After utilizing an iPhone as my each day driver for years, I made a decision to change to a Samsung cellphone for my subsequent improve. And whereas I’ve been having fun with the expertise for probably the most half, there are nonetheless a couple of bits that fall quick.
4
App High quality Is A lot Higher on iOS
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The primary distinction I seen after switching to a Samsung cellphone is that so many mainstream apps really feel slightly worse on Android. What shocked me most is that this even contains Google’s personal apps. You’d assume Android could be probably the most secure platform to make use of, say, YouTube, however I’ve run into random bugs like picture-in-picture breaking or playback controls freezing up. These are points I by no means noticed on my iPhone.
Social media apps are an excellent greater letdown. At virtually each launch, Samsung makes it some extent to focus on partnerships with social media firms to enhance digital camera efficiency inside apps like Instagram and Snapchat. However the outcomes are nonetheless shockingly unhealthy. The in-app digital camera on Instagram nonetheless seems to be significantly worse than the native one, and in comparison with my outdated iPhone, it’s not even shut. It’s nonetheless a loud, low-quality mess, so I discover myself utilizing the inventory digital camera app greater than I ought to should.
Even in terms of gaming, iOS holds an edge. Loads of the extra demanding titles, like Genshin Influence, run at larger graphics settings and higher decision by default on iPhones. They even accomplish that whereas sustaining higher body charges.
3
iPhones Truly Get Software program Updates on Time
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This isn’t one thing I’d say about each Android model, however Samsung is definitely one of many worst in terms of delivering well timed software program updates. There are a number of thrilling options in OneUI 7 that I like, however the rollout was a large number.
For context, Android 15 formally launched for Google Pixel telephones in October 2024. I didn’t get the Android 15-based OneUI 7 replace on my Galaxy S24 Extremely till June 2025. That’s eight months later. By the point the replace landed on my cellphone, Google had already began testing the Android 16 beta.
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I’m not anticipating Samsung to ship immediate updates to each single A-series cellphone or older price range units, however that is the Galaxy S24 Extremely we’re speaking about: a flagship cellphone that is slightly over a 12 months outdated. Regardless of that, the replace was nonetheless delayed by months. After all of the hype about Samsung promising seven years of updates, fumbling this badly within the first cycle feels off.
I knew precisely what I used to be lacking out on throughout these months, and being left behind like that made me respect how simple the replace scenario was on my iPhone. When Apple pushes out a brand new iOS model, each supported gadget will get it on the identical day.
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The Apple Ecosystem Is Higher
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Samsung has executed an honest job constructing out its ecosystem; it has its personal model of AirDrop, seamless gadget syncing, and integration throughout laptops, tablets, and wearables. On paper, it checks all of the packing containers. However in apply, it nonetheless feels clunky and inconsistent.
For instance, you should utilize Fast Share to share recordsdata wirelessly; when it really works, it’s quicker than AirDrop in my expertise. However that “when” is doing numerous heavy lifting. As a rule, it refuses to work. I’ve had so many moments the place I gave up and grabbed a cable as a substitute—as a result of someway in 2025, that’s nonetheless the quickest and most dependable option to transfer recordsdata.
Even the Galaxy Buds, which ought to join immediately to my cellphone, typically don’t. I’ve needed to manually dig into the Bluetooth settings greater than as soon as simply to get them paired. That is one thing I by no means had to consider with my AirPods on an iPhone.
With regards to tablets, Samsung’s ecosystem hits one other wall. Android tablets have undoubtedly improved, however pill apps are nonetheless wildly hit and miss. Some apps scale correctly, whereas others appear to be stretched-out cellphone screens. The one space the place they used to have an edge over the iPad was multitasking, however iPadOS 26 has tons of wonderful options that remedy this downside.
I’m not saying Samsung doesn’t have an ecosystem. It is current, and on paper, it’s practically feature-for-feature with Apple. However in my expertise, not a single a part of it has labored flawlessly. I’ve run into some concern with each element, and it makes the entire expertise really feel like an afterthought.
1
iOS Merely Feels Extra Cohesive
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One of many greatest features I’ve come to understand after utilizing an iPhone for therefore lengthy is how all the things feels prefer it belongs collectively. iOS is constructed as a single system with one clear design, so all the things flows easily. On Samsung telephones, it feels extra like two totally different blended concepts. You’ve Google’s model of Android, then Samsung provides its personal layer on high, and the consequence doesn’t all the time really feel cohesive.
For instance, some apps use Samsung’s Gallery app for importing photographs, and others use Google Photographs. There’s no straightforward option to set a default. You find yourself switching between the 2 with out realizing why, and it will get annoying after some time.
There’s additionally the app retailer scenario. You get each the Play Retailer and the Galaxy Retailer preinstalled. Most individuals follow the Play Retailer, however Samsung retains pushing its model with unique apps and updates. It feels pointless and provides extra muddle.
On high of that, there are such a lot of duplicate apps. You get Samsung Web and Chrome, Samsung Messages and Google Messages, after which Samsung Calendar and Google Calendar. It’s complicated at first, and also you received’t know which of them to make use of. On iOS, there’s just one model of every app, and also you by no means have to consider this downside.
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This isn’t to say I remorse switching. There are many factors I actually like, particularly the {hardware}, however Samsung nonetheless has some work to do on the software program aspect. Even so, I believe it is a sturdy possibility for anybody contemplating leaving the iPhone.
