In regards to security, Apple does have three upsides, and only those:

• No sideloading and no unlocked bootloader means you can't sideload malware or install malware-preloaded ROMs. No root also means you can't just install malware that uses root access.
• Long OS support means fewer people run around with iPhones that are 5 OS versions behind.
• There's no tiny boutique iPhone manufacturers who sell phones that come pre-loaded with malware.

The solution for the first one is "don't sideload untrusted stuff" and the solution to the second and third one is "buy an Android phone from a trusted manufacturer that has long term OS support".