6 reasons to buy the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro
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With its new iPhone 14 series, Apple makes the biggest changes since the iPhone 12.
The iPhone 14 Pro models get significant upgrades in their performance, cameras, and design.
The iPhone 14 Plus is a large-screen iPhone for the budget conscious.
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Apple announced its new iPhone 14 series during the company's September 7 event, including the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The iPhone 14 series represents the biggest changes since the iPhone 12 series in 2020. There's a new larger iPhone that costs under $1,000, while the iPhone 14 Pros come with a number of big upgrades in their performance, camera systems, and design. Apple also unveiled Dynamic Island and always-on displays in the Pros, which give users new ways to interact with their phones.
The iPhone 14 isn't drastically different than the iPhone 13, which makes the older model the better buy. The iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max are the most compelling options, and we've listed the six main reasons why you should consider them.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are the most powerful iPhones yet
The iPhone 14 Pro runs on Apple's latest A16 Bionic processor while the standard iPhone 14 models run on the A15 Bionic processor from the iPhone 13 series. Apple
The iPhone 14 Pro models run Apple's new A16 Bionic processor, which not only offers the best performance from an iPhone to date, but it also contributes to the quality of the photos and videos.
Note that only the iPhone 14 Pro models get the A16 Bionic, while the standard iPhone 14 models continue to use the A15 Bionic introduced in the iPhone 13 series. We won't know the performance gap between the A16 Bionic and A15 Bionic until we run benchmark tests, but it's very likely the A16 Bionic will outperform the A15 Bionic.
The iPhone 14 series come with camera upgrades, especially the Pro models
The 48-megapixel main camera on the iPhone 14 Pro is the biggest camera update in years. Apple
Apple says the mid-to-low-light performance of iPhone 14 series is two-to-three-times better than the iPhone 13 series, due to the new camera system's "Photonic Engine." This means more visible details in darker areas and brighter colors.
The iPhone 14 Pro cameras get the biggest upgrade. There's now a 48-megapixel main camera — a huge leap from the iPhone 13 Pro's 12 megapixels. This increase in resolution means you can make larger-sized prints, or zoom or crop into an image without compromising the image quality. It also allows for a new 2x zoom. Apple also says the sensor has been redesigned to capture more light, resulting in even better image quality.
The real meat of the 48-megapixel camera upgrade caters to those who like to use ProRAW mode on their iPhones. With ProRAW, you can take a 48-megapixel uncompressed photo that captures more detail and reduces noise, especially when you zoom into a photo, which helps with photo editing. The extra pixels in ProRAW also mean you can crop a photo while maintaining more detail than a 12-megapixel camera does.
Apple also added a new video stabilizing feature called Action Mode that helps reduce jarring motion while recording video when running, for example.
Dynamic Island is the notch reimagined, and it has a new function
The Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro models can expand to offer useful functionality. Apple
The divisive notch that dates back to the iPhone X, which houses the front camera and Face ID sensors, has been replaced with a small, pill-shaped cut-out that Apple calls the Dynamic Island. This new feature is found only in the Pro models.
Unlike the notch, which simply takes up space at the top of a screen, Dynamic Island doubles as camera/sensor and a secondary display that shows notifications and basic information, like a timer's progress, music album art, and even navigation prompts. And, depending on what information is shown, it can "expand" virtually in size. This bit of trickery is done through software, but it's useful because you can now control multimedia and calls from the Dynamic Island without leaving what you're doing on your phone.
As for overall design, the borders around the screen of the iPhone 14 Pro have also been slimmed down for a sleeker look.
"Always-on" displays to tell the time and see your widgets without tapping the screen or unlocking the phone
The always-on display on the iPhone 14 Pro. Apple
The iPhone 14 Pro models are the first iPhones to have an always-on display, which dims when your phone is locked, but basic information, like the time and widgets, is always visible. Like the Dynamic Island, this screen feature gives users a new convenient hands-free way to interact with the device. It eliminates the need to tap your phone's screen to wake it, just to get a quick glance at the time or a widget. Even in its dimmed state, the display can preserve your background's colors, which goes beyond the always-on displays on existing Android phones.
The bigger iPhone 14 models have longer battery life than any previous iPhone
The iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max have the longest battery life in any iPhone yet. Apple
Based on the specs, the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max have the longest battery life out of any iPhones.
Apple claims the iPhone 14 Plus can play up to 26 hours of video saved on the phone, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max can do it for up to 29 hours. As for video streaming, the iPhone 14 Plus battery lasts up to 20 hours and the iPhone 14 Pro Max up to 25 hours.
