almost identical). A good deal since it’s only 1 years old and MSRP was like 1200$

Seriously Sony does not get anywhere near the attention they deserves despite everyone bitching about their lost headphone jack and microsd storage.

xio,

Just a small correction- the latest Xperia 1 V lost the notification light led. Everything else is good though. Replying on my Xperia 1 ii

nottheengineer,

Back in the day when mobile data was multiple euros per megabyte, I had an ipod 4G as my first ‘smartphone’. The UI was unbelievably smooth for the time but I found the OS very limited, so I jailbroke it and tinkered a lot with it. After the release of the iphone 6, apple shipped an update to my ipod that made it super slow. Most games that would run perfectly before became unplayable over night.

That day I made a decision to not buy or recommend any apple devices. Android was great back then, so I never looked back.

A couple of months ago, my dad got an iphone for work and after playing around with it for 20 minutes, I wondered how anyone uses this. The UI is very slow and glitchy compared to my oneplus 8 (which is a 3 year old phone at this point) even when I switch my phone to 60hz to make it fair.

It always just seemed like I’m fighting against the system. Never did I have that “it just works” moment, until I’ve got my first Android, and realize I have the freedom to do whatever I want with it, and I can install what I want, and if there’s a problem, I can look things up and fix it myself.

I very much agree with that statement and find myself in the exact same position with windows, so I’ve switched to linux. It’s genuinely incredible how much better it is after gaining a few dozen hours of experience with it.

MargotRobbie,
@MargotRobbie@lemmy.world avatar

I use Arch btw.🥰

nottheengineer,

Same, the wiki and forum are just too good to use anything else.

BillDaCatt,
@BillDaCatt@kbin.social avatar

At first it was cost. Android phones and tablets were (and mostly still are) less expensive. Now that I have used both, I very much prefer Android devices.

For most people I'm sure the difference is negligible or maybe they even find Apple devices easier to use. For me iOS has always been a struggle between what I want to do and what the software requires before it will do it. Although Android devices are not as open as they once were, they are far more customizable than the iPhone.

s7ryph,

So have been on both sides and prefer the iPhone. The logic being that I have no advanced needs that require the adaptability of android. If I wanted to root a phone for more control then iPhone would not be the way to go.

In the past the big turn off for android was carriers adding spyware (ie Facebook, etc) by default that required rooting to get rid of.

BURN,

This is a big part of it for me. I use my phone for web browsing and that’s about it. Any advanced needs are managed on my pc.

If I wanted to do more an android would probably be necessary, but I just don’t do enough with my phone.

ImaginaryFox,

I would miss the ability to multitask by split screening apps or doing floating app with my S23U. I would miss my spen which I use to take quick notes, and then can slot back into the phone which even the iPad Pros can't do. I would miss having a non Safari browser like Firefox and its addons. I would miss the easy access to foss apps like NewPipe, and apps not allowed on the Apple store like tachiyomi, emulators, and torrent clients. I would miss that syncthing type apps don't properly work for syncing across different platforms. I would miss the launcher, since I'm not a fan of Apple launcher and app library aesthetics. I would miss the Android folder system's easy access to everything in there compared to the iPhone. I would miss one hand operation+ method of navigating over Apple gestures.

I would like the long term updates of the iPhone though. Using the iPad though made me never want to get an iPhone.

TheBenCommandments,
@TheBenCommandments@infosec.pub avatar

ITT: people who haven’t used anything later than an iPhone 6 /s

Seriously though, I am curious if anyone has spent more than a month with a 13 Pro or later; it sounds like most of the gripes are about shittier/older iPhones/iOS versions.

Lots of good points here (like the universal back button/gesture 🤤) and it’ll be interesting to see how things change after the 15 gets USB-C and maybe some sideloading at some point over the next couple of years 🤞

MargotRobbie,
@MargotRobbie@lemmy.world avatar

Can’t wait for USB-C on iPhone so everyone can share cables.

I feel like I’m the only one on Lemmy who isn’t confused by USB specs though.

