iPhone Users Are Missing Out On These Android Features
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There have been countless mobile operating systems over the years. But in the end, only two have managed to stay on top - Android and iOS.
Of course, this didn't happen by chance. Both operating systems brought a lot of useful features and benefits to the table to outcompete the other players in the space. Remember Windows Mobile or Blackberry OS. Most of us do but for the wrong reasons.
And while both, iOS and Android, have a lot of similar benefits, they also have their own features that would make you choose one over the other. If you're browsing iDrop News, chances are you're an iPhone user.
That doesn't mean iOS is perfect. Android phones have a lot of neat software and hardware features that most of us iPhone users would love to see on iOS someday.
We Need Split Screen on iPhone
Being able to use two or more apps on a split screen has been in every iPhone user's mind for over half a decade now.
Android first introduced a split screen in Android 7.0 in 2016. And while it's true that Apple introduced the same feature in 2015 with the first-generation iPad Pro, we still haven't seen these incredibly useful features in any iPhone.
Sure, now you have the ability to use Picture-in-Picture with select apps, but that's not enough. Sometimes, you want to have your Notes app and YouTube open at the same time so you can learn something new.
Apple is known for taking its time when introducing new features, but we can all agree it's about time we see split screen on an iPhone.
It's Time for Interactable Widgets
Speaking of features that arrived too late, widgets. Apple only introduced widgets in 2020, so this is still a fairly new feature.
And while we all appreciated that Apple finally added proper widgets to the iPhone, it's time to take them to the next level.
Right now, if you grab any Android device, even if they aren't high-end smartphones, they can use interactable widgets. That means you can start a timer by pressing the widget instead of having to open the app and start the timer.
The widgets on the iPhone feel more like shortcuts since you can't actually interact with them. Hopefully, that'll change with iOS 17.
A More Customizable Home Screen
Widgets aren't the only way to customize your Android home screen. You can also place apps wherever you want without any limitations.
Currently, your iPhone only lets you add apps one next to the other, but on Android, you can place them however you want.
You can have just one app right in the middle of the home screen if you want. Maybe you'll be able to do the same on iPhone in the feature, but in the meantime, you'll need to use an invisible widget to have a similar result.
A Better Calculator
The Calculator app on your iPhone isn't bad, but it definitely could be better. Right now, it's got a lot of limitations that Android users don't have to struggle with.
For instance, the calculator on Android keeps a brief history of your most recent calculations. If you only use the Calculator app for a couple of calculations every now and then, you probably don't even care about this, but if you want to do things more complicated, like your taxes, you'd be better off with an Android phone.
Besides the history, most Android apps also come with more features right from the get-go. You can get a more professional calculator on your iPhone by placing your iPhone in landscape mode, but it would definitely be better to use pi or calculate the square root of a number without having to tilt your iPhone.
We Need More App Stores
Being able to install apps from anywhere you want on your iPhone would be a great step in the right direction.
Currently, Android phones can install apps from the Google Play store and other app stores online, like the Amazon app store. That means you can find many more apps and even catch some great deals that aren't available on the first-party app store.
Additionally, Android users can install pretty much any app they find online. Of course, that means you need to be more careful because you can catch malware, but it's still a great feature that we iPhone users could use.
Apple claims it doesn't let you install apps from other app stores because of safety reasons. And while that might be true, it's also true that Apple also makes a lot more money by having the only app store available.
It's Time for a USB-C Port
When it comes to hardware features that we iPhone users need, USB-C is at the top of the list. It's time for Apple to make the switch and let us use the same cable to charge our iPads, Macs, and iPhones.
While the lightning port was great back in the day, now the iPhone and the AirPods are the only devices that use it. It's outdated, and it feels like Apple just wants to make a bit more money by selling exclusive devices for the iPhone.
The good news is that Apple might finally add a USB-C port to the iPhone 15 Pro models this year. However, until it actually happens, we'll continue to ask Apple for it.
Pattern Unlock
The iPhone's passcode is a great way to secure your iPhone, but there are other ways to secure it. Not everyone likes to remember a 6-digit code, which is why having a pattern unlock on your iPhone would be a great idea.
Yes, the passcode might be a bit more secure than a pattern unlocks, but users should be able to choose the one they want to use.
Fingerprint Scanner
Face ID is great, but we really say its limitations during the 2020 pandemic. If you wore a mask, you know how hard it was to unlock your iPhone.
While facemasks aren't that common anymore, it would be great to have a fingerprint scanner alongside Face ID.
Most modern Android devices now feature an in-display fingerprint sensor, which would be great to see on an iPhone.
However, if Apple doesn't want to go that far, the company already showed it can add Touch ID to the power button as it did with the newer iPad models.
Hopefully, it's a matter of when and not if, but we'll still need to wait.
iOS Is Still a Great Operating System
While it's true that the iPhone could take a page from Android's book, iOS is still a fantastic operating system, if not the best. Maybe we'll see some of these changes in the future, but since Apple is known for rolling out new features slowly, I wouldn't expect them anytime soon.