The One Reason Why I Switched to an iPhone from Android (Hint: It’s Not What You Think) 😎

Let me start by saying this: I prefer Android. I’m not saying this to offend or provoke anyone. I’m saying this because it’s my personal preference. I prefer Android in terms of features, functionalities, freedom, and flexibility. I prefer Android in terms of security, reliability, and affordability. I prefer Android in terms of coolness, trendiness, and popularity. I share some thoughts here: I Abandoned My Friends For Android

But I still switched to an iPhone from Android. And I have one reason why. And it’s not what you think.

As a software engineer who develops a mobile application for both Android and iOS platforms, I have always owned two phones: one for each operating system. But I have always favored Android as my primary phone because of its intuitiveness (don’t @ me, Android is more intuitive) and customizations. That is, until last week, when I decided to make iOS my main device. What made me change my mind? The answer is simple: iMessage and FaceTime. These two features alone have created a social gap between the blue bubbles (iOS users) and the green bubbles (non-iOS users).

Why I Value Seamless Communication More Than My Phone 🙌

One of my priorities is seamless communication. I have friends on both sides of the bubble spectrum, and I’ve noticed that using an Android as my primary device is a pain for communications.

Photo by Meredith Spencer on Unsplash Photo by Meredith Spencer on Unsplash

What I’ve observed is that typically Android users don’t call, video call, or share pictures and videos as often as my iPhone friends using the pre-installed system software. That is, Android users use other apps to have video calls and send media. Samsung phones do have what iPhone offers in terms of video calling other Samsung phones, but I don’t know anyone that uses it.

On the other hand, a lot of my friends use iPhone and they use FaceTime and share media via iMessage. I’ve tried and the experience of trying to video call someone on Android when you’re used to things just working iPhone to iPhone is just so much of a hassle. The generated FaceTime URL for Android users to join doesn’t work (also vice versa Android’s Google Meet URL generated for iPhone users to join, doesn’t work). Also when I receive media like photos, they are a lower quality version when received on Android (they are sent as MMS (SMS)).

For these two features alone, these two hassles in communication, I decided to make an iPhone my primary.

OMG, iPhones are not intuitive. 🙄

Why I’m Not Crazy for Switching to an iPhone from Android 😍

You might think I’m crazy for switching to an iPhone from Android. You might think I’m sacrificing a lot of features and functionalities that Android offers. You might think I’m giving up on the freedom and flexibility that Android provides. You might think I’m becoming a sheep that follows the herd.

But you’re wrong. ?

I’m not switching to an iPhone because I think it’s better than Android. I’m not switching to an iPhone because I think it’s cooler or trendier than Android. I’m not switching to an iPhone because I think it’s more secure or more reliable than Android.

I’m switching to an iPhone because I value seamless communication more than my phone. I’m switching to an iPhone because I want to stay in touch with my friends and family more easily and more conveniently. I’m switching to an iPhone because I don’t want to deal with the hassle of using different apps and services to communicate with different people.

That’s the one reason why I switched to an iPhone from Android. And it’s not what you think.

It’s not about the phone. It’s about the people. 💕

Published: on Medium here

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