While actual use will vary, these numbers represent a big increase over the phones' predecessors.
The iPhone 14 Plus gives users a big-screen option for under $1,000
Apple
Before the introduction of the Pro models, Apple offered a "Plus" option, which was last seen in the iPhone 8. Apple has now brought it back in the iPhone 14, giving people a large-screen iPhone that doesn't cost over $1,000.
The iPhone 14 Plus has a 6.7-inch screen — the same size as the iPhone 14 Pro Max — but costs $200 less, at $899. Arguably, it's something Apple should have done years ago, as it limited the big iPhone experience to those who could afford the Pro Max iPhone models.
Other than a bigger display and longer battery life, the iPhone 14 Plus shares the same internal specs as the iPhone 14.
Should you buy a new iPhone now or wait?
Buying a new iPhone is always an exciting prospect. Apple's latest and greatest hardware is one credit card swipe away from landing in your hand! If you're grabbing one of the best iPhones, you're getting a lot of processing power, some great cameras and access to a multitude of helpful and engaging apps in Apple's App Store. What's not to enjoy?
But buying a new iPhone can also be pretty nerve-wracking, as one question will be hanging over your purchase: what if something better is about to come along?
That's the dilemma facing any tech purchase, but it's especially acute for smartphone shoppers. Phones are such a central part of our daily routine, we want to make sure we have the best phone with top features that will hold on to their value for the longest time.
And if we're paying up for a flagship — the cheapest iPhone 13 model currently costs $699 — we want the most bang for our buck. And with the iPhone 14 launch looming in the not-too-distant future, the right time to buy is probably a question a lot of would-be iPhone shoppers are contemplating.
Fortunately, Apple's smartphone release schedule removes a lot of the guesswork out of determining whether now is the time to buy an iPhone.
Let's take a closer look at when Apple traditionally releases its latest handsets, followed by some questions you can ask yourself to help figure out whether you should buy now or wait for the next model.
When do iPhones come out?
iPhone releases aren't really a mystery if you've been following Apple's phone rollout since the days of the iPhone 4s. Starting in 2011, Apple has released its flagship phone in the fall, without deviating from that schedule for more than a decade. (Previous models, including the original iPhone, hit stores in June.) That's likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
Apple's iPhone 13 launch event last September (Image credit: Apple)
"Fall" can be a broad time period, though, and sometimes, Apple has launched later in the season than others. In 2020, for example, Covid-19 complications pushed Apple's iPhone 12 launch event into October. (The company usually announces new flagship devices in the fall.) That year, the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 mini didn't hit stores until November.
But for the most part, you can count on a fall phone release from Apple, with devices most likely launching in September. That iPhone 12 launch mentioned above was the only time in the last eight years where Apple's iPhone event didn't take place in September. We currently predict the iPhone 14 launch date to be September 13, based on rumors and early reports, so some may want to wait.
There's a reason Apple targets that time of year. It gets the latest iPhone in stores just in time for holiday shopping, typically allowing Apple to enjoy booming sales from people shopping for presents. It also helps that the start of Apple's fiscal year overlaps with peak holiday shopping, helping Apple's finances start the year off strongly.
The fall isn't the only time Apple releases a new phone, though. Just this March, we saw the launch of the iPhone SE (2022). That phone's arrival came a little less than two years after the 2020 launch of the preceding iPhone SE. So spring phone releases aren't out of the question for Apple, either, though they tend to be limited to the company's budget phones.
Apple launched the iPhone SE (2022) this past March (Image credit: Apple)
For the past two years, Apple's released new color options for its existing flagships in the spring as well. However, we don't the think the arrival of a green iPhone 13 back in March made anyone too regretful about their purchase of a different-colored model a few months earlier.
The bottom line is that you can definitely count on new iPhones in the fall, along with the occasional iPhone release around springtime. (An iPhone SE Plus — basically a bigger screen version the current model, potentially with a second rear camera — could come out next spring.) Buy your iPhone right before the fall, and you can be pretty certain that a newer model will be along any minute now. iPhone shoppers face the same dilemma in the early part of the year, but only if they're considering one of Apple's budget models.
So should I buy an iPhone now?
