iPhones are expensive. I just buy a Xiaomi phone with good components and crap software, unlock the bootloader, install good software (LineageOS). Does everything I need from a phone.

I didn't see anyone mention photos. Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I don't like the processing on iPhone pictures. They all look a bit soft.

They may win in video, I don't care about that enough for it to matter. Android cameras get way better development, partnerships, and processing, IMO.

@Cameri I came to Android to use rif for reddit. It's gone now and now i'm using the mastodon app chatting with everyone on lemmy.world and other instances. I have a main account on lemmy.world but i just use it to moderate my sub check my notifications and that's about it. I really like my S23 though

Sideloading of apps, Pixel features and having an always accessible back button/gesture

I use Windows, Linux and MacOS daily, and want a phone where the connectivity features don't care what platform I'm on. iOS wants you to be on other Apple devices.

Beyond that, Android is more flexible. I don't do much fiddling with my phone's configuration but I like to have the option.

Lastly, I just like the interface better. That's subjective, and no I understand completely why iphone folks prefer that interface, but I like the stock android interface much better.

This is probably specific to the Pixel phones, not sure how much if any is relevant to other manufacturers.

1. Call screening and spam filtering is amazing. Having the phone automatically screen unknown callers means I haven't had to deal with a spam caller in years. And valid callers don't seem to have any problems understanding whats happening anymore. I used to get several who confused it for a voice mail when it first came out, but now it seems they understand how to leave a screening message and wait for me to pick up.

2. The phone tree and hold for me when calling businesses. Being able to read the options and click the text makes it so much easier to get through the options without having to really pay attention, then having it hold for me until a person answers lets me do other things instead of having to keep listening.

3. Song identification on the lock screen. Whether I'm out at a bar or restaurant or at home watching a TV show and a song I like but don't know starts playing, being able to see exactly what it is without even touching my phone is so convenient. I've found so many cool new bands I never would have without this feature. Its also amazing how it can often identify covers made specifically for TV shows right when they first air.

4. Amazing camera and cool features like photo sphere and the new magic eraser. The camera might not be as head and shoulders above Samsung and Apple as it was in the past but it's still always amazing how well it does in different conditions.

I run stock Android on a Pixel device. I use android because I disagree with the walled garden approach. I should be able to share a photo album or message with anyone I want and I should be able to load software from wherever I want.

Back then, I found out that Android is more cutomizable than Apple, as well as cheaper. Not only that, I felt like Apple was restrictive at times. Also I can change my batteries which is significantly cheaper than buying a new phone every time.

Just switched back to Android a few days ago after using the iPhone for quite some time. Customization and control were my favorite reasons for Android in the past and it stayed the same. I use a Pixel 7 Pro with GrapheneOS. The fact that I even have an option to use a different OS that focuses on privacy is amazing.

• custom homescreens and themes
• more advanced browsers like Firefox
• sideloading apps
• automation via Macrodroid/Bixby Routines/Home Assistant
• open source alternatives like K9 mail
• more native integration with Google services, though this has become less crucial over the years

For me, it's a few things:

1. I've never been particularly fond of the ux and closed garden nature of iOS. The irony of course is that my primary laptop is a macbook, and my workstation OS is Windows and Linux.
2. I'm pretty specifically fond of the experience I get with Google's pixel line, in that I can remove pretty much all the crap wear that I can't get rid of on things like Samsung phones, they are fairly sturdy and performant, and I just like how stuff works.

For me it's mostly the freedom and potential for customization and personalization. I like being able to install almost any app I want, being able to use 3rd party hardware like cables, bluetooth devices, etc. Not saying you can't do any of that on Apple devices but it just doesn't feel as free. I also don't feel like I'm rewarding the questionable choices Apple does with their devices, like making it difficult to repair yourself. Their phones don't feel like they're truly mine.

At this point there are very few meaningful differences. They are both capable and there are plenty of good phones to choose from. I'm just used to Android.

FDroid and custom ROMs

I bought my first Android smartphone in 2008. In terms of computer ecosystems that I was interacting with leading up to that, I was using Windows, Mac OS, and Linux for various applications, so I don't think there was any tribalism in my decision to go Android. Rather, it was just that in testing Android and iOS through friends and at the telecom store I just could not wrap my head around iOS from a usability perspective. Android just felt really intuitive to me. I never have and probably never will be a mobile device power user, so flexibility in that regard wasn't a factor either. To this day, I've never had any serious software issue with Android devices, and they just do what I need them to do, in a format that I have gelled with from the get-go.

Tbh because it was cheap when I was younger, and now I don't really see a need to switch to iPhone (and have thus never used one). I like the photography on Pixel and also the UI better than iOS.

It folds.

I can use a small screen phone when I want to, and open it up for a small tablet when I need it. I also have more choices. I have one Android phone with a headphone jack and a small screen, while I have another Android phone that gets the latest Google software and features.

1. Ability to root
2. Ability to root
3. Ability to root

Gives me a lot of flexibility on customizing the look and feel, running apps / doing things that are otherwise prohibited - (e.g. using Android Auto in a banned country, keeping some bloatware apps / system processes from accessing internet, screen projection in AA), cleaner ways of ad blocking, more thorough control of the phone in general.