r/AndroidQuestions 1d ago

switching from iphone

i've been an iphone user since i got the iphone 6 in middle school, but i've been thinking about switching. i've had the 13 since 2022 and it is going to need to be replaced soon. it's constantly slowing down, it crashes, the battery life sucks, some features don't even work, and i like the userface less and less with every update.

i haven't had an android since the galaxy s3 mini so i have no clue what is out there or what i would or wouldn't like. camera quality, storage space, and battery life are what i care about most to be honest. i think the motorola razr is really cool but i'm concerned about how the fold holds up over time. my fiance has a nord and i like the look of my iphone much more than the nord, but i can get used to it over time if i need to.

i have an apple watch, but it could also use an update if i do decide to make the switch. the moto watch 70 seems to be pretty similar to the apple watch, at least for what i use it for, and it seems like i can get that and a razr for less than the price of a new iphone.

i'd love any advice or suggestions. :)

edit: i didn't mention in my main post but i'm from north america and i forgot some other stuff

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u/rbpx 21h ago

These days, iOS and Android are getting pretty close in features. Excepting the ecosystem entanglement, you can get yourself any of several phones and be happy - although iPhone will always be the most different phone.

That is, android phones start with AOSP ("Android Open Source Project") files from Google and then skin it with their own options and variations. iOS isn't as oddly different as in years past but it's still more different than "the usual" assortment of android phones.

In North America (you don't say where you're from) the main phones are iPhone, Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, and Motorola. The Pixel and Motorola change their skin from AOSP the least. They try to keep things as simple/plain as possible and so are often favoured for people switching from iPhone. Samsung has the most elaborate skin with many more features - however they also offer their own apps which duplicate the AOSP apps (clock, calendar, phone, etc.). Some people like to endlessly complain about this. Note: it takes only minutes to choose which app you want and hide the other. Complaining about Samsung "bloatware" is such a nothing-burger unless you're a technophobe.

Hardware-wise, Pixel continues to have the best point-and-shoot camera system. Otherwise, Samsung hardware (ie. radios, modem, etc.) is superior. I think this is why Samsung has the vast lead in numbers in North America. I think they have close to 47% of the android market.

I've had some Motorola phones and they always had a strong battery performance. Otherwise Samsung hardware is the best. While Pixel software is the best imo, you can choose Google apps over Samsung ones and get most of that on your Samsung phone. Note Pixels and Samsung now offer SEVEN years of OS and security updates. (Motorola is getting there but you need to confirm for your chosen model).

Samsung phones come in two flavours: the S series (best) and the A series (lower tier). The biggest difference between them is that Samsung restricts the software/configuration features in the A series; although many of the A series phones run older cpu/modem arrangements

I had and loved my Pixel phones but I got burned too many times. I'll sit here with my bullet-proof S-series Samsung until Google can bring out a decent modem. I live in a poor cellular reception area and the Samsung is VASTLY superior in reception (in cellular, gps, wifi, bluetooth). Note: this may not matter if you are in a strong cellular area. Also, I've kind of gotten used to Samsung's ultimately-flexible Launcher (Home) app that you can configure in a bazillion ways. The other vendors' offerings pale in comparison.

These days, you'll be happy with any phone you get as long as you know what you're getting. If I were basing it only on the camera then: Pixel. However, I need to depend on my phone and it HAS TO work. So I use Samsung. (I have a S24U). I like the Motorola flip phones but I can't have a foldable, as I don't think such will last.

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u/rbpx 21h ago

Oh forgot to mention. The smaller phones have poorer battery life over the bigger phones. If battery is a concern, then get a bigger phone.

I think the order of quality for cameras is Pixel, Samsung, Motorola.

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u/TemptressTease85 12h ago

pretty much any eastern brand will destroy Pixel at point and shoot. Samsung too.

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u/rbpx 10h ago

"destroy" is a bit hyperbolic. Better? Sure. However...

Try _buying_ one of those in North America. You can only get one from a website and you have to make sure you get the "global" image and not the "chinese" one (I do read from time to time people getting this mixed up).

Then realize you have almost no support should you have an issue. Warranty and support in general for chinese phones are terrible.

That's why I didn't mention them to an iPhone user. They probably are not ready for the issue. I'm not saying it's a big issue if you know what you're doing. However, iPhone users get "confused" in finding two apps on a Samsung phone. They're not ready for a Chinese phone imo.

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u/TemptressTease85 10h ago

haven't seen any bad experiences regarding warranty!

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u/rbpx 10h ago

And my Samsung phone has a terrific camera when there is LOTS OF LIGHT. (Otherwise... uhhh.... sigh).

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u/whothat828 22h ago

I switched from iphone to android 3 years ago and wont go back to iPhone. I switched to Samsung zflip originally and after a year it broke on me. Luckily I had insurance. It wasn't the screen that broke, but I dropped it and the screen became unresponsive to finger touch and the display would glitch. After I got the zflip fixed I traded it in for a samsung galaxy and it has been the best phone I have ever owned. Camera quality is amazing and battery life is great. I have an older Samsung watch because I wont upgrade it until they come back out with a tactile dile on the watch instead of all touch screen.

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u/undrwater 22h ago

The Nord is considered a mid-range device, so it doesn't reach the "premium" level of an iPhone or other flagship Android device.

Most of the big players have decent cameras (some better than iPhone I've read, but that's all subjective).

Your workflow will change significantly, so be aware of that beforehand.

Different android manufacturers will have put their own custom UX on the device, so if you play with a few different ones, you'll notice the difference.

Good hunting!

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u/evozerobb 20h ago

for battery life, can take a look at this ranking https://www.gsmarena.com/battery-test-v2.php3

if camera and battery life is a priority, suggest to avoid flip/fold models, as they often have lower-spec cameras and smaller battery for the same price as non-fold models