As of this writing, we're a little more than three months away from the likely iPhone 14 release date, which we anticipate to be in early September. (That could change depending on any issues that crop up with iPhone production, of course.) For that reason, unless you really need a new phone right now, it's probably best to wait for the iPhone 14's appearance.
iPhone 14 Pro render (Image credit: Front Page Tech / Ian Zelbo)
We go into greater depth elsewhere on whether you should buy an iPhone 13 now or wait for the iPhone 14, but the bottom line is Apple's new phones are likely to get a host of new features, especially the iPhone 14 Pro models which are tipped to get a new design, an improved main camera and newer processors. If you want the most current hardware, Apple's iPhone 14 launch is close enough to make a wait worth your while.
But even if you think an iPhone 13 is the better bet for your needs, waiting until the fall may be a better bet. Apple tends to keep one or two current models in its lineup at reduced prices after a new set of flagship phones comes out. For instance, last fall, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini remained part of Apple's lineup after the iPhone 13 models arrived, with both older phones getting $100 price cuts.
One the fall rolls around, it's possible the iPhone 13 could stick around at a similar discount. The iPhone 13 mini might, too, though Apple is expected to discontinue the slimmed-down model after two years of disappointing mini sales. If Apple follows its past strategy, both the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max will be dropped entirely, so if you're eyeing either phone, now might be the time to strike.
If you do wind up jumping on a new iPhone purchase now, you're not totally shut out of buying an iPhone 14, should the new models prove to be more compelling than you thought. Apple offers rebates on trade-ins when you purchase a new phone, so you could theoretically trade-in the iPhone 13 model you buy now to get a reduced price on the iPhone 14 you buy in the future. For example, an iPhone 12 Pro Max currently gets the maximum rebate of $700 when you buy any iPhone 13 model.
How do I know if I need to buy a new iPhone?
Besides a glance at the calendar to see if any likely iPhone launches are on the horizon, answering a few critical questions can help determine if now's the time to get a new device.
When did you buy your last iPhone? If your iPhone still has that new handset smell, then it's probably best to hold off on that new purchase. It used to be that people would hold out for an average of two years between phone upgrades, though that's lengthening now that flagship phone prices are around $1,000. These days, three years seems more like par for the course, though I tend to hold on to my handset for four years.
What phone features are most important to you? Deciding what's important for your next phone can help you figure out if it's time to upgrade as well. If you've been eager to experience an iPhone with a fast refreshing display, that feature arrived on the iPhone 13 Pro models, and it's likely to remain a Pro-only feature in the near term. But if you can't stand the thought of an iPhone display with a notch at the top, maybe wait for the iPhone 14 Pro, since that device is rumored to introduce new cutouts to house the front camera and FaceID sensors.
The iPhone 14 Pro is likely to ditch Apple's notch (Image credit: the Hacker 34)
Figure out what your key features are — performance, cameras, battery life and so on — and then check the rumor summaries for upcoming iPhones to see if future models are better positioned to address your wants than the currently available models. If the answer turns out to be yes, then it's best to wait.
How much are you willing to pay for an iPhone? Figuring out your budget will help you determine whether the current price is right for the iPhone you're considering or whether future price changes might work for or against you. Apple's expected to keep the iPhone 13's $799 starting price for the iPhone 14, but other models could cost more than this year's versions, according to current rumors. What's more, the iPhone 14 Max expected to replace the iPhone 13 mini as the fourth phone in Apple's fall lineup is likely to cost more, not less than the standard iPhone 14, thanks to its larger screen.
If future iPhone price hikes will put the phone out of your price range, you may want to get a phone now (taking advantage of the best iPhone 13 deals currently available). You could also gamble that the iPhone 13 model you're interested in will still be around after the iPhone 14's arrival, with Apple cutting the price.
When do you plan to upgrade your iPhone again? Look ahead to the future — do you expect the next iPhone you buy to last a very long time? Then perhaps it's better to wait for the newer models to arrive in the fall, so that you can stretch your dollar further with a phone that's going to have more up-to-date specs than the current iPhone 13 models. If you're more comfortable with frequent upgrades, though, getting an iPhone 13 — and taking advantage of Apple's trade-in rebates when you do upgrade — might be a better course of action.
iPhone vs. Android: Which is better for you?
The iPhone vs. Android comparison is a never-ending debate on which one is best. It will likely never have a real winner, but we're going to try and help you to find your personal pick all the same.
The latest version of both operating systems — iOS 16 and Android 13 — are both excellent, but in slightly different ways. Many of their features overlap, but design-wise they look quite different, aside from the basic touchscreen-focused layout. Whichever of the best phones available today you buy, they'll be running one of these two OSes.
