My wife has been iPhone only and is now going to switch to Android for her next phone. The reason: she doesn't like Airpods, and any other Bluetooth headset is unreliable. (Apple just works only as long as they control all the hardware.) She wants to go back to a regular headphone jack because Bluetooth is horrible across the board. As the Android in the house I'm happy to see her defect. Mostly I like having raw access to the file system, it'll make handling her backups much simpler.

Well, too bad pretty much no recent high-end Android phone has a headphone jack now

Oh?! I've been out of it.

There's a few options: https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-phones-with-a-headphone... But yes, it does seem like a sad trend.

I don't like AirPods either, that's why I use Beats Flex. They're super comfortable, they come with multiple silicone cups to fit perfectly inside your ear, and they connect to your phone without any hassle.

(as an IOS user)

IOS doesn't support emulators. The photo functions on the latest pixel phones are pretty slick (e.g. deleting unwanted objects in the scene). Nightsight is better on Android. File management makes sense on Android where as on IOS, it can be difficult or impossible to get access to files without going through the app. Local backups to file storage are basically impossible on IOS.

I could go on, but IOS is an appliance where as android feel more like a PC. IOS is what happens when apple is allowed to take the "mice only need one button" idea to it's most extreme.

Cost?

Yeah, you can get an android phone that will take pictures, send messages, play, music, run Uber/maps, and take calls for under $50. Those phones aren’t great, but they are usable. They can do everything that you “need” a smart phone to do.

It’s been a bit since I was in the cheap android phone market, but those phones don’t work as well as you say. Calling texting probably work fine, but I doubt Uber or maps will work great or at all. Anything internet heavy like that and you’re gonna be crazy frustrated

Those phones are not “usable” in any sense except the bare minimum. How many of these sub USD 200 phones have you used and for how long?

How are they not usable? I use a Nokia 7.2 and I think it's a perfect phone. Good screen. Pure Android. Fast. Nice camera (though I really don't care about this). It has 64GB of internal storage, but adding an SD card was straightforward.

An older, once premium model can be a good middle ground. I usually buy used and had a Note4 for several years, then my SO used it, then I used it again, then we resold it in working condition. It also had a swappable battery and card slot. Both likely helped extend its life.

My over two year old Xiaomi (mi max 3) cost just under that, it still works fine ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I would rather buy a used iphone for slightly more then. Less need to manufacture shit that will barely make it a year, better support and better hardware.

I got an iphone for work recently. Year old. 180 dollars. Blows budget androids out of the water.

I have never had an Android phone last more than 3 years. Most of them were sluggish or degrading after only 18 months. I'm 23 months in on my first iPhone and it feels as fast as the day I got it. I can't recall ever experiencing battery life anxiety either. I have friends that have used their iPhones for 5-6 years with no problems.

The upfront cost is higher but you can expect a much longer service life and the resale value is higher if you still feel the need the newest model on shorter timeframes.

Non issue. People upgrade into 3 year old iphones (still performant ofc) for nothing.

Market share outside the US appears to indicate it's still more than 'nothing'

Outside the U.S. they don't have that sort of carrier upgrade system. The article is about younger americans though.

Recently upgraded into the 2020 SE for a bit less than $75.

Just upgraded to the iPhone 14 Plus, got it for "free" by extending my contract for another 3 years. Works for me, I was already paying the monthly fee anyway and had no plans of leaving my carrier.

I know something they do Apple devices can't. Copy and paste without roadblocks by iTunes.

What is "roadblocked by iTunes"? I don't even have an app called iTunes on my computer (or phone?).

Since apple fought hard to destroy the concept of files when it first introduced iOS (some might argue it started with the iPod), iTunes never allowed drag/drop or copy/paste foles onto your iDevice.

> iTunes never allowed drag/drop or copy/paste foles onto your iDevice

iTunes doesn't exist anymore, though.

Your copy/paste is blocked by iTunes on iOS? I've never heard of such a thing.

Probably copy paste from computer to phone?

Until you try to copy & paste across multiple devices. Apart from certain OEM-specific solutions, there's still no reliable equivalent of AirDrop on Android. Bluetooth file transfer is awfully behind (both speed and UX-wise).

"Film me skate & airdrop me the clip" isn't that straightforward on Android (and no, I'm not going to email it to you & use up my and your mobile plan).

There's Android Nearby, though I don't know how it works because I never used it.

For laptop-Android transfer, KDE Connect has worked great for me.

Copy and paste works great on my apple device. I can even copy and paste between devices. What are you talking about?

iTunes doesn't exist anymore

Try playing web games on iOS. It's so bad that it's not worth supporting.

Are there a lot of mobile web games?

Web games, lol

What is your problem with them? I play a lot of web games. It's a good platform for games outside iOS.