The Android operating system and iOS (the iPhone’s operating system) are the two titans in today’s Smartphone market. We’ve pitted the two platforms against each other in a battle amongst several categories which are integral to a Smartphone.

Ease of Use

Creating a product that is extremely simple and easy to use is Apple’s forte. The iPhone has a uniform experience throughout all of its versions. The Android platform tends to be different from manufacturer to manufacturer, and the interface is more complex than iOS’s. This point goes to iOS, no contest.

iOS=1 / Android=0

Flexibility

Part of what makes Android a bit more complicated to use than the iPhone is its flexible platform. You can easily alter your Android interface to focus on social networks, multimedia, apps (like the iPhone), or all of the above. Score a point for Android.

iOS=0 / Android=1

Hardware

The iPhone 4 has impressive hardware specs, but with a design refresh only once a year or so, you’re stuck with any design flaws it might have (such as poor antenna placement). The Android platform on the other hand has an entire slew of devices available, many easily matching the iPhone 4’s capability, and even several surpassing it. It’s a closer race in this category, but the point still goes to Android.

iOS=0 / Android=1

Network

One of the biggest drawbacks of the iPhone is the network it’s on. AT&T has become a victim of the iPhone’s success, and its network has become a mess of bottlenecked traffic. Android offers devices on all of the major cell carriers, so not only can you avoid AT&T, you can also choose the carrier best suited for your area. Rack up another for Android.

iOS=0 / Android=1

Multimedia Playback

The iPhone has always been an excellent multimedia device. In terms of fluidity and ease of use, it easily beats most Android devices, but Android has an advantage in that it does not require the use of iTunes. With Android, you can simply copy your songs and videos to your devices and play them directly, or you can purchase them through the AmazonMP3 app from your phone. We’re calling this one a tie.

Apps and Development

The iPhone certainly has more applications available than Android, but Android is also catching up very quickly. The iPhone’s App Store is also easier to navigate than Android’s Marketplace, but where Android really shines is application development. Android offers a completely open environment for developers, as well as true multitasking capability (unlike the iPhone 4’s limiting API’s for some multitasking). This gives Android far more potential than iOS, but since iOS is currently ahead in the game, we’re calling this one a tie as well.

Fragmentation

Fragmentation is a development term having to do with accounting for all of the different types of devices available. In short, it’s a bad, bad thing. Because the iPhone is really only available in a few flavors (the original, 2G, 3G, 3Gs, and 4), there are really only five devices to account for when developing an application (even fewer when you consider the original and 2G versions are essentially obsolete). Android on the other hand has hundreds of devices coming out, some with powerful hardware, others created as entry level devices. This makes development much more difficult, making iOS the clear winner in this category.

iOS=1 / Android=0

Conclusions

Tallying up the points, Android comes out as the winner with three wins compared to the iPhone’s two. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the Android platform is right for you. You should consider which categories each platform excelled in and attribute additional weight to those categories you feel are more important to you. Both offer very capable Smartphones, making neither a bad choice.

Results: iOS=2 / Android=3

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