Pitting iPhone vs. Android, we take a look at the respective strengths of each mobile platform, so you can pick the right one for you the next time you buy a smartphone. If you want to see the current flagships for Android and iOS, be sure to check out our Pixel 7 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro Max and Pixel 7 vs. iPhone 14 face-offs. And if you're convinced you want to leave your iPhone, read more about Google's new Switch To Android app that will help you move over.
Be sure to check out our iOS 16 review and Android 13 review for more in-depth looks at each new OS version.
iPhone vs Android: Why iPhone is better
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
You're invested in Apple's ecosystem. This might seem like a shallow reason, but Apple obviously makes a wide breadth of tech products, and if you already own a Mac, iPad or Apple Watch, getting an iPhone makes a lot of sense.
Apple has designed a multitude of continuity features that allow you to carry over work and data from one of its devices to another, and these features can certainly save you time. Take Handoff, for example, where calls on your iPhone and web pages in Safari can move seamlessly between iOS and macOS. Universal Clipboard makes text copied on one platform usable on the other. Another one of our favorites is Continuity Camera, which allows you to take pictures and scan documents using your iPhone's camera, and then view and edit them on your Mac. You can even complete purchases on your Mac by using biometric authentication features on your iPhone via Apple Pay.
Only a handful of Android phone makers have hardware ecosystems that approach Apple's, and even for some that come close, like Samsung, you won't get the depth of integration possible between the iPhone and other Apple-built devices. Microsoft is helping Google close the gap somewhat with its new Your Phone app for Windows, which allows Android users to respond to texts and notifications on their PCs, though the experience is a little clunky and there is still work to be done.
There are many other great examples of continuity across iOS, iPadOS, watchOS and macOS — and the iPhone is a critical component in that puzzle, especially now that iPhone apps can be seamlessly ported to macOS. Power users already immersed in Apple's ecosystem can stand to gain a lot by adding an iPhone to their repertoire. And that's to say nothing of friends and family members who prefer to use iMessage and FaceTime to keep in touch.
The third-party apps are just better. This one is definitely down to personal preference, but as someone who has jumped back and forth between iOS and Android, I've been consistently blown away by the quality of apps built by iOS developers, and mostly disappointed in their Android counterparts.
Don't get me wrong — there's great software and developers on Android, but they're harder to find, in my experience. One of our favorite Twitter apps, Tweetbot 5 (opens in new tab), is an iOS exclusive, for example; by contrast, one of the best third-party Twitter apps we've encountered on Android, Fenix 2, strongly pales in comparison. One of our staff members, Henry T. Casey, loves using Bear (opens in new tab) to compose blog posts on his Mac and iPhone, but we've struggled to find a note-taking app on Android as comprehensive and slick.
You may even find that apps from established companies, ranging from banks to airlines, are a bit smoother and cleaner on iOS than Android, with better integration with the phone's core services, like Wallet.
There's a bigger selection of accessories. Walk into any Best Buy or Target, and you'll find aisles of cases for every iPhone that Apple makes — something that certainly cannot be said for the Android contingent outside of flagship devices from the biggest companies. Once you get past the semi-healthy selection of products made for the latest Galaxy S device, you're out of luck. Don't bother expecting a choice of accessories for your new Pixel or Motorola handset at any brick-and-mortar retailer. Sure, you could go online and snag a $4 case off of Amazon, but then you're guaranteed to get what you pay for.
The selection and availability of iPhone cases, screen protectors, car mounts and other goodies is simply far greater than you'll find for any other phone, and that's more important than most people realize. iPhone owners will never have the problem of not finding a case to their liking.
There are enhanced privacy controls with app tracking notifications. One of the biggest recent iOS releases introduced app tracking notifications, allowing you to opt out of apps tracking you across your phone. This was a major win for privacy advocates and a huge blow to many third-party companies, like Facebook.
Android simply doesn't have this feature and we doubt it ever will. Don't get stuck in the belief that iOS is inherently more private than Android, since Apple still collects a ton of data about you, but iOS still has a bit more resilience when it comes to third-parties. It's so satisfying to deny an app the ability to track you.
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
There's no bloatware. No matter how you buy your iPhone, where you buy it from or what iPhone you buy, you won't see any bloatware preinstalled when you boot it up for the first time. That means it's clean from the very start, with no power- or data-siphoning apps you didn't ask for sabotaging things behind the scenes.
