📱 2022-03-12 08:30:50 – Paris/France.
As a longtime Android user switching to an iPhone, this could all have been a shocking experience. But I've been using an iPhone 13 Pro for a few months now and I've been quite taken with it, as it should remain my main phone for the foreseeable future.
Now, before you rush to the reviews and call me an Apple sheep, I've tested and reviewed a lot of the best Android phones. And on a daily basis, I always carry around a Google Pixel 6 Pro, so I'm by no means an iPhone convert.
I actually have a lot of issues with the iPhone 13 Pro and iOS, so I won't be giving up an Android backup anytime soon. Let me tell you why.
A lack of personalization
(Image credit: future)
Let's start with one of the biggest complaints about iPhones and iOS; lack of personalization. Apple keeps its mobile operating system pretty much locked down, while having a heavy hand on what is and isn't allowed on the App Store.
As such, the flexibility one gets with an Android phone, such as adjusting display color profiles, using an always-on display, adjusting widgets, etc., is out of reach. iPhone users. Now, I'm not very into customization, although I like options, so it's not as big an issue for me as it is for some Android fans.
But one thing that drives me crazy is the process of moving apps to home screens. If you move one, everything else moves, which means you can't create empty space on a home screen. And if you happen to accidentally move an app with a mistaken swipe or tap, you may need to rearrange a series of apps just to get back to the layout you had before.
It's been an annoyance for me for a long time with iOS 15. But in 2022, it feels a bit ridiculous when Android lets you put apps pretty much wherever you want.
The walled garden nature of iOS can irritate in other ways too, with limitations on some apps not seen in their Android equivalent. For example, the Xbox Game Pass app on iOS is not allowed to support cloud-based game streaming, while it can on Android; it depends on Apple's application policies, no technical issues, and it's pretty annoying.
No fingerprint reader
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Although I speak of particular inconveniences, the absence of a fingerprint reader is quite annoying because the coronavirus pandemic forces us to wear masks. Sure Face ID is impressive and responsive, but it falters when it comes to face masking – at least until iOS 15.4 arrives.
This means that when it comes to authorizing contactless payments, for example on the London Underground, I have to type in my lock PIN. It's a far cry from the frictionless experience that Apple devices promise, and more often than not I'll ask my Pixel 6 Pro to handle payments, even if its fingerprint scanner isn't the fastest.
I really, really hope that Apple actually brings back Touch ID for the iPhone 14 Pro, because I'm growing tired of relying on Face ID alone.
Lightning port persistence
(Image credit: future)
Speaking of bringing things to next-gen iPhones, I really hope Apple ditches its Lightning port and embraces USB-C for the iPhone 14.
I find it baffling that Apple has embraced USB-C for its MacBooks and most iPads, but sticks with Lightning for its iPhones, as well as the AirPods Pro.
Given how many devices use USB-C for connectivity and charging, I find it frustrating to have to carry around a Lightning cable just for my iPhone 13 Pro. It's particularly infuriating that said cable is USB-C to Lightning – surely Apple could have gone full USB-C, as I can't imagine there are so many people still using dedicated Lightning port accessories .
In fact, I'd go so far as to say that if Apple doesn't switch to USB-C with the iPhone 14, I'll switch back to Android.
Difficult notifications
(Image credit: Apple)
It might just be me, but I couldn't figure out how iOS handles notifications. I like how, by default, they don't show any content on the lock screen unless Face ID has confirmed that it's you looking at the phone. But other than that, I find dealing with them a bit difficult.
For a Vey-initiated OS, iOS doesn't make it very clear all the ways notifications can be manipulated and interacted with. Some respond to a simple tap, others to a long press.
Dismissing notifications can also be a pain. What's an easy swipe or tap of a Clear All button in Android actually requires double tapping a translucent cross in iOS's notification center or swiping left then tapping click "Clear" for more recent notifications. It's a small but noticeable thing on a busy day of emails, Slack messages and more.
I appreciate the degree of control Apple now lets you have over notifications, but I can't help but feel that they're just not as smart or as intuitive as those on the Pixel 6 Pro. Again, this is likely due to a lack of familiarity with iOS, but for now Android wins on the notifications front.
a bit boring
(Image credit: future)
Over the past few generations, the iPhone hasn't really changed much, and I think the iPhone 13 Pro is pretty much the poster child for iterative design and updates. This led Apple to create a phone that was perfected for mass use in business and pleasure. But, heck, is this a dull phone.
There's nothing about the iPhone 13 Pro that really piqued my curiosity – it's brilliant in many ways, but boring.
There aren't really any great features, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has the S Pen and DeX, for example. The Pixel 6 Pro features Magic Eraser and the Tensor chip that puts AI at the forefront. The Oppo Find X3 Pro has a microscope camera and its successor, the Oppo Find X5 Pro, has sleek screen options to improve viewing content on the 10-bit display a bit. These could all be considered gimmicks, but they're really cool to use.
This was the case when the iPhone introduced new technologies, such as the iPhone 4s bringing Siri as arguably the first virtual assistant. But now iPhones tend to follow the pack of Android phones in embracing new technologies and features – although Apple's approach to refining these things is hard to beat.
As a result, I'm more excited about the potential Google Pixel 7 or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 than the iPhone 14 Pro.
With that in mind, as well as everything mentioned above, as I come to the end of this article, I can already feel a wave of change in my belief that I won't be moving away from the iPhone 13. Pro so soon. It'll take a special Android phone to catch my eye, but the year is still young and we've got a lot of tech coming in 2022.
SOURCE: Reviews News
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