TheBenCommandments,
@TheBenCommandments@infosec.pub avatar

I mean, I think it’s pretty easy to get confused by all of the different protocols there are that can’t all run on the same looking cable/connector.

Just by picking up an errant wire, it’s pretty hard to tell if it has power delivery, can do Thunderbolt 3 or 4, a low wattage, but high throughput USB 3.2 cable (which in itself could do 5, 10, or 20Gbps), or just basic USB 2.0 especially if both ends are USB-C.

MargotRobbie,
@MargotRobbie@lemmy.world avatar

Oh, it’s actually not that hard. Now Lemmy explain:

The 3.x are spec revision numbers, it’s the fhe Gen number that indicates the data speed, so USB 3.0/3.1/3.2 Gen 1 are all 5Gbps.

All USB-C cable can do 100W PD regardless of data transfer, EPR labeled ones can do 240W but it’s very recent and not very popular.

You can just look at the number of pins inside the plug to see if the cable only supports USB 2.0, as the 3.0 data pins will be missing and there will only be 14 or 16 pins total instead of the full 24.

Deftdrummer,
Klystron,

I was iPhone only from whenever the pixel 1 launched until the 12 pro max. I had a nexus 6p when the pixel 1 happened and was pumped for the next nexus and then got pissed at what Google replaced the nexus lineup with. So I jumped ship and was very happy with apple for a while. iOS has matured a lot and now lets you do a lot of things android does; widgets, always on display, USB c soon, file explorer. That’s not to mention the ecosystem; airpods are incredible to use, apple watch is so much better than android wear, everything syncing and It Just Working ®. The thing that ultimately got me to switch was the z fold 3. I believe foldables are 100% the future and using one for the past 2 years now has been incredible. I actually bought a 14 pro max just to try going back but it just wasn’t the same at all. Apple is still really good and I understand why people cling to it so much. When I was younger green bubble hate was a legit thing if you weren’t a nerd so that social pressure helps. Ultimately the flexibility that android offers is what’s worth it for me but if apple makes a foldable I’d definitely be tempted to come back.

I wrote this very drunk so I apologize if this stream of consciousness text makes no sense. I just get very enthused when I can somehow segue a conversation back to foldables👍

Uli,

I’m planning on getting the iPhone 15, now that they’re switching to USB C. My last iPhone was an iPhone 4.

To be honest, some of the cultish gimmicks have swayed me. The “in group” mentality of having the right color of text messages. The ability to send videos that aren’t garbage quality. The ease of having shared photo albums with people in my family who also have iPhones. I know these are mostly underhanded tactics from Apple to make their product a status symbol, but I’ve grown tired of being on the outside. Still, I’m keeping my Android as a second line for various reasons.

There are a few hardware components that made me consider spending the money on an iPhone. The biggest one is the Lidar sensor. I don’t know of any other phone that gives you the ability to combine Lidar and camera technology to create full color 3D models of your surroundings. I can’t wait to 3D print my cat.

TheBenCommandments,
@TheBenCommandments@infosec.pub avatar

It’s those social life things like mostly the garbage quality of MMS that makes it so hard to switch away from iPhone. I know it’s a tactic but damn does it suck because half of my friends are on android and I use Signal with most of them, but sometimes SMS/MMS just happens and it’s SO BAD.

glockenspiel,

I feel this as well. I’m in a mixed device household, and sharing images and videos between each other is a real pain. Nobody wants to mess around with going to an iCloud or Google Photos link and grabbing images or video. In the USA, few people want to use third party messaging apps. My family certainly doesn’t. My kid’s friends certainly don’t, and so everyone sticks to iMessage.

Because iMessage really is the best in this region given what is actually used by non-outliers. I use both Android and iOS, Windows and Mac. There’s no comparison. iMessage has more features than Google’s solution. Google’s “RCS” is better than SMS/MMS but isn’t equivalent to iMessage. And cross-device support for it is a joke. Samsung has their own little bridge if you buy entirely into their ecosystem–apps included (sorry, Google Messenger). But there isn’t the same identical experience that happens like with Apple: iMessage on iPhone is the same as on iPad is the same as on Mac. No web QR codes to scan, no weird per-device limitations, it really just works. Handoff works like magic. I know, cliche, but Google doesn’t have anything that competes with the feature set. iMessage is so much more than group chats and text messages and pictures like Android users tend to characterize.

