apple vs android debate is forced and stupid
i've been thinking of updating to iphone 17 from my iphone 13 mini and while looking for product reviews/opinions on the new iphones, i came across a shocking amount of people hating on one or the other. mostly android users saying that apple users are in a cult.
if we get down to it, are the platforms really that different? does one offer something significantly different than the other, other than android fold phones?
here are the similarities. they both
- run on us software
- have no SD card support
- push for cloud services - icloud in apple, onedrive for samsung
- are expensive (you could buy cheaper new androids and second-hand old iphones for cheaper)
- have the same-ish design
most of the modern mainstream phones are the same, imo. you're getting a bigger screen and a better camera, you can install apps - which are mostly the same. people get instagram, telegram/whatsapp/snapchat, youtube, etc.
if i am to think of actually going outside the box and doing something different in terms of phones, i would think of:
- button phones i've got two of these i think. one doesn't turn on anymore, and one i managed to brick while removing bloatware (hmd's nokia). by the way, the story of the slow death of nokia, specifically the contribution of stephen elop, reads like a fucking thriller. if anyone has any book suggestions about this, or similar to "after steve", please let me know! i am getting offtopic, sorry!
- different os. debatably harmony os, i believe it is different enough from android, + you can still install your own apk's there. although huawei also pushes for using their cloud, they also do not provide SD card support, and the device feels largely like an android. so, eh... but it feels a little bit different from apple/android at least
- going full out and having a landline. kind of joking, kind of not. maybe it is me being nostalgic, but i think there was something to it. i would talk for hour to my friends and had to get off the line when my dad wanted to go online, lol
- going hard into privacy. this is a good video that gives a quick overview on what could be done to have a more private phone
things i've noted above are very fun and extremely inconvenient. i think there should be more of that in life. something that requires effort, something that is difficult but rewarding in the long run. maybe i should lean into that more.