A day after the Apple keynote and already there are a stream of images circulating showing how the iPhone is finally getting old Android features. Some are more clever than others but lots of them centre around the same ideas. Android had these features a long time ago and so it is better. The fact is, this doesn’t necessarily equate.
Don’t get me wrong I have Android devices and there are some great features on the Android platform. For certain people they are the obvious choice but that doesn’t mean they are the best for everyone nor that one device stating it has certain numbers means it is better than others.
Numbers can Lie
It’s well know that the megapixel race with phone cameras isn’t necessarily producing better pictures. Sure, there are some huge advantages with having a high megapixel camera (such as zooming in digitally with less image quality reduction). However, when an image sensor crams in too many pixels into a small space, it can significantly lower the quality of each pixel.
This isn’t the only example, after all high ram is good but if you have a higher resolution screen then more ram will be needed to give the same performance as a lower resolution screen. Simple numbers can give a good indication but its the combination of those numbers that is really worth comparing.
Implementation is everything
It’s widely recognised that the iPhone was a game changer when it came to smartphones. It brought together a series of elements which had been present in other smartphones (in fact, many other smartphones had “better features” such as also including a tactile keyboard) but the implementation was better.
Take a look at the finger print scanner on both the latest Samsung phones and the iPhone 5s. The former is okay, a simple swipe will unlock your phone but the iPhone has the simplicity of pressing down the TouchID sensor and leaving your finger on the same button. It’s a whole load simpler but on paper it’s the same feature.
BUT that doesn’t make the iPhone better
Don’t get me wrong, I’m impressed by some of the new features that Apple is bringing to their devices. They look like well thought out implementations of ideas which have been present on other devices for a while. However, Android has improved a lot of the core operating features and design which looks to continue with the next OS release. Furthermore, LG and Motorola have shown that they can implement some great new ideas with voice control and similar.
For me, I’m sticking with my iPhone 5s for the moment. I prefer the smaller size and greater single hand operating functionality. I understand users who will upgrade to the iPhone 6(+) or choose an Android phone but I prefer this implementation.
What do you think is the best new Apple feature (or feature they are still missing)? Let us know in the comment section below, or on Google+, Facebook, or Twitter.
Last Updated on November 27, 2018.