15 features that iPhone should borrow from Android smartphones

1. Guest account

We all store mountains of confidential information on our smartphones, from personal photos to banking application data. And what to do when a friend asks you for your phone to call, or a child asks you to play? It seems inconvenient to refuse, but also scary to share the device.

Owners of Android devices do not have this problem. Their smartphones support adding multiple users to the system, just like in desktop OSes. Each profile has its own separate space for files, applications, settings, and so on. All you have to do is put your smartphone into guest mode and calmly give it to another person, let him do what he needs - he won’t see your files, and when he’s done, you’ll simply delete the guest account.

There is no such feature in iOS. iPhones are designed for one user only. Technically, someone else could sign in using their Apple ID on your device, but then you'd have to sign out of your own account and then sign in again. It is very uncomfortable.

2. Selecting Default Applications

For a long time in iOS it was impossible to select at all applications default. You could open links to files, web pages, or email addresses only in standard programs provided for these purposes by Apple. After updating iOS 14 on iPhone still appeared ability to switch “default applications”. And there are only two points: email and browser.

Android gives its users much more freedom. You can replace standard system applications, such as Phone, Messages, Voice Assistant, Home Screen or File Manager, with any others you wish. And third-party programs are often more functional and convenient than pre-installed ones.

3. Home screen customization

Another advantage of Android is third-party home screen skins, or launchers. Google Play is full of these programs for every taste and color. If you're not happy with how the interface looks out of the box, you can easily customize your smartphone to suit your personal preferences.

You can change both the appearance, structure, and functionality of the home screen. Increase the number of programs in a row, place widgets between them, hide unnecessary applications, adjust the number notifications on icons - all this is done quite easily.

Apart from different launchers, Google Play has many beautiful icon packs that will make your smartphone look stylish. And some Android devices have a built-in “Themes” application, thanks to which users can change the system style, fonts and icons with one click of a button.

Unlike Android, iOS does not allow you to change the appearance of the home screen, providing only one standard interface. No complicated settings or unusual scenarios for interacting with the home screen - you have to use what Apple designers came up with for you.

True, starting with iOS 14, the iPhone still has a way to change the program icon, having created for her “Quick Command”. But you are unlikely to customize the entire home screen this way, because you will have to perform actions for each icon. There are so many difficulties where Android users only need to select an item in the settings.

4. Split screen mode

Android provides quite a few features for multitasking. The main one is mode split screen, which divides the display in half and thus allows you to use two applications at the same time.

For example, you can place Google Sheets at the top of the screen and Calculator at the bottom to perform calculations and record the results in a document. Or, let's say, launch a browser in one part of the screen, and a notes application in another and take notes on the results of an Internet search.

Some Android smartphones with particularly large displays, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, allow you to run split-screen mode for up to three applications at the same time, plus place another program in a pop-up window above.

The iPhone has not yet caught up with Android phones in this aspect. Generally OS from Apple know how support multitasking mode. For example, on an iPad, you can run two apps side-by-side or open them in a central floating window.

But the iPhone does not have such a function. And even if you have a model with the largest screen possible, you will have to constantly switch between applications, without being able to keep two in front of your eyes at once.

5. Storage Expansion

One of the significant advantages of Android phones over Apple products is the ability to expand storage using microSD cards. It's special healthy, if you shoot tons of videos and photos.

Firstly, the card can be inserted into a smartphone to expand the memory capacity. Secondly, thanks to the presence SD cards tens of gigabytes of information will be copied faster than by air. You won't have to wait long if you need to transfer a large amount of data from your smartphone to your laptop.

The iPhone has never had an external storage slot. Therefore, when you run out of space on your Apple smartphone, you can’t simply buy more memory. You need to purchase a model with a larger internal storage capacity, which costs significantly more.

6. Cloning applications

On Android smartphones you can create clones of applications. This allows you to use multiple accounts even where support for multiple accounts was not initially provided. For example, if you need to log into two WhatsApp accounts on one device, you create a clone of the messenger and easily resolve the issue.

Very useful if you want to strictly separate work and personal life.

Some Android smartphone manufacturers such as Samsung, OnePlus and Xiaomi have made the cloning feature part of their firmware. If your version of Android does not support it, you can achieve the same result using third-party applications Parallel Space or Dual Space.

There is no way you can do this on an iPhone.

7. Fast charging

Android smartphones are significantly ahead of the iPhone in this regard. Maximum wired charging speed for iPhone 14 Pro Max limited 29 W (officially in the specifications there is only 20 W). By 2023 standards, this is not enough.

Meanwhile, Android device manufacturers are moving further in developing fast charging technologies. For example, OnePlus 11 supports 100W charging, which allows you to charge battery almost completely in 30 minutes. And Redmi Note 12 via the included 210 W charger copes with this in just nine minutes.

Part of the reason iPhones charge slowly is because Apple limits the speed to maintain battery longevity. But iPhone consumers are more likely to change device when a new model comes out, and do not wait for the battery to completely degrade. Meanwhile, the opportunity to almost fully charge your smartphone in 10–15 minutes before going outside is worth a lot.

8. Reverse charging

Many Android smartphones support so-called reverse wireless charging. This allows you to power various accessories, such as cases for headphones or a smart watch by simply attaching it to the case.

Not only cool flagships are equipped with this feature, but also mid-range devices like the Motorola Edge (2022) or Nothing Phone 1. This is very cool: you don’t need to look for a power outlet and ask for a charger if your headphones run out - you can charge them from your phone.

