this post was submitted on 13 Jun 2023
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Android

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Everyone has their preferences, I would love to hear why you guys prefer using Android!

(page 4) 50 comments
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[–] LaughingFox 4 points 2 years ago

Customization. That's my #1 reason I love Android.

[–] dantheclamman 4 points 2 years ago
  • custom homescreens and themes
  • more advanced browsers like Firefox
  • sideloading apps
  • automation via Macrodroid/Bixby Routines/Home Assistant
  • open source alternatives like K9 mail
  • more native integration with Google services, though this has become less crucial over the years
[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (5 children)

@Cameri I came to Android to use rif for reddit. It's gone now and now i'm using the mastodon app chatting with everyone on lemmy.world and other instances. I have a main account on lemmy.world but i just use it to moderate my sub check my notifications and that's about it. I really like my S23 though

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[–] Dream_state 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Sideloading of apps, Pixel features and having an always accessible back button/gesture

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

I had to use an iPad for something yesterday for the first time in a long time and truly have never appreciated the back button bring omnipresent on screen more in android

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

At this point there are very few meaningful differences. They are both capable and there are plenty of good phones to choose from. I'm just used to Android.

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[–] dinosoup 3 points 2 years ago

I actually use iOS but I’ve had phones on both sides of the aisle several times in the last 15 years. I work in cybersec and android excels at that kind of thing. Infinitely more power to access systems, use terminal, pull up ip based webpages, and a far more comprehensive app suite to do so. Personally, I’ve just found iOS more stable in my day to day but I have an android tablet for best of both worlds.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

@Cameri what has been said.

Plus the price. Really.

My current phone costed me less than 200$ and I got it from a seller that likes to inflate the prices.

It's got everything I need:

  • Stock Android
  • 128 GB of storage
  • 4 GB of RAM
  • A headphone jack
  • Triple camera (which does suck at times tho, but I do have a DSLR as well whenever I need something better. And no, the phone camera doesn't suck at night tho).
[–] anthoniix 3 points 2 years ago

FDroid and custom ROMs

[–] j0shh4nxd 3 points 2 years ago

Just switched back to Android a few days ago after using the iPhone for quite some time. Customization and control were my favorite reasons for Android in the past and it stayed the same. I use a Pixel 7 Pro with GrapheneOS. The fact that I even have an option to use a different OS that focuses on privacy is amazing.

[–] tallwookie 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I like android phones because they're cheap. if I damage it, no big deal.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

yeah, even though I buy a phone more often, and even though I'm willing to buy a mid-range phone, I still spend less on average than my wife who buys iPhones.

[–] zeruch 3 points 2 years ago

For me, it's a few things:

  1. I've never been particularly fond of the ux and closed garden nature of iOS. The irony of course is that my primary laptop is a macbook, and my workstation OS is Windows and Linux.
  2. I'm pretty specifically fond of the experience I get with Google's pixel line, in that I can remove pretty much all the crap wear that I can't get rid of on things like Samsung phones, they are fairly sturdy and performant, and I just like how stuff works.
[–] MrElSenor 3 points 2 years ago

For me it's mostly the freedom and potential for customization and personalization. I like being able to install almost any app I want, being able to use 3rd party hardware like cables, bluetooth devices, etc. Not saying you can't do any of that on Apple devices but it just doesn't feel as free. I also don't feel like I'm rewarding the questionable choices Apple does with their devices, like making it difficult to repair yourself. Their phones don't feel like they're truly mine.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

I run stock Android on a Pixel device. I use android because I disagree with the walled garden approach. I should be able to share a photo album or message with anyone I want and I should be able to load software from wherever I want.

[–] XiELEd 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Back then, I found out that Android is more cutomizable than Apple, as well as cheaper. Not only that, I felt like Apple was restrictive at times. Also I can change my batteries which is significantly cheaper than buying a new phone every time.

[–] Hamrion 3 points 2 years ago

In Turkey, Apple products are exorbitantly priced due to factors such as exchange rates, taxes, and so on.

[–] Kazoolius 3 points 2 years ago

Customization, and the access to apps on Google Play or even just on the internet. As long as you agree to accept liability, you can download pretty much any app package file and run It.

Apple is a lot more strict about only being able to download published apps, only from the App Store

[–] 100gecs 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

I only really use my phone for light browsing, texting, and calling.

I decided to splash out for my current phone, so that I could use it for 5+ years. $700 new in 2018, 8GB RAM, 256 Storage, Octacore CPU, 3700 mAh battery. OnePlus stopped pushing security updates, so I flashed another ROM that is still being updated. I expect this thing to run for a few more years.

The iPhone out in 2018 was the XS. the 256 GB version was $1150; worse CPU, worse battery, less RAM. I believe Apple is still supporting it for updates, but it should be near EOL.

The whole thing revolves around being ableto flash a ROM, though. For me it's a no-brainer, but I don't begrudge anyone for not being willing. If I wasn't going to do that.. I might actually get an iPhone, just for the extended shelf life. > Z Fold 3

[–] bigredcar 3 points 2 years ago

Because I can use the real Firefox and not a Webkit imposter. I tried an iPhone for a year but it was too restrictive for me. Having a choice in phone manufacturer helps too. I've had phones from many different companies over the years.

[–] spicytuna62 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Using a custom launcher is still one of Android's best features.

I also love having the app drawer. I keep the ten apps I use most frequently on my home screen. Firefox, Maps, PowerAmp, Phone, Messages, YouTube, Amazon Music, my bank... And everything else lives in the app drawer. I worked hard on getting a good wallpaper. I want to see it. That's what I liked least about my old iPod Touch. Once you have a fair few apps, you can't see the wallpaper anymore. If it's not important enough to go on my home screen, I don't mind grabbing it from my app drawer. Plus, I use Nova + Sesame to search. So just pulling up search and typing the first two letters gets me what I want 99.9% of the time.

I can't find shit on my wife's iPhone. I pull up Spotlight by default. I also do this on her MacBook because at least half the time I'm using it, I'm playing around in Terminal.

[–] linearchaos 2 points 2 years ago

I've done Palm Treos and windowsCE phones and, blackberries, I went Motorola Droid when they first came out, try to short stint with an iPhone 4, went back to Android ever since.

What's blocking me from going back to iPhone? Honestly they're hardware is great. Long battery life reasonable charging. It's the setup of the phone itself It's the software. It hasn't changed significantly since iPhone 4.

I want a large clock widget on my front page I want weather for this week at the bottom I want weather for today hour by hour, below that I want five folders, stuff to use while driving, media stuff, chat stuff, camera stuff, productivity stuff. I didn't want to have multiple desktops, swiping off main will bring me to gaming stuff, then drone flying stuff, then audio stuff.

Android software options historically were cheaper and free options were better than the Apple free options I'm not really sure that's the case anymore.

I'd like to have the option for a round watch with a functional physical bezel, that has 24 hours of battery life.

I'd like not to be penalized for using a Windows PC with my phone and my watch. Even a little garbage like you can reset your Apple account on an Apple device right now, but if you will need to reset it from Windows you have to wait 3 days.

It wouldn't keep me from transferring but, I'd miss stuff like Samsung dex.

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