6 iPhone Features I Miss After Switching to Android

Apple introduced lock screen customization on iPhones alongside iOS 16 in 2022. A year later, in 2023, Google introduced lock screen customization with Android 14, but its implementation is nowhere close to what you get on the iPhone.

On the iPhone, you can customize the lock screen with widgets and wallpapers using depth effects and various filters. In comparison, Android 14 offers limited lock screen customization options.

You can choose from a few different clock styles, switch to a different Material You color, or use a separate wallpaper; that's about it. There's no depth effect or widgets that you can apply to make the lock screen stand out or more useful.

2 Continuity Camera

Continuity Camera is a handy feature that lets you use your iPhone as a webcam with your Mac. It works almost like magic: your Mac will automatically show a prompt to wirelessly use your iPhone as a webcam when you launch a video calling app.

Google added the ability to use Pixel phones as webcams via an Android 14 Feature Drop. However, its implementation is inferior to that of iPhones. It requires a wired USB connection to work, and even then, the picture quality is below par. Plus, it is not as straightforward to use as Continuity Camera. As if that's not enough, the feature is limited to Google Pixel phones.

I used Continuity Camera numerous times with my iPhone 13 Pro for Zoom and Google Meet calls. What made the feature stand out is that I could even use camera modes like Center Stage, Portrait Mode, Desk View, and more. In comparison, Google's implementation is basic and lacks such options.

3 Superior Video Quality

I have used several flagship Android phones since switching from my iPhone 13 Pro. This includes the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Pixel 8 Pro, and even the Xiaomi 14 Ultra with its big 1-inch sensor. And yet, none of them can match the video quality of the iPhone 13 Pro.

It's not just about the video resolution, bitrate, or detail. Videos taken from the Pixel and Xiaomi 14 Ultra look great as long as there's plenty of light around. In low-light scenarios, the iPhone takes cleaner videos with low noise.

More importantly, I noticed that the Pixel and Xiaomi capture sub-par audio in challenging scenes. There's also a noticeable OIS jitter on the Xiaomi phone when panning, which I never noticed on my iPhone.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra came closest to matching the video quality experience of the iPhone 13 Pro. But it falls apart when quickly switching between lenses; the transition is jittery and not smooth. The issue even exists on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

I've recorded hundreds of videos using the iPhone 13 Pro and never saw dropped frames or jitter when switching between lenses. Plus, unlike the iPhone, the Galaxy cannot record ProRes or Dolby Vision videos.

Admittedly, Android phones offer additional features and flexibility while recording videos, including the ability to shoot in 8K resolution. But that doesn't matter much if the footage has issues.

4 Integration With Other Apple Devices

Android lacks the deep integration that iPhone users enjoy with other Apple products. With cross-device copy-paste support, if I copy something on my iPhone, it's automatically available to paste on my iPad (and vice versa). Similarly, if my iPad detects it's not connected to the internet, it will prompt me to use the iPhone as a hotspot.

With just a tap, I can seamlessly hand off my Safari browsing session or a FaceTime call from the iPhone to the iPad. Even better, I can use my iPad to answer calls on my iPhone—a feature that feels like magic even after being around for years.

While Android runs on more than just smartphones, it lacks the same level of integration. Android tablets and phones don't integrate as well with each other, and they lack all the features mentioned above.

Some devices from Samsung or Xiaomi offer similar functionality, but it requires owning both devices from the same brand. Even then, the implementation is nowhere close to that of Apple.

iPhones also offer deep integration with Macs, which I missed a lot after switching to an Android phone. If you use a Windows PC, you can use Microsoft's Phone Link app to replicate similar functionality, including instant hotspot, screen mirroring, and cross-device copy and paste. But you're out of luck if you use a Mac like me.

5 MagSafe Accessories

Once you've used MagSafe accessories with your iPhone, there's no going back. Apple's standard allows a bevy of accessories that can magnetically snap on the back of your iPhone. You will find plenty of MagSafe cases, car chargers, bike mounts, and wallets for the iPhone.

While using my iPhone 13 Pro, I went all in on MagSafe for convenience. Plus, it removes a major frustration with wireless charging, ensuring you don't have to worry about aligning the phone with the charging pad.

Switching to Android made me realize how practical and convenient MagSafe is in daily use. I could bring my iPhone close to the car mount, and it would magnetically attach in place. Although the Qi2 wireless charging standard brings the benefits of MagSafe to Android, none of the flagship Android phones launched in early 2024 have adopted it.

6 Polished Apps

Both the Play Store and App Store boast hundreds of thousands of apps and games. However, despite Android phones being just as powerful and capable as iPhones, I have noticed the latter often has a greater selection of more powerful and polished apps.

On iOS, you get powerful third-party camera apps like Filmic Pro and Halide Mark II with an equally impressive interface. While there are some powerful camera apps for Android, they are all clunky to use. And it's not just camera apps. Popular mail clients like Outlook and Spark feel much more polished on the iPhone than on Android.

The gap in app quality could be due to differences between developer tools and APIs. Still, as an Android user, it's disappointing that even after all these years, I need an iPhone for a better app experience.

There are other areas where iOS trumps Android. For instance, third-party solutions cannot match the iMessage and FaceTime experience Apple offers. Despite these factors, I am unlikely to ditch Android and return to an iPhone.

iOS has its own issues, including a limited notification system, no NFC access to third-party payment apps, and more. But if you're on the fence about switching from iPhone to Android, you may want to reconsider your decision based on the above points.

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