You may even have friends and relatives trying to convince you of the virtues of one or the other.
But unless you already understand the smartphone market, you probably have questions.
For instance, is the iPhone an Android phone?
For example, a Ford and a Subaru are both cars, but they’re not the same vehicle.
The same is true of iPhone and Android.
They’re both smartphones and can generally do the same things, but they’re not identical.
There are four keys areas that differentiate the iPhone and Android phones.
Windows is an example of an OS that runs on desktop and laptop computers.
The iPhone runs iOS, which is made by Apple.Android phonesrun the Android operating system, made by Google.
Manufacturers
Another major differentiator between iPhone and Android is the companies that manufacture them.
The iPhone is only made by Apple, while Android isn’t tied to a single manufacturer.
Google even makes itsown Android phone, calledthe Google Pixel.
The iPhone is like the macOS: it’s made by Apple and only runs on Apple devices.
Which of these options you prefer depends on a lot of things.
Many people prefer the iPhone because its hardware and operating system are both made by Apple.
This means they’ll be more tightly integrated and deliver a polished experience.
Need some help deciding whether you should buy iPhone or Android?
Check outIs Android or iPhone the Better Smartphone?
Apps
Both iOS and Android run apps, but their apps are not compatible with each other.
It’s also important to know that some useful, high-quality apps only work on the iPhone.
Having to support hardware from just one manufacturer makes development easier, too.
Sometimes they don’t release Android versions at all, but this is less and less common.
Security
As smartphones become more and more central to our lives, their security is increasingly important.
On this front,the two smartphone platforms are very different.
Android is designed to be more interoperable and available on more devices.
The downside of this is that its security is weaker.
