14 DAY TRIAL // Right now, the mobile business world is pretty much divided into two different pieces: Android and iOS. These are the most popular mobile operating systems at the moment and they are so for a reason: they have proved to be very stable, reliable, benefit from excellent developer interest, so there are millions of apps on each.
Then, there’s Windows Phone/Windows 10 Mobile and BlackBerry OS 10, both of which are lagging behind the first two and are trying to deal with one major problem: the lack of apps.
Their parent companies have tried to solve this in different ways: while BlackBerry brought Android apps on OS 10, Microsoft developed its very own concept called “universal apps” and which encourage devs to create software that can run on any Windows 10 device, including PCs and smartphones, and which can automatically adapt to different screen sizes, offering the same UI and feature lineup.
Before anything, here’s a thing. I’m a long-time iPhone user, so I’ve tried pretty much all models until now, I love Windows Phone, and I agree that Android offers some advantages that no other platform does. So it’s actually hard to pick a device that does exactly what I want, looks good, has super-long battery life, and is easy to carry around.
I’m always keeping several devices running different OSes near to make sure I’m up-to-date with the latest improvements they get. After testing so many phones here on Softpedia, I certainly have my favorites. But this still doesn’t stop me from searching for perfection.
As I’ve said, I’m a long-time iPhone user, but there’s one problem here: Apple seems to be losing Steam and when analyzing what some other manufacturers are doing these days (I’m looking at you, Google), it’s pretty clear that Cupertino needs some fresh ideas for the iPhone lineup.
“The current iPhone lineup doesn’t feel fresh and needs better hardware.”
‘So what’s the problem with the iPhone?’ you could ask. First of all, the 6s/6s Plus lineup is not quite the upgrade I’ve been expecting. Sure, there’s 3D Touch, which I love and use on a daily basis, but other than that, my Plus now has a smaller battery and actually lasts less than its predecessor.
But that’s not actually the issue because, despite this, I still get at least 24 hours of battery life per charge. The problem is that iOS has barely changed over the years and the restrictions that Apple has put in place a long time ago are still there, so the operating system is slowly but surely becoming utterly boring.
You have no themes, icons look pretty much the same (OK, they’re flat now, but you still can’t change them), and there are limitations everywhere you look. You could always jailbreak, but this is clearly not an option for the average Joe. You do have the apps you need, but God, this OS doesn’t feel fresh at all!
Not to mention that the design of the iPhone 6s Plus, which is identical (with the exception of a few millimeters), really feels outdated, so the 5.5-inch phone is now bigger than others with a 5.7-inch display (such as the Lumia 950 XL). And all of a sudden, it started feeling heavy due to its nearly 200 grams weight. This is probably the result of the same boredom feeling that the iPhone lineup might be inspiring these days.
“Windows 10 Mobile still has an app problem”
So what I did was give Windows 10 Mobile another chance, hoping that I could make it without apps. I just couldn’t…
Basically, what I need is a powerful email client (which I have), a fast browser (which more or less I have), VPN support to access my corporate network (which I have thank to Windows 10 Mobile), and a bunch of shopping and food ordering apps that I had on my iPhone. These are all missing from Windows Phone and I found out the hard way that they actually matter more than I expected them to.
Apps are critical for each and every one of us and no matter how much Microsoft pushes for universal apps, it needs time for Windows 10 Mobile to succeed in this market. Former CEO Steve Ballmer said that Android apps are must-haves on W10M, but the current CEO actually wants to give universal apps a chance.
For the moment, as much as I love Windows 10 Mobile, I must admit that this platform doesn’t feel like it’s ready for prime time. It doesn’t have the apps, there still are bugs so updates are urgently needed, and the Lumia 950 XL, a device that’s supposed to be a flagship, is suffering from some really odd issues. Press the play button below to see what I mean.
So the next step was to pull out the Samsung Galaxy S6, go back to a smaller phone, and try Android once again.
This platform brings users the liberty of doing anything, as long as it’s legal. You can change icons, themes, ringtones, everything. You have millions of apps, everything has an alternative, so it’s nearly impossible to get bored of Android.
“Android… is not iOS.”
And yet, it’s not all just milk and honey. Despite all these good things, giving up on iOS and becoming a full-time Android user is certainly a challenge. Even with so many customization options, the UI is still more refined on iOS and apps clearly look better than on Android. Unfortunately, Android is not iOS; it doesn’t have that special feeling, the secret ingredient that makes you want to use it. And that’s a shame because the platform as a whole is great for the majority of people. But not for me, though.
Overall, iOS just feels more stable and reliable than Android, although on new phones, such as the Nexus 6P, it’s clearly faster than iOS.
So it was iOS on Friday, Windows Phone on Saturday, and Android on Sunday. Now guess what I’m using… moments of silence… I’m using this.
That’s right, I’m back to iOS because the smaller iPhone seems to resolve some of the setbacks I’ve mentioned above. The device doesn’t seem to be as dull as the Plus, but the fact that iOS continues to be a very static platform remains. The lack of customization could push people to other platforms and Apple should really keep this is in mind when working on the next update.
There’s no such thing as the perfect phone
But this weekend I’ve learned a very important lesson: there’s no perfect mobile OS and there’s no perfect phone. You still have to make compromises, no matter the choice. Sure, there will also be people who claim this isn’t so and their current phone is a dream come true, but sooner or later, everyone will understand that buying a certain phone can’t bring you perfection. Every device has pros and each one has cons, but the latter is the part that pushes you to another platform.
And no matter how great a certain phone is, if the freedom to tweak it and make it feel fresh every once in a while doesn’t exist, it’s certainly a very difficult mission to keep users on board.
Editor’s note: this is an opinion article and it expresses my experience with the three mobile platforms. If you don’t agree with some of the things posted here, you can use the comment box below to support your thoughts. I’ll be back here preparing my arguments arsenal waiting for criticism.