Bullied into buying an iPhone

I caved and bought the iPhone 16 Plus. But my question is, why do people hate Androids, and is Apple really that much better?

On Tuesday night, I decided to “invest” (my chief editor isn’t going to like this) in an iPhone 16 Plus, one of the latest Apple products on the market. I mean, it’s not cheap. It’s like over $1000, which, in my eyes, is an investment.

My boyfriend and I decided to go to a shopping mall one night to purchase the iPhone 16.

Two hours later, I left without the new iPhone and almost without my original contract, as my boyfriend hastily canceled my pre-existing contract before we knew that the iPhone wasn’t available.

Dammit, I thought this might be my ticket into the “cool phone club,” as I would finally have a phone that’s not an Android.

But alas, I was left empty-handed. Until I ordered it online, nothing would stop me from getting this new phone.

From Android to iPhone

I decided to change from Android to iPhone, partly because of the abuse, but mainly, I just wanted a change.

For as long as I can remember, everyone I’ve spoken to has mocked Android phones. iPhones are superior, and you’ll often get a sideways glance if you’re even caught dead with an Android in your hand.

I did get a lot of sideways glances and even people saying, “Your Android sucks,” but I could take that.

It's weird. I only really use my phone to watch crime podcasts on YouTube and watch funny memes of little sausage dogs, but I absolutely convinced myself I need the new iPhone 16. I just wanted the shiny new thing.

Also, my colleagues had been writing a lot about the iPhone 16 and I just decided, hey, let’s try Apple again. I’m also a sucker for good marketing.

In my life, I’ve had both Android devices and Apple devices, and I’ve witnessed distinct differences between them.

Yeah, iPhones are good-looking and very intuitive, but Android phones are durable and usually have a longer battery life. So, this makes me wonder why people seem to despise Android devices.

I agree that Apple does some things better. But Android phones are pretty good, in my opinion. But it’s not only my opinion that matters, so I reached out to some experts to ask whether there are any tangible details that actually warrant this hatred of Android phones.

One size fits all

From what I can gather, people love and loathe Android devices for the same reason – their one-size-fits-all operating system.

This can be great, as Android is customizable and open source, offering flexibility between different brands.

“Android has to be adaptable across multiple brands – Samsung, Google, OnePlus, and more – which is like designing one-size-fits-all clothing. It works, but it might not fit perfectly for every device,” said Steven Athwal, CEO and founder of The Big Phone Store, a refurbished phone retailer in the UK.

In the same vein, the one-size-fits-all OS can infuriate users due to its lack of consistency in the models and makes of Android phones.

“iPhones are known to have consistency in design and performance, but with their Android counterparts, this standardization is lost,” said Cache Merrill, founder of Zibtek, a software development consultancy firm.

Although Androids are customizable and flexible, this makes for varying levels of consistency. I guess with Apple, you know that you’re getting the same device every time, without fail. But with Android, you never know what you’re going to get. Especially with the cheaper models.

Cheap phones give Androids a bad rep

There are a range of really cheap Android phones on the market, but you will rarely find a super cheap iPhone. If you do find one, you’ll know about it immediately.

Personally, I believe that cheap phones give Android a bad name as people often associate Android or OS devices with poorly made or cheap products.

People tend to “see the Android platform as being cheap because of its inclusion in several less superior devices, making it less marketable than the flagship Samsung models,” Merrill expressed.

Many fear that Android devices aren’t safe and will compromise your privacy more so than Apple products. This may be true, but it tends to be in cheaper models that don’t come from flagship brands like Google or Samsung.

Security concerns

Due to the array of different Android devices out there, it’s difficult to stay consistent. One contention with OS devices is that they might not be all that secure.

According to Sam Devia, a tech expert at eRepair, a small Chicago-based company specializing in device repair, Android users may struggle to get the latest features and security patches, which can make people think that these phones aren’t secure.

Perhaps it’s also Android's openness and versatility that can be its biggest downfall when it comes to security. Athwal said that these characteristics “make it easier to jailbreak or tinker” with the devices compared to Apple products.

“Some people love this. Others hate it. They associate Android with being less secure or even less polished,” said Athwal.

But overall, it seems that the mob mentality makes people think Androids aren’t worth the money.

Brand loyalty

Consumers love their brands. They are very loyal to them and often buy more devices from the same company. Apple has made this even more desirable by allowing you to connect seamlessly with your other devices.

“Apple’s iOS is designed for Apple products. It’s tailored for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, with each device getting software designed for its specific purpose. This makes iOS very optimized and streamlined – everything fits neatly within Apple’s ecosystem,” Athwal said.

But the main reason I see people hating Android devices is that, ultimately, they are told that one brand is superior.

“A lot of the hate comes from superficial factors, like social perception and brand loyalty, rather than any real technical shortcomings,” said Devia.

So, is it all about social perception? I mean, Apple does a great job of marketing its products, making them attractive and desirable, but some experts, like Devia, believe that high-end Android devices can match or surpass their competitors in many areas.

However, this doesn’t necessarily help with the overall perception of Android devices, as Devia said.

“iPhones have gained a status symbol due to their sleek design and association with premium quality. Some people view Android devices as less "cool" or luxurious compared to iPhones.”

Are iPhones better than Androids?

Well, the verdict is out, and the Apple vs Android debate is still pretty divided.

The experts I asked about the topic said that Android has good qualities – it’s flexible, open, and ranges in quality and affordability.

But Android still has its drawbacks, like potential bugs, lack of updates, low-quality products, and the potential to play with the device’s security features.

What do I think? Well, I’ve been playing around with the iPhone, and it’s nothing special. It’s just another device. If anything, I’m irritated, as I’ve completely forgotten how to use an iPhone, and all the new features make it difficult for a veteran Android user to navigate.

I think the main reason people flock to Apple is that the tech giant has such strong marketing campaigns and creates beautifully crafted devices that people would cut an arm off to get. In addition, the cult of Apple is huge, and people flock like sheep to get the latest products.

In my opinion, it’s all down to social perception.