If you believe rumorsApple plans to add this feature to the iPhone one day, but when exactly is unknown. External MagSafe battery, e.g. capable charge from the iPhone case. But other than that, there are simply no accessories that support reverse wireless charging with Apple products.

9. Fast and functional USB interface

When connected to a computer via a USB cable, iPhone provides access to photos and video recordings - and nothing more. Android smartphones allow you to work with all internal memory. You can save music to your smartphone without iTunes, transfer documents, application installation files and other data.

You can also use a USB cable to connect your Android phone to Android Auto, if your car has one. Or connect your smartphone to your desktop computer to use mobile Internet on it. Sometimes this can be extremely useful. But the iPhone does not have such functionality.

Another weak point of the iPhone is slow data transfer via USB. Android smartphones with a USB Type-C connector transfer data at a speed of 5 Gbps (USB 3.1 Gen 1) or 10 Gbps (USB 3.1 Gen 2). While both iPhone models with Lightning ports and the new 15 series with USB Type-C are limited speed 480 Mbit/s (USB 2.0). This is very little.

10. Third Party App Stores

Most Android devices come with Google Play pre-installed to download new apps. But Google doesn't limit Android to just its own store—other manufacturers like Samsung and Amazon have their own. And Huawei was forced to abandon Google services altogether, and yet the brand’s phones do well without Google Play.

In addition to the official stores that belong to large vendors, there are smaller app stores. For example, the F‑Droid open source program repository, where you can find many useful rarities.

iPhone owners can only install applications from the official App Store, which is owned by Apple. Gone are the days when you could use Cydia and other jailbreaking methods to download third-party programs.

Perhaps in the near future Apple have to allow third-party software to be installed on their iPhones due to new European Union antitrust laws. But for now, the App Store remains the only source of applications for iOS.

11. Folding screens

Devices with foldable screens are all the rage, and almost all of them run Android. There are a few exceptions, with HP's Specter Fold and Asus' Zenbook 17 Fold running Windows.

Despite their high cost, the new generation of clamshells are not without prospects. It's very nice to be able to open up your smartphone, turning it into a mini-tablet for reading books, browsing the web and taking notes, then fold it back and put it in your pocket.

Apple doesn't have anything like this yet. There are rumors that the company is developing a foldable iPhone and is already refused from developing a hybrid smartphone and tablet in the spirit of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold. It's a pity. The idea of ​​opening up the iPhone to turn it into an iPad Mini sounds great.

12. Under-display camera

Another cool feature that only Android smartphones can boast of so far is under-screen cameras. This selfie module is hidden under a transparent AMOLED matrix and remains invisible until it is used. The flagships Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 are already equipped with this.

Thanks to the under-screen cameras, the smartphone display looks truly impressive: no “islands” or “bangs”, but only a large, clean screen.

Apple is trying to reduce the area on the front panels of the selfie camera and Face ID sensors on its smartphones. It is for this purpose that the company switched from “bangs” to “island” in the iPhone 14 Pro. presented in 2022. But the notch on the screen is still too large, and no amount of Dynamic Island tricks can hide it completely.

The “island” on the iPhone does not look very aesthetically pleasing. The most budget Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 with a cutout on the side of the screen has a camera that is less noticeable.

Apple is actively working on creating under-screen Face ID sensors, so the need for Dynamic Island may no longer be necessary in future models. But the company is still moving the selfie camera under the iPhone screen not going to. So here, in terms of innovation, Android devices are ahead of Apple devices.

13. In-display fingerprint scanner

Cameras under the display are a new technology and not yet very tested. But many Android smartphones can boast of an under-screen fingerprint scanner. But not the iPhone.

Meanwhile, it’s quite nice to be able to unlock the device using both facial recognition and a fingerprint sensor. This is convenient if you take your smartphone out of your pocket to take a quick look at it without holding it to your face. Or if you're wearing a motorcycle helmet. Or a medical mask. And although during the pandemic Apple taught You can recognize the owner of your smartphones only by their eyes; people with their faces covered still need to open them for Face ID to work.

And it’s easier to pay via a smartphone with a fingerprint scanner. With Touch ID need to bring the iPhone closer to the bank card reader, touch the Home button with your finger - and that’s it. When using Face ID, you need to turn on the screen, show your face, and only then can you make a payment.

There were rumors that Apple was going to return Touch ID to its smartphones and even patented some kind of cunning under-screen scanner operating in the short-wave infrared range. But when iPhones will get the feature that Android devices have had for years is anyone's guess.

14. Increased zoom

iPhone cameras generally have 3x optical zoom; the most sophisticated iPhone 15 Pro Max has 5x zoom. While the Android flagships are Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, S22 Ultra, S23 Ultra and Huawei P40 Pro Plus can boast cameras with 10x.

In terms of digital zoom, iPhones are also inferior to Android devices. The iPhone 15 Pro Max can only zoom up to 25x, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra can only zoom up to 25x. at 100, Xiaomi 13 Pro - at 70OPPO Reno 10 Pro Plus - at 120. And Google Pixel 7 Pro equipped 30x digital zoom.

15. "Desktop" mode

Some Android smartphones provide an interesting option - to use them as desktop PCs with an external monitor and keyboard.

For example, Samsung devices have mode DeX (short for Desktop eXperience). You connect smartphone via cable or wireless Miracast protocol to a monitor or TV, connect a mouse and keyboard - and get Android on the big screen. Working with documents, spreadsheets, presentations and notes in this mode will be no worse than on a regular laptop. Similar function Under the name Ready For, some Motorola smartphones can also boast.

Such features were not brought to the iPhone. If you need to open iOS apps on a larger screen, you'll have to buy an iPad.