Since its introduction back in 2007, Android has come a very long way. It has become popular for companies and consumers alike due to its customisation options and how easy it is to adapt it to what you need from it. This being said, iOS still has a few aces up its sleeve that Android struggles to emulate.
iCloud
With iCloud on iOS you can rest assured that all of your photos, data and even settings and app layout are kept safe so that if you have to change devices you can just download it and continue as before. Although Android has some of these functions it can be fragmented with one app handling pictures, another handling contacts and requires the user to search for different apps in the store to ensure they have everything they wish saved kept safe.
Continuity between devices
iOS excels with interconnectivity between its devices, allowing a user to continue typing a text from one device and finishing on another, or making and receiving calls on any device using your mobile number. This is something Android suffers from as you have limited options when switching devices, and normally require certain apps to aid with this.
Regular updates
Every iOS device bought comes with the guarantee of updates for at least a few years, with even the iPhone 5 from 2012 able to run the latest iOS 10.
Android users will be well aware that this isn’t the same for their devices. Most Android devices will receive updates regularly for a while but when a new version of Android comes out it is almost like they give up on the old one in favour of the new version, so many will have to upgrade their device to stay up to date. This problem stems from what makes android so successful, its customisation. Because companies have free reign to adapt and tweak the OS to their liking it can make regular updates problematic as not all updates will be compatible.
Widgets on the lock screen
Another thing where Android could benefit from iOS ideas is its lock screen widgets. Being on the lock screen means that the home screen is kept clutter free and the widgets are quicker to access, having to just swipe left on the lock screen to access them. It would be interesting to see if Android does adopt this idea as Android widgets tend to be more powerful and efficient but currently take up valuable home screen space.
'Human'-like Assistant
Siri has been a favourite for many for years, with her human like personality, ability to read poems and tell jokes, she makes asking questions very interactive and easy. The same can’t be said for her Android cousins, who only pull up responses to direct questions and the whole experience feels like interacting with a lifeless machine. The new Google assistant for the Google Pixel looks to have improvements in this area but still has a way to go before it can compare with Siri.
If Android and iOS could be blended into one perfect operating system it would truly be a thing of beauty. Both have positives and negatives to them and could definitely benefit from borrowing each other’s ideas