It’s a debate as old as time, or as old as since smartphones were invented. It’s common to see Android and Apple users engaging in online debates about the superiority of the respective tech companies, so it’s time to see this discourse play out among Andrews students. Which is better? Android or Apple phones?
Apple for the AirDrop function, because AirDrop is life changing. You can drop 300 pictures at one time. Anything else takes forever. I do feel like my phone is dying out on me though.
Lauren Butler (senior, biology and Spanish)
My mom has an Android and I'm sure it's wonderful when communicating with other Androids, but when my mom sends videos it's the weirdest, grainiest quality. They also have a weird green color when you text and it’s glaring and annoying, which isn’t necessarily an Android problem, but I still don’t like it. Granted, Apple has so many issues, but will I keep buying their products? Absolutely.
Alaina Burghart (senior, Spanish and global studies)
I have to say Apple—mostly because I grew up in an Apple family so it’s really just a convenience thing.
Izzy Koh (senior, English)
Apple. Because it's better. It's more easily accessible, it makes more sense because it's less complex. They don't make you solve problems to get through to the computer. Whoever designed it, their graphic designer is good. My only complaint is why do they have to connect everything? I would use a PC for a computer, but it's so difficult to cross platform and I end up emailing stuff to myself all the time for schoolwork because there's no good function for sharing data between Apple and Android devices.
Suvan Campbell (sophomore, biochemistry)
As an Apple user, I have too many Apple products to count. I know technically Androids have better technology, but Apples just look nicer. I'm a minimalist and I like things to look pretty.
Charisse Lapuebla (sophomore, speech pathology and audiology)
Apple, because my parents were always Apple users. I've used Androids in the past and they were alright, but with Apple it's easy to have multiple devices, especially with the rest of my family using Apple, with sharing photos and stuff. Androids are definitely better for their price though; Apple phones are so expensive.
Ashlee-Rose Wilson (senior, religion and French)
I think that Apple iPhones provide a very nice experience and are obviously priced much higher than they need to be, but provide good benefits. Apple tends not to innovate as much, or as fast, but [it’s done] well when they do [innovate]. Their recent phones aren't exciting but done well. More specifically for iPhones, I've heard that if you like an iMessage it sends a message to Androids, and that Google is thinking about interpreting the message and putting the actual heart on it. And it might work the other way around as well. It definitely illustrates a problem, which is that Apple weaponizes iMessage to get people to buy iPhones. Honestly, what's a better brand for a person really depends on what their close friends and family have. Androids are good for customization, and I have an Apple because they're nice and shiny.
T Bruggemann (senior, computer science and physics)
I like Apple for its convenience. I used to not be a full on Apple user, but now I am because of how smooth everything works together.
Irina Gagiu (senior, psychology)
As a very loyal Samsung user, it makes me sad to see that an overwhelming majority of the students I interviewed chose Apple over Android devices, especially because they all acknowledged the shortcomings of Apple products that they experience. It looks like a big factor in the popularity of Apple is their clean design and the fact that Apple products work best with other Apple products and don't interact well with other brands. To me, this seems like a way of trapping consumers, but I can acknowledge that convenient features like AirDrop or FaceTime may take priority over more technical aspects of electronics, especially for college students. I guess I can only hope that in the future, brands will have a more collaborative spirit with each other and make devices that don't glitch when texting phones from other companies—but maybe I'm asking for too much.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.