Google has no room to call out Apple for its b.s. with iMessage, either; Google has its own proprietary messaging apps. They’ve tried several times to replicate iMessage and lock people in. Their latest is RCS, which is really a misnomer because Google took the actual RCS standard and made it proprietary. That’s why there aren’t third party apps outside of a tiny number of outliers with special business arrangements with Google (such as Samsung). That’s why Google’s entire campaign to “shame” Apple (really, remind iPhone users of the pain of interacting with Android users) doesn’t go anywhere. Google is just as proprietary as iMessage. Google requires all traffic route through Google’s proprietary Jibe middleware and cloud infrastructure.

At this point I doubt Google would actually share their proprietary RCS with Apple given that they don’t share it with anyone else except Samsung, and only then because Samsung was moving to fork Android (or abandon it entirely) after Google got into the hardware business. We know Google has a private API for their RCS implementation and that they actively choose not to share it, because they’ve accidentally leaked it before and XDA devs picked up on it. There are a million SMS/MMS apps available, not so much for “RCS.”

applejacks,
@applejacks@lemmy.world avatar

It is ironic that many Android fans complain that iPhone users are ignorant about what features Android phones have (“haha, we’ve had that feature for years!”) yet seem to have just as little of a clue what modern iPhones can do.

I recently got a 13 pro for work, and had to admit I was surprised at how good their software has become.

Langoddsen,

Used an iPhone 13 Pro Max for six months, ended up going back to Android in January this year. There were just many small things adding up that made me switch back. I think notifications were the biggest issue, and the fact that it’s so difficult to tweak things to my liking.

Loved the build quality, battery life, smooth OS and apps, and the lightning charger was not a problem for me. Still have my Apple Watch and Airpods Pro.

TheBenCommandments,
@TheBenCommandments@infosec.pub avatar

They’ve tried so hard and got so… nowhere with notifications. It’s truly a clusterfuck. I don’t blame ya on that one.

You’re using your Apple Watch without an iPhone? How?

Langoddsen,

I have an iPhone SE that I connect it to now and then so it’s updated. Works for now, so I’m happy.

SilenceInTheVoid,

Yup have a 13pro just now, it for me is an ergonomic slab of less than ideal comfort, like who thought that sides sharp enough to grate cheese was a good idea?

It was ok on the iPhone 4 as it was small and light, but the newer iPhones are just too damn heavy in my opinion.

I keep going back and forth between iOS and Android, for me the iPhone 11 was a design sweet spot.

Being stuck with an none sizeable keyboard is also a constant niggle in iOS.

NumbersCanBeFun,
@NumbersCanBeFun@kbin.social avatar

I just told my wife she can have my iPhone. I’m buying a pixel and loading Unbuntu mobile on it. I don’t use my phone hardly at all so she will get a lot more benefit from having this device than I currently do.

Before anyone jumps to conclusions. I offered to buy a new one first and she declined.

Earthwormjim91,

Personally, after being on Android since the first Motorola droid and switching to iPhone a few years ago with the 12, I wouldn’t move back to Android at all.

I had Motorola for a while, then the LG g series for a bit, then galaxies until the s8, and then a pixel 4xl.

Google pissed me off with their warranty and support. My pixel had the internal battery cable fuck off and they wouldn’t repair it even though they acknowledged it was design fault. Because I was one week out of warranty.

I hated Samsungs bloatware, Lg was gone, Motorola was pretty nonexistent, and I didn’t want a Chinese owned brands like one+, oppo, or Huawei.

So Apple was pretty much it. I got a regular iPhone 12, and everything I wanted to do was easier than Android. Apple had a built in app for it without me having to fuck around with side loading or installing third party apps.

