I have a confession, of sorts. For the past several years, I’ve mostly been an Android and Windows user. Windows and Android are great operating systems that compete quite well against Apple’s Mac OS for computers and iOS for phones. But, as a tech journalist and CEO of an internet safety organization that serves all device users, I got a little bit rusty when it came to the Apple ecosystem. It wasn’t always this way. For many years, I was mainly a Mac user. I’ve always had an iPhone. It’s just that the one I had was getting a bit out of date.
About two weeks ago, I decided to fix this by purchasing several Apple products. I started with an Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max. It doesn’t work with my Google Pixel 3 watch, so I bought an Apple Watch Series 10. And, although my Pixel Earbuds do work with the iPhone, I nevertheless bought an Apple AirPod 2 Pro, partially to try out the hearing-aid function, which will be the subject of a future column. Finally, after realizing my old MacBook Air was too old to support the latest version of Mac OS, I bought a refurbished 512 GB Mac Mini. Although I don’t own every Apple product, I now have a cross section of their latest offerings.
Learning curve and trade-offs
Whenever one switches platforms, there is always a learning curve. While you’re trying to get used to a new device, there is often a period when you wish you hadn’t switched. In the broad scheme of things, Android and iOS are pretty similar as are Windows and Mac. But the differences in the user interfaces are just enough to confuse you for a while.
There are also trade offs when it comes to features. Even though the iPhone and other Apple products have features that may be lacking in Android and Windows, Apple products don’t have some features that I’ve gotten used to in the other platforms.
For example, Android has a consistent way to move back either within an app or from an app to the home screen by swiping to the right. If you want to make the interface even simpler, you can turn on “3-button navigation” and always have “Go Back,” “Home” and “Switch Apps” buttons on the bottom of your screen.
iOS has some of these features. Like Android, you can swipe up to go home and up and left or right to switch apps, but there is no universal way to back out of things. Sometimes swiping to the right takes you back, but sometimes it doesn’t. Some apps have an arrow key to take you back, but it may be on top of the screen or on the bottom. Others have an X on the screen to close that window and take you back. Others have the word “Done.” Sometimes it’s obvious how to close a window and go back. At other times, I have to hunt around to figure it out. Over time, it’s getting easier, but compared with Android, it’s cumbersome, which is odd considering the Apple Mac is known for its ease of use and consistent user interface.
Another thing that I find slightly annoying is having to click on an icon on the home screen to get to iPhone settings. You can do that with Android, but you can also swipe down from the top to get to a control panel that includes a link for Settings along with a power button that lets you power off or restart in addition to other options. iOS makes it pretty easy to turn off your phone, but to restart without powering down, you have to quickly press up volume, then down volume and then hold the side button for a very long time. I guess Apple doesn’t want you to restart.
iPhone also has a control panel you access by swiping diagonally down from the top right, but it doesn’t offer a restart button or a settings button, though I love that you can swipe up in that control panel to see a way to quickly control or stop any audio that’s playing.
Closing apps
Apple has said there’s no reason to close apps because they don’t take any system resources, but I sometimes find it annoying to have too many apps open because it means having to scroll through them all if I want to switch apps. Android has a “close all” option that I often use to close all my open apps. To do that on iOS, I have to swipe up on each one. I’ve since learned that it’s easier just to return to the home screen or the app library and re-click on the app icon.
Many happy iOS users
I’m sure there are plenty of happy iPhone users wondering why I’m complaining about a device that they find easy to use. The fact is that the easiest to use device is always the one you know, and I’m sure a lot of iOS users would complain if they suddenly switched to Android. I spoke with one iPhone user who didn’t even know what I was talking about until he looked closely at his apps.
What I’m loving about iPhone
Despite my complaints, I’m enjoying the iPhone. It has an elegance and a smoothness to it that starts with the lock screen and carries through to all aspects of the user interface. It has more respect for users’ privacy and security, such as requiring all apps to ask permission before they can track you. Even the PIN you type to log-in is more secure — six digits instead of four — but it’s also more annoying to have to use a six-digit PIN. When you use Google Pay on an Android, you simply put your phone next to the terminal. Apple requires you to double-click the side button. Again, it’s more secure but a little more time consuming. Still, these may be good trade-offs to increase security.
There are some things I’m loving such as how easy it is to turn a phone call into a Facetime video from within the phone app. I wish Facetime were available on Android, but it’s common for Apple to restrict its apps to its products while Google, Meta and most other companies make apps for both platforms.
Just as I appreciate Google’s ecosystem that includes a watch, earbuds and a system to find your other Google devices, I love that Apple also has its ecosystem, though again, I wish the two popular mobile operating systems would support the other’s accessories. I am also loving AirTags and the fact you can buy inexpensive third-party tags that work with Apple’s Find My App and that every iOS device in the world can help you find an AirTagged item that you may have misplaced. Google recently introduced its version of that, but there aren’t enough Android phones in the U.S. to reliably help you find a missing device.
I also like the look and feel of the Apple Watch, but I do have some complaints when comparing its fitness features with the Google Pixel Watch 3, but that, plus suggestions on how to get around those limitations, will be the subject of a future column.
$3 and 7 days to transfer Clipper card
There was one hassle that I didn’t anticipate. I had earlier transferred my Clipper card for Bay Area trains and buses from a physical card to my Android phone, but to transfer it from Android to iPhone (or vice versa), I had to pay a $3 fee and wait up to seven days for the physical card to arrive so I can then transfer it to the iPhone. That strikes me as an annoying and unnecessary process. The least they could have done was waive that $3 “lost card” charge.
For the time being at least, I’m leaving my Android phone, watch and earbuds at home and taking my iPhone with me when I’m on the go. But my Pixel phone remains fully charged on its stand on my desk, ready to use at any moment along with the Pixel Watch and earbuds. I have enough love to go around.
Larry Magid is a tech journalist and internet safety activist. Contact him at larry@larrymagid.com.