Users who have grown accustomed to one particular operating system on their devices for years may find it difficult to imagine to switch to another. But moving between rivals iOS and Android has never been easier. — Photo: Robert Günther/dpa
BERLIN: Two mobile operating systems dominate the market: Android and iOS. Almost all smartphones and tablets run on one or the other. What are the differences between the two and how difficult is it to switch? The biggest advantage of iOS is that the software and hardware come from a single source, says tech journalist Steffen Herget. That's because iOS is developed by Apple and only works on iPhones and iPads.
"This means that the smartphone and operating system are particularly well attuned to each other," Herget says. The software will always be able to keep up with the demands of the hardware and vice versa, according to the expert. Security is also a little better, Herget says, because Apple relies on its own, closed ecosystem.
Apps, for example, can only be downloaded from the App Store, which reduces the risk of malware. "In addition, Android is generally more attractive to attackers due to its higher market share," the tech journalist says.
Android, on the other hand, an operating system primarily developed by Google, offers much greater freedom. "iOS is only available on the iPhone, which means that the selection of devices is very small and the prices are relatively high. With Android, on the other hand, you can choose between many different hardware manufacturers," Herget says.
Android users also have much more freedom when it comes to customising the appearance of the operating system, "be it to install a new user interface because you want a fresher look, or to simplify the layout for older people," he adds.
Update policies
According to Herget, Android's biggest handicap is the updates: "There is a lot of fragmentation in the Android versions and this means that users sometimes have to wait months or even longer for updates." This is mainly due to the wide range of Android devices and the effort involved in making individual software adjustments for them. Providing updates for iOS is easier because both the operating system and the devices it has been designed for come from Apple. "It is safe to assume that you will receive updates quickly and easily for 5 to 6 years," says Herget.
However, Android updates seem to have been released more regularly and for longer periods recently.
Switching between Android and iOS may be worth it if you already have other devices running on one of the two operating systems, says Sebastian Klöß from the German IT industry association Bitkom. "That tends to make it easier to synchronise data and content within the household." "For me, switching to an iPhone would make sense if I also switched to a Mac as my computer," Herget agrees.
How difficult is it to switch between iOS and Android?
Moving from one operating system to another isn't particularly complicated, according to Klöß. "The data can be transferred via cable or WiFi. The only important thing is to initiate the data transfer when you first set up the new device and are asked to do so." Otherwise, you'll have to do it manually at a later time - which can be much more fiddly.
"When transferring data directly during setup, you will be guided through the process," explains Klöß. "Your files, photos, videos, contacts, calendar entries, email accounts, browser bookmarks, and free apps will be immediately available on the new device." Transferring messages in apps like WhatsApp also shouldn't be a problem.
Switching from Android to iOS tends to be a little less complicated than moving from iOS to Android, says Herget. That's because some apps that are available on Android devices, such as those created by Google, can also be installed on iPhones.
It's more difficult the other way around. "You can't use Apple services like iMessage on Android," says Herget. So moving from iOS to Android requires a little more manual work.
However, Google has long recognised this and released a Switch to Android app last year, designed to help iOS users migrate content to a new Android device more seamlessly.
Apple offers a similar app for Android users called Move to iOS. – dpa