Android is undoubted better for customization and if you love having extremely fine grained control over your phone. Plus the benefit of being able to side load completely different loads of Android. You have MUCH more control over your environment than an iPhone.

Personally, I don’t give a shit about that. I do that shit at work 60 hours a week. For my personal devices I just want the shit to work. I also want Google in my life as little as possible.

onlyDoesGayCrimes,

Had the same issue with the battery cable on my 4xl as well! I didn’t known it was a design fault. I swapped the battery out on my own but the screen eventually died. Worst pixel experience for me.

Earthwormjim91,

Yeah I opened a ticket a month before my warranty was up. My battery meter kept going to just a ? and not doing anything. After a while of fucking around with settings, and going back and forth between beta and release versions of android (which google said it was my own problem for being on their beta in the first place), I just got tired of it.

I was able to factory reset it and get it to stay on a battery percentage for long enough at the store to trade it in and I was do0ne. After I traded it, Google finally emailed me back saying it was a known battery issue but since I was out of warranty it would cost me a $250 charge to fix. A slap in the face.

dingus, (edited )

Just curious, why don’t you want Google in your life but you’d want Android in your life? Both are mega corporations that are taking our data.

I’m personally not a privacy focused individual, but your sentiment is just odd to me because it seems inconsistent.

Earthwormjim91,

I assume you mean Apple there instead of Android? I got rid of Android because I wanted less Google in my life.

Sure Apple collects some data, but comparing them to Google is like comparing a broom to an industrial vacuum. Apple doesn’t collect nearly the same amount of data and makes privacy features much more integrated with the phone. With the advanced data protection, virtually everything is end to end encrypted where they don’t even have the keys, including iCloud.

It’s not perfect at all, but of the two OSs, I’ll take iOS every day.

fuckwit_mcbumcrumble,

I actually use an iPhone as my main phone. I prefer it over android for normal daily tasks 9/10 times. It’s those 1/10 things/abnormal tasks that makes me also carry a secondary android phone. But that’s more just me being weird.

After shitting on apple for years I was eventually “forced” to use an iPhone for a short period of time and never looked back.

MargotRobbie,
@MargotRobbie@lemmy.world avatar

Anything particular you like about the iPhone over the Android?

fuckwit_mcbumcrumble,

UI/UX mostly. Especially in gesture land I much prefer how iOS handles it over androids gestures. Guaranteed updates for a long time are also nice, only really Google offers that.

The biggest thing though is iOS’ lack of customizability. I eventually just realized I don’t give a shit and I want my phone to work instead of fiddling with ROMs/root all the damn time.

vjprema,
@vjprema@fosstodon.org avatar

@MargotRobbie I used iPhones for 7 years when they first came out. Almost always kept it jailbroken where possible. Eventually switched to Android and I found I could do the things out of the box, that previously required jailbreak with iPhone. Around that time, Android UX had caught up to iPhone as well. Custom app stores (F-Droid), custom launchers and more.

Eventually got sick of Android too. Now I use #lineageos (only a subtle difference) and now I feel like I actually own my smartphone.

Cris_Color,

I would desperately miss customization, and I’m hoping to increasingly move to open source options, so iOS wouldn’t really be a good fit for my needs

nocturne213,

My first smart phone was a used iPhone 3, loved it at first but after a bit i switched to an Android. I have been an Android user since then… Until this February when i dumped my dying moto Z4 for an iPhone 14 Pro. I was so sick of being behind on os updates and security patches.

I did custom ROMs for years so i would have all of that stuff, but sometimes an update would break everything so i had to hope my backup worked, or that i remembered to make a back up at all. All of my uSD cards were full of backups and different ROM downloads, i decided when i got the Z4 i was staying stock, i never even rooted or unlocked the bootloader. I kept having to wipe the phone and reinstall everything or it would run like shit.

kadu,
@kadu@lemmy.world avatar

If iPhones had USB-C and allowed sideloading without a billion limitations, I’d probably be using one right now.

vervein,
@vervein@sopuli.xyz avatar

Next phone could be an iphone then

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