Choosing between these two operating systems is the biggest decision you’ll have to make when choosing a new smartphone. Read here for our breakdown of Android and iOS!

It’s one of the major conundrums when it comes to smartphone technology: the choice between the Android and iOS.

It’s always worth weighing up the differences between the two operating systems if you’re in the market for a new smartphone.

Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS systems account for more than 99.6% of all new smartphones sold in 2017.

Each of these operating systems boasts pros and cons – but are both overall excellent platforms. The two have similarities, but also crucial differences that could be the deal breaker on which one you end up choosing.

Read on for our breakdown of each one, based on important features such as affordability, apps, updates and battery life.

Value for Money

Cost is, of course, a big factor when it comes to choosing a phone. Apple’s iPhone X starts at £1000, while the iPhone 8 and the 8 Plus sits at a slightly lower cost. You can always opt for earlier models such as the iPhone 6S which is still a brilliant device and one of Direct Mobiles’ best-sellers.

Android goes lower still with a large range of low-cost models from various different manufacturers. The platform on these have been designed purposely to run on low-end hardware if needed, which is why you’ll sometimes be able to pick up an Android phone for less than £50.

You can indeed spend the same amount of money as you would on Apple phones (for example on Google’s Pixel 2 and Samsung’s Galaxy Note ranges) but the point is that there’s the option of spending less money if you want or need to so there’s something for every budget.

Apps

Android and iOS offer different ‘app stores’ to download and purchase apps – the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

The former offers a selection of 2.8 million apps, while the latter has 2.2 million to choose from.

Despite the 600,000 app difference, all of the most common ones can be found on both operating systems.

iOS may offer less in the way of apps, but it comes out on top here. iOS has been a more lucrative platform for developers, so new apps tend to appear in the Apple App Store first.

The Google Play Store, however, has more free apps on offer. Some of the ‘better’ regarded games don’t make it to Android though, which is another down side.

You can use TouchID to purchase and/or download apps on iOS too. Android are catching up with this function now as well. But Apple also tends to be stricter with which apps it allows on it’s App Store which means the quality is a bit more regulated. This is another iOS perk.

Charging and Battery Life

This is something that is a major factor for most people. How long a phone lasts without needing to be plugged in to charge is sometimes the biggest deal breaker for consumers – especially those on the go.

iOS is actually designed to make the most out of the battery with efficient use, but some Android phones come with the option of a bigger, more robust battery with a much longer life.

Both offer the function of checking battery usage and the option of keeping tabs on which apps use the most energy. They also both allow you to switch on low-power modes to save battery usage.

Android has the edge here, as it allows you to customise battery usage, while iOS doesn’t.

Both now offer fast-charging and wireless charge capabilities, but Apple products sell these accessories separately, while some Android smarrtphones include them at no extra cost.

Updates

While iOS offers software updates that are consistent and timely on all of their products, the same can only really be said with Android if you buy a Google Pixel phone.

About 50% of all iOS devices run the most recent version of their software. But just 0.2% of Android devices run on the latest Android software as they have to wait for the manufacturers to catch up each time and launch the update for their phone.

So, for the most up-to-date software, features, bug fixes and security updates the choice between Android and iOS leans more towards the latter.

Android and iOS Products

For all the latest deals on Apple and Google products, check out our website where  you can browse the various handsets on offer.  And if you still have questions, fire away in the comments.