That's a relief if you've ever seen the way a new Android phone arrives out of the box — particularly one that you've bought through a carrier. Even spending $1,800 on a Galaxy Z Fold 3 doesn't spare AT&T customers from the affront of seeing software like CNN and DirecTV Now cluttering their app drawers. And it can be even worse if you buy a budget handset that has been heavily subsidized by a discount carrier.
Android buyers who purchase one of the best unlocked phones without a service agreement will have better luck avoiding bloatware. It also depends on the company. For example, unlocked Pixel phones aren't mired down by any third-party apps; on the other hand, it's not totally unheard of for some unlocked handsets to come with the odd unwelcome sponsored software (or ads).
You get quicker software updates. Android phones get fewer updates than iPhones, and when they do, they happen less frequently and are often delayed with the exception of Google's Pixels.
The number of updates an Android phone sees over the course of its lifetime depends largely on how expensive it is, what carrier you buy it from (or if it's even purchased from a carrier at all) and what the phone maker's software support policy is.
That's a far cry from iPhones, which are supported with major software updates for many years, no matter what. Take the iPhone 6S, for example, which received iOS 15, even though it originally launched with iOS 9 back in 2015. For comparison, consider Samsung's Galaxy S6, which launched the same year and started with Android 5.0 Lollipop. Not only does it lack the latest Android software, but it stopped getting updates years ago. It only made it as far as 7.0 Nougat when Samsung pulled the plug on support — and when the S6 did get Nougat, it arrived in March 2017, eight months after Google unveiled the update.
What's more, when a new iOS version is released, it is available to everyone on the same day, at the same time, and can be installed on all models that support it instantaneously. By contrast, Android releases are rolled out in waves to individual phones, not just by model.
It has better retail support. Let's say something goes horribly wrong with your iPhone, and you need to get it serviced. Or perhaps you want a screen protector installed on it, and you'd rather have it handled by a professional, who will slap that film on with nary a bubble or speck of dust. Whatever your issue is, it's nice to have a place to go — and what better place for iPhone users than the Apple Store. Yes, Covid restrictions can make this difficult, but at least you have the option.
Owners of Android phones don't necessarily enjoy that luxury. If you need a new battery or a screen replacement and you didn't purchase a protection plan from the retailer you bought it from, you'll probably have to ship it back to the manufacturer. That's quite a time-consuming hassle, given how much we all depend on our phones day in and day out. Some reputable repair shops like uBreakiFix help bridge the gap a bit, like for Pixel phones.
iPhone vs Android: Why Android is better
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
There are phones at every price. The vast majority of the world's smartphones run Android, and because so many companies build Android handsets, they're available at every price range. There are cheap phones under the $500 mark like the Pixel 5a, as well as some of the best small phones and best big phones, and phablets and foldables far exceeding $1,000. No matter how much you can spend, chances are you can find an Android device that fits your budget or offers exclusive features.
The same cannot be said for iPhones, which historically have been expensive at launch, only to come down in price after successive generations. One of the most affordable new Apple handsets is the iPhone 13 mini for $699, but that comes with a small 5.4-inch display. The Galaxy S21 FE has the same price but comes with a bigger and smoother 120Hz 6.4-inch screen, a telephoto lens and a much larger battery. And then there's the fantastic $599 Pixel 6, if you can find one in stock.
The least-expensive iPhone that Apple offers is the iPhone SE (2022), which is a fantastic device with phenomenal performance for just $429, though its design is dated, and its screen will be too small for some.
It's more customizable. Though both iOS and Android have evolved over the years, Android has always had a reputation for being the platform for users who like to tinker and personalize their devices. That starts with the home screen launcher, which offers dynamic widgets and the ability to place apps anywhere on a page or in a drawer, out of sight — something the iPhone has only recently caught up to with iOS 14. You can even swap out your Android phone's launcher with an alternative downloaded from the Google Play store.
Android also lets you download third-party replacements for core services — like web browsers, keyboards and media players — and set them as the default versions if you prefer a third-party app to one that was preinstalled on your phone. iOS has improved in this regard over the years, though the implementation is still somewhat clunky.
Finally, we have to talk about manufacturer skins — bespoke user interfaces and Android system software that are customized by certain phone makers, offering extra features and, often, the ability to create themes for your experience from top to bottom. Some Android fans prefer Google's "stock" interpretation of Android. However, but lots of users like phone makers' custom software, like Samsung's One UI or OnePlus' OxygenOS, because of their extra capabilities, such as the ability to take scrolling screenshots and hide photos and videos in password-protected folders.
