I Tried Switching from Android to iPhone... Here's What I Found
I recently switched to an iPhone 15 from my Samsung S10 Lite. I compared specs through multiple YouTube videos and tech blogs before making the $1500 “investment.” However, upon usage, I found that the “shiny new” iPhone wasn’t as value-packed as I initially thought.
First of all, I switched over for these reasons:
Buying a new phone signified my entrance into a new stage of life — my soon-to-be full-time, post-grad work life.
I wanted a better camera before travelling to Asia on my grad trip next year.
I was always roasted by friends for not having Airdrop.
As someone working in tech, I wanted to keep up with innovation. I believed that more apps exist on iOS than Android. I theorized that Apple while having similar hardware to Android, might have better camera sensors, quality control, and software improvements in the long run.
My Samsung camera was getting spazzy, and my internal storage was maxed out (nor did I want to clean it up).
Here’s What I Found:
I miss the customization levels and controls available on Samsungs.
I can easily download a theme for my Samsung for FREE, whereas I can only do so through PAID apps on Apple (boggled with ads).
Managing data usage is much easier on Samsung.
Apple requires you to manually reset your data cycle every term, whereas you can set your cycle dates and usage warning reminders on Samsung (SO HELPFUL).
It’s also annoying when Apple keeps reminding me my Cellular Data Network is off (because yes, I know, Apple, I’m trying to save data).
I didn’t really notice a HUGE difference in switching to Apple, other than more accurate colour reproduction, better low-light video quality, and greater depth of field.
Sometimes Apple’s auto portrait camera gets annoying. Sometimes a girl just wants a simple, straight-shot photo, but the new iPhone produces photos with a depth of field that isn’t necessary.
You only notice the difference in camera quality between older phones and the new iPhone models when you zoom in and examine the pixels.
Apple innovation is just Samsung innovation…but slower and more well-packaged.
Apple claims that the selling point of iPhone 15 is USB-C and the 48MP camera, but Samsung has had both of these features for ages. I had the 48MP camera AND better battery life (4500mAh vs. 3,349 mAh) on the Samsung for only $450 vs. $1500 for the iPhone.
The Samsung S10 Lite also had the always-on display which Apple marketed as being for Pro phones only.
For the amount I paid for my Samsung ($450), the display resolution (394ppi vs. iPhone’s 460ppi) and camera specs I got were insane.
The Verdict:
I really don’t know if I want to keep this iPhone or return it within the 15-day window. While one could argue that I’d get better bang for my buck buying the iPhone 13 Pro Max 512gb for $1500 pre-tax OR keeping my existing phone, the older models will be phased out of software updates soon. I also like how well iPhones retain their resale value.
I still want Airdrop. As mundane as it may sound to existing iPhone users, I really don’t want to wait for photos and videos to be shared with me, nor lose image quality in the process of doing so.
Nevertheless, I will trust my gut at the end of this 15-day trial period. If I get used to the iPhone enough to deal with these compromises, I will keep it.
Reflection:
Buying this iPhone is a reminder of my perpetual need for belonging. It reminds me of the times in elementary school when I wanted a penny board or iPod just to fit in (though I loved my iPod, mind you). Following trends has cost me so much money despite the ongoing awareness that it won’t fill my gaping void.
In a marketing class discussion about Apple’s branding power, I remember sharing that “my friends tell me it’s a turn-off to be friends with me because when they text me, it’s green.” I didn’t realize how horribly sad that sounded until a couple of days later. I was essentially in that same elementary school bubble, where there were silent status symbols about which group I belonged in.
It wasn’t until I actually bought the iPhone and asked around however, that I found out that a lot of people are still on older versions of the iPhone (e.g. iPhone X) and not in a rush to upgrade. They got the benefits of being in the ecosystem and belonging to “the iPhone gang” without the pressure to buy the newest version. Even the employee at the Apple store who gave me my phone welcomed me to the “Apple gang” — though it felt like a bit of a herd mentality.
All in all, although I bought the iPhone and can now “play iMessage games” with friends, it really didn’t make me that much happier. I’m still stuck in the same hedonic happiness loop — a never-ending cycle of “not fully happy yet.”
As privileged as I am to own and afford the new iPhone (and to have my friends sigh in relief that they can “text me in blue now”), I can’t help but compare my phone with those who have the Pro and Pro Max versions, and it’s clearly evident by the number of cameras on the back of your phone. I’ve caught myself up in an endless status game.
At the end of the day, I am re-realizing how I derive minimal utility from playing catch-up games, and that I’d rather splurge on other things like travel, friendships and experiences.
By the end of this, I might just switch back over to Samsung and be happy with being different — not just phone-wise, but also in other aspects of life. I need to remind myself it’s okay to not follow what everyone else is doing.
P.S. No one really noticed that I switched until I told them anyways ¯\_(ツ)_/¯