Earlier quoted context omitted.
After 5 years of android, I've never been happier to switch back to iPhone.
It is the best worst option. ;) Would love to read a post about it explaining your experiences (all of the good and bad) and why you returned.
At that time, the only thing to keep me on the iPhone was iMessage - not that I didn't want to be a green bubble, it just the SMS experience sucks in general, RCS wasn't a thing you could use at that time. However, once I've met my future ex-wife, that stopped being an issue because we used fb messenger to talk.
Fast-forward to summer 2023, I'm in a process of divorce, watching Apple event. Get possessed by Steve Jobs, pause presentation, order new iPhone and Apple Watch Ultra for self-pickup, finish watching the presentation, drive to pick up my new phone and watch. Quick migration and up and running.
Android (Pixel) Pros:
- back button, the thing I knew I will miss a lot
- all pixel exclusive features like call screening
- I prefer stock android control center
- sideloading (i've made my own reddit client for android tv and used it for loooong time)
- kotlin > objc (irrelevant since swift)
- fingerprint scanner on the back of a phone was a genius decision
Android (Pixel) Cons:
- google inconsistent web interfaces
- apps have much lower quality
- Google wants you to use Chrome Cast, so you can connect your phone to a monitor
- Most non-stock android makes me want to vomit, specially Samsung
- Google didn't know how to position Pixel (is it a flagship? is it a mid-level? is it a low-end? wtf was pixel 5?)
- Watch experience is meh
- under screen fingerprint scanners suck
- Wired Android Auto sent me to therapy a few times (jk, but it was frustrating)
iPhone Pros:
- Apps better quality
- Better watch integration
- iMessage (won't elaborate)
- AirPods switching experience is near damn perfect
- idk just look and feel subjectively better
- Wireless Car Play easier to find than Wireless Android Auto
iPhone Cons:
- control center, so many times I've turned off wifi or bt instead of what I wanted to do
- lacking "back button experience" from android
- didn't use usbc until last year