Key Takeaways
- Android phone manufacturers are early to adopt new technologies and innovate faster in the hardware space.
- Android brands offer something for everyone, from high-end flagships to budget and mid-range phones across brands like Samsung, Google, and OnePlus.
- The open-source nature of Android allows manufacturers to create their own custom skins on top of Android to provide a unique user experience.
Whether you use an iPhone or Android phone, there will always be areas where one has the upper hand over the other. From customization to flexibility, here’s what Android phone makers do better than Apple—making them the top choice for many users.
1 Quick to Adopt New Technologies
Android phone makers are quick to adopt new technologies. One thing that set the first Android phone, HTC Dream, apart from the original iPhone was its expandable storage via a microSD card, an affordable way to get more storage on your smartphone—something Apple never considered for its devices. Soon enough, Google launched its Nexus S with NFC, whereas Apple could only adopt it four years later with the iPhone 6.
Android OEMs were also the first to adopt other user-centric advancements. While HTC led the way with a multi-camera system, Samsung’s Galaxy S6 introduced wireless charging. Razer introduced a 120Hz high refresh rate display that we all love today in 2017. Sony launched its Xperia Z, an IP57-rated water-resistant device, in 2013, three years before Apple launched the iPhone 7 with an IP67 rating.
Google also set the trend with the Nexus 5X, quickly transitioning to USB-C—a move other Android makers soon followed. The EU regulation forced Apple to finally ditch its proprietary Lightning port for USB-C in 2023, bringing new capabilities to the iPhone 15 and newer models.
Many also believe Apple to be the first to introduce a fingerprint reader with its Touch ID sensor in 2013. Still, Motorola did it with its Atrix 4G in 2011, followed by HTC One Max in 2013. Android makers built on this to innovate a more sophisticated in-display fingerprint scanner that is invisible to the naked eye yet works just as flawlessly.
Other innovations that have since become standard in smartphones also originated with Android manufacturers. For example, the Oppo Find 7 was the first to introduce fast charging, whereas Samsung introduced a unique PowerShare feature that can wirelessly charge other devices.
2 They Cater to All Kinds of Users
As of 2024, Android is the market leader, accounting for 72 percent of global smartphone share. This dominance is largely due to Android manufacturers catering to a wide range of users. While brands like Samsung and Google, with their Galaxy S and Pixel lineup, produce class-leading phones, they also offer more affordable options, like the Samsung Galaxy A series and models like the Pixel 8a and 7a.
Besides the variety in hardware and prices, the democratic nature of the Android ecosystem means that manufacturers compete to innovate their devices. Samsung, for example, with its Galaxy Flip and Z Fold devices, has introduced a very compelling alternative to the more conventional slab phones. What was seen as just a novelty a few years ago, today, foldable phones have proven to be pretty useful.
3 Custom Android Skins
The open-source nature of Android allows manufacturers to modify and install their version of Android skins with unique features, interfaces, and experiences that stock Android may not offer. This way, the end-user has a great variety of hardware and software to choose from.
For instance, Google’s Pixel phones are great if you prefer the stock Android experience. On the other hand, Samsung uses its custom user interface, One UI, for all Galaxy devices. As a result, even though two devices from Google and Samsung may run the same version of Android, the user experience can feel distinctly different.
4 Repairability
Historically, Android phones have been more repairable. For instance, if your device showed signs of battery degradation, you could pop the back cover and replace the battery yourself. This changed as phone makers embraced sealed design enclosures for enhanced water and dust resistance, making the repair process cumbersome.
Nonetheless, some Android makers like HMD and Fairphone have embraced a DIY approach by designing devices that allow users to easily replace parts and perform repairs. Even if an Android device scores low on the repairability scale—like the Pixel 8 series—you can still have it fixed at third-party repair stores without the infamous part-pairing issues with Apple devices. This is also evident in our comparison of Samsung and Apple’s self-service repair programs.
As the smartphone industry continues to evolve, Android makers are likely to experiment and innovate more. At the same time, Apple will stick to its tried-and-tested strategy of producing robust devices with more advanced processors. However, one common trend we’ll likely see from all smartphone makers is prioritizing AI features to enhance the user experience.
