iPhones are best. Courtesy | Pixabay
Blue bubbles vs. green bubbles. iPhones vs. Androids. In a world where smartphones rule communication, it’s important to carry a well-built machine in your pocket. For years, iPhones were the most reliable and long-lasting choice, but now, they are the clear front-runner in the smartphone world.
Even Android users agree. An Android Authority poll found that 56% of people would dump their Android for an iPhone if they were given one for free. If this is the case, why isn’t everyone making the switch?
Young people, who are often more conscious of the newest technology advance, are realizing this in particular. That’s why the iPhone is by far the college student’s choice in America. 59% of people 18-34 choose iPhones over Androids, according to Statista. Teenagers are even more iPhone-crazy, with about 87% owning iPhones in the U.S., up from 40% in 2012.
Why get into the Apple bubble? For some, it’s as simple as having the ability to name and better communicate in iMessage group chats, but that is just the beginning of the advantages.
iPhones are durable and long-lasting. According to knowyourmobile.com, iPhones can last six to seven years after they are released. I used my iPhone SE (1st Generation) until the end of 2021, just about six years after its release, and I could have kept going even longer.
iPhones also hold their value much better than their Android counterparts. A 2020 Samsung Galaxy S20, now sells used for around $200 on Amazon Renewed, while the once same-priced iPhone 12 Pro sells for well over $500. Apple makes buying a used phone appealing, allowing phones up to six years old to receive updates and new features in iOS.
Getting into the Apple ecosystem might seem like an expensive trap, but there are some connective advantages to choosing an Apple product. Do you need to send a picture of a large file to someone quickly? AirDrop allows those with Apple devices to send such attachments using low-energy Bluetooth signals, with no Wi-Fi required. This is especially helpful in transferring large files that take forever to send via email, and are impossible to send via SMS.
iPhone integration with other Apple products like MacBooks allows for messages and calls to be received quickly on Apple laptops as well. If cell service goes out, for instance, you can make calls and send messages via FaceTime audio calls and iMessage texts sent over Wi-FI.
The software is much cleaner than an Android. Each phone comes without a bit of bloatware found on androids. Do you really want to sort through deleting a whopping 60 GB of Bloatware every time you buy a new phone? Apple allows your new phone to operate at peak performance right out of the box.
Many say iPhones are too expensive, but that is no longer the case. In the days of the iPhone 6 and 6s, there were dramatic steps being taken in software improvements, like the increase of 1 GB of RAM to 2 GB in just one year. Now that things have leveled off, it’s easy to pick up a used iPhone in perfectly refurbished condition with new batteries for under $300. For that matter, you pick up an iPhone SE (2nd generation) for well under $200 with the technology and software support of the latest iPhones. I’ve bought three phones using Amazon Renewed, and each has had no sign of damage or poor build quality after months of use.
If you insist on going new, Apple has budget options like the iPhone SE (3rd generation), which features a superfast processor and 5G for just $429.
Other old iPhone downsides are just plain out-of-date. For instance, Apple sets standard storage at 128 GB, and offers up to 1 TB on some models, making the lack of expanded physical storage via a microSD card less of an issue than when 64 GB was the maximum.
Innovation also used to be an Android calling card, but as the smartphone has fewer improvements new year-over-year, as any aging invention does, consistency and support are more important than having the latest and best. Who needs a 10k screen resolution and five cameras on the back of your phone anyway?
The newer versions of the most recent iOS updates have greatly improved some of the weaknesses of iPhones in the past. For instance, iOS 14, released in the fall of 2020, allowed iPhone users to customize their home screens with app-specific widgets for the first time, a feature Android users often pointed to as a sign of the iPhone’s less-customizable software. In addition, Apple’s latest software, iOS 16, allows the lock screen to be extremely customizable, allowing for widgets, customizable fonts, landscape mode, and multiple wallpapers.
Also, you can customize the exterior of your iPhone with a vast assortment of cases from which to choose for multiple generations of their phones. Good luck finding the perfect case with your Samsung or Pixel. Apple users have the choice of high-end, Apple-specific accessories designed to fit the product perfectly and just look nicer. Android offers only cheap, ugly wireless earbuds that are bound to give up well before perfectly harmonized AirPods.
In an environment at college that thrives on teamwork, it’s really important for everyone to get on the same page and to communicate well. Don’t be the odd one out with an oversized, ugly Android. Get on the bus with the cool kids and get an iPhone.
