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Comparison of Android vs IPhone

by adrian vintu 1/14/2010 7:22:00 PM

Today I made a comparison of Android vs IPhone. I made the list together with an IPhone enthusiast. The results were surprising for both of us. If fact, they were so surprising that the IPhone user is now inclined to go for the Android on the next phone purchase.
Here is the comparison of Android vs IPhone.

Pros for Android

SMS delivery report - for the IPhone you need a third party apparently
notifications without INTERNET - one of the biggest drawback of the IPhone is that you cannot have notifications without Internet -> the notifications are stored on the Apple servers
can install applications from any site - IPhone applications can only be installed from the Apple store (unless the phone is jail broken)
multiple physical menu buttons - used for navigation and quick shortcuts, allows greater screen size (no more software menus)
physical menu button allows recent 6 tasks (like ALT+TAB in Windows) - absolutely useful
the Home screen is organized in 3, 4 or 5 virtual screens, the rest of the applications lie in a list - usability, quick to access most used apps - on the IPhone there are "limitless" virtual screens on Home
can install on the Home screen - widgets, shortcuts, folders
physical keyboard - on some models
open source OS
can install different/homebrewed firmwares
can install home brewed apps
background apps/ multitasking
can make own application to hook into anything - calling, traffic, media, encryption, etc
dev SDK is free and cross platform. IPhone is for $100+ and only works on MAC.
programming is done in Java, bridges exist from J2ME, C#, etc. IPhone uses Objective C
programming - can run interpreters. IPhone only allows running Objective C byte code
easy access to the SD card (both from computer and from the phone). can copy MP3s, read ebooks, etc
cheaper than the IPhone
easy removable/replaceable battery.
5 mega pixel camera + blitz/flash

Pros for IPhone

screen brightness/clarity
bigger sofware keyboard - because of the wider screen
great 3D apps and harware
easy data synchronization
proximity sensor - saves battery and "locks" the screen
zoom using two fingers - pictures, browser, etc - though some Android phones also support multi touch

EDIT: An update comparison of Android vs iPhone vs Nokia vs BlackBerry vs Windows Mobile 7 is avalilable here http://adrianvintu.com/blogengine/post/Comparison-of-Android-vs-IPhone-vs-Nokia-vs-BlackBerry-vs-Windows-Mobile-7.aspx

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Comparison of Android vs iPhone vs Nokia vs BlackBerry vs Windows Mobile 7DEX for Android - DEX pentru AndroidHow to Debug on the Samsung Galaxy I7500 Android Phone

Comments

1/23/2010 9:30:04 PM

Nexus One has a proximity sensor.

vana dragos

1/25/2010 7:10:09 PM

As Dragos mentioned above, Nexus One has a proximity sensor, and regarding multi-touch, this is a most controversial and misunderstood subject. Since Android 2.0 the SDK supports simultaneous touch events (the equivalent of Apple's multi-touch) for up to 3 pointers on the screen. The only problem is that existing apps do are not implemented to support that, but they will probably get updated, and new apps depend on how the developers design them to include multi touch or not.

Mihai Campean

3/19/2010 2:45:20 AM

> 1. screen brightness/clarity

My Motorola Milestone has a higher resolution screen than the iphone. The brightness is the same.

> 2. bigger sofware keyboard - because of the wider screen

My Motorola Milestone can run in portrait or in landscape mode with the virtual keyboard.
It also has a hardware keyboard.

> 3. great 3D apps and harware

Quake 2 runs without problems at 30 fps.
With Android 2.1 the Milestone can run Google Earth.

> 4. easy data synchronization

For Google services at least this is automatic.
Admittedly for other apps it could be better.

> 5. proximity sensor - saves battery and "locks" the screen

The proximity sensor turns off the screen when I am on a call and the phone is next to my face. The screen comes on again when I take the phone away from my face.

> 6. zoom using two fingers - pictures, browser, etc - though some Android phones also support multi touch

Motorola Milestone has multitouch.

anon

3/27/2010 9:00:55 PM

"9. open source OS

18. cheaper than the IPhone

20. 5 mega pixel camera + blitz/flash"

9. How is support for an open source OS on a mobile device? Linux didn't actually take off on desktop computers or laptops, isn't it? - and it's been around for over a decade now.

18. Nope, it's about the same price for both. You can unlock the iPhone for $20-30.

20. Digital camera resolution is a gimmick. The most important part of ANY camera is the lens. A camera with 3Mpx and high quality lens takes far better pictures than one with 10Mpx and average-quality lens. Basically, unless you're a professional photographer or want to print your pics on A4 or greater paper size, then you do not need more than 4Mpx resolution; however high-quality lens is a must for any camera - if you want great pictures.

RE: multi-sensor
iPhone has multi-sensor since the 1st version issued in 2007.

Keyser Soze

2/12/2011 11:36:17 AM