But Google changed things up with Android 12, which brings with it the new Material You design language. This direction builds upon the last several years of Android's look and feel, offering more personalization. There's a pseudo-theming system which adapts to the colors in your wallpapers and applies that shade system-wide. How the likes of Samsung and OnePlus tweak things in their own skins remains to be seen.
You can (sometimes) expand the storage. Although expandable storage is somewhat less popular these days, some Android phones still offer it. This allows you to use a microSD card to keep photos, apps and other media that won't fit on your device's internal memory.
That's an amazing benefit, given the exorbitant prices that Apple and other phone makers charge to double or quadruple storage when you buy your handset. Why tack on another $100 to $150 to the price of a new phone just for an extra 128GB or 256GB of storage (that you're not even sure you'll need) when you can just drop $70 on a 512GB card later?
Additionally, while it's certainly becoming more of a rarity on high-end phones these days, some Android devices still come with headphone jacks — a hotly requested feature Apple retired from its phones in 2016. That's a big deal to people who still love to use their trusty old wired headphones.
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
USB-C is universal. Android phones largely rely on USB-C ports for charging and data transfer these days, which is super convenient if you're one of those people who really likes to pack light and carry only one cable. USB-C is also on many PCs these days, as well as on the Nintendo Switch. It's a beautiful thing.
Whereas Apple's Lightning cable is a relic of the days when every tech company felt compelled to develop its own proprietary connector, USB-C represents the ideal single-port solution the industry is working toward. It also opens doors to faster charging technologies.
The OnePlus 9 Pro, for example, can charge from zero to 61 percent battery capacity in a mere 15 minutes. Wait for 30 minutes and you'll have a battery that’s 99 percent full.
Compare that to the iPhone 12, which continues to stick with Lightning. And Apple no longer even includes a charger in the box.
There's an actual file system (with drag-and-drop support on PC). Most people don't need to get their hands dirty with their smartphone's file system. Still, it's good to know that Android gives you that option, if you desire it. Even better, when you plug an Android handset into a Windows PC, you can very easily drag and drop files into folders, as if the device were just another drive.
That means your media libraries and documents are a snap to carry over and store locally, and you don't have to subscribe to a monthly cloud service if you have an especially large library. iPhones obscure the file system from the user for everything except photos, which can be very frustrating for dealing with music, documents and other forms of media.
Some Android phones, like the Galaxy S22 Ultra, even have special PC or display projection features, that let you use view and use your device in a desktop capacity. Samsung's DeX interface is one such example of this. With such versatility, a high-end Android phone could legitimately function as a replacement for one of the best Chromebooks or similarly ultraportable laptops.
Innovative features usually land on Android phones first. Sure, Apple's coffers are pretty stacked. However, it is just one company, with one philosophy. As a result, iOS can be slow — or at least slower than the Android community — to adapt to emerging technologies.
With so many companies building Android phones, it's little surprise that Android partners tend to beat Apple to the market with innovations in the mobile space. Wireless charging, fast charging, NFC, 4G LTE, 5G, OLED displays, in-screen fingerprint sensors, water resistance and multi-lens cameras all landed on Android devices before iPhones, as well as software breakthroughs like true multitasking, copy and paste and multiwindow support.
Of course, this isn't to say Apple hasn't delivered breakthroughs of its own. The iPhone X wasn't the first phone with face recognition, but it was the first with one that worked reliably and securely. However, far more Android phones are released from a variety of vendors every year, so it's just a matter of scale that hardware running Google's platform is swifter to adapt.
Which should you choose?
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
So then, iPhone or Android: Which should you choose? Both platforms have pros and cons, and, as with many purchase decisions, your choice will depend on what you value most.
Owning an iPhone is a simpler, more convenient experience. There's less to think about, and because Apple's iPhone represents the single most popular brand of smartphone, there's an abundance of support everywhere you go — whether you need your battery replaced or you're just trying to pick up a new case.
Android-device ownership is a bit harder in those respects. Yet it's simultaneously more freeing, because it offers more choice — choice of how much you want to spend, choice of hardware and software features, and choice in how you organize and personalize your experience. If you're extremely particular about the technology you use, you might find Android more liberating — dare I say, fun — though you'll also likely lament the relative lack of high-quality apps (e.g. Twitter) and accessories.
If you're wondering which particular device you should switch to, there's no better place to start than our lists of the best iPhones and best Android phones. Whichever device you pick, just make sure it fits with your operating system preferences.
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