There are plenty of Android-exclusive apps that you just won’t find on iOS, including some of my favorite pieces of software ever made
iOS users will never know the joy of third-party app launchers
Just the process to put an app in Appstore is a pain in the ass of nightmare proportions so I can understand why some devs stick to android. Of course, now Google is trying make that happen with Android as well.
I probably know a better list of the top of my head:
- third party launchers like Lawnchair
- F-droid
- Metrolist
- NewPipe
- YTDLnis
- Image Toolbox
- StreetComplete
How about a web browser that isn’t safari wearing a coat and a real adblocker?
Of note, I find that the Android Authority people promote the Pixel (and Google in general) phones and software immensely. Just something to be aware of.
I think they do have a point in emulation and third-party launchers though, that is definitely something unique to Android. I would also say third-party app stores like F-Droid, Obtainium, etc. are also awesome! Nothing like it on iOS (and even if you’re in the EU, AltStore is really limited…)
That, and constant bullshit “advice” like
I disabled my Pixel 10’s file system and it hasn’t overheated since! Here’s how! Some Pixel fans may miss their favourite apps, or being able to make and receive phone calls, but it’s totally worth it to fix one of the platform’s most enduring problems! Let us know how you get on in the comments!
Pixels have their place, they’re different and some people might like that, but god damn the Android Authority team love sucking the toes of Google
I sadly fell for the big Pixel 10 hype campaign (from Android Authority and others) and switched from Samsung. My phone is so fucking slow and hot all the time, and sometimes needs charging twice a day. 💀 My bf and I went on a trip; he drove and we used my phone for Android Auto. Wired Android Auto, and I still had to hold my phone in front of the air con vent the entire time to stop the music skipping.
Thinking I might get an Oppo Find X9 Pro in a couple months. It’s not even that much more expensive than a Pixel (in fact they’re both on sale for £899 at the moment), but it seems like it might actually last me a few years.
Not trying to be funny but have you considered an alternative OS like Graphene or Lineage? I’m still on a pixel 7 running CalyxOS (not available for Pixel 10 quite yet) and it runs just as fine as a new phone.
I’m thinking about it more and more, but mostly because of Google and others becoming so intrusive, I hadn’t even considered that it might be good for performance.
Yeah a lot of the performance problems (in my own experience) come from all the proprietary bloatware bullshit they install by default. As soon as a custom ROM is loaded the experience gets a lot better IMO.
we used my phone for Android Auto. Wired Android Auto, and I still had to hold my phone in front of the air con vent the entire time to stop the music skipping.
Oh damn :O
Thinking I might get an Oppo Find X9 Pro in a couple months
Yeah, I’ve heard that model has really good battery life and cameras. I am personally using the Vivo X300 Pro, which I have mixed thoughts on. The cameras are excellent, and the phone basically acts as my powerbank for smaller devices. However, the OS is sooo annoying and gets in my way (annoying “security check” popup whenever I install any app that always fails with a big warning unless it’s on some hidden whitelist, which seems to basically be Vivo stock apps mostly). I still use it (w/ a custom launcher) since it has a good camera, but if I were to get a new phone, I would like to try a degoogled ROM.
Hopefully ColorOS is less annoying to use compared to OriginOS!
You might want to look at the Fairphone 6 as well if you live in Europe (assumed since you mentioned GBP), it has good degoogled ROM support (one of the only modern phones that have that nowadays) and developing mobile Linux support too which is kind of cool, and it’s super repairable too! Even the stock OS seems pretty nice to use compared to OneUI, OriginOS, HyperOS, and that sort. The Fairphones are midrange phones priced at a midrange price (no idea why reviewers always compare it with devices twice the price), and the latest iteration has some solid hardware like a nice 120 Hz OLED screen and good battery life too. And it’s always nice to support the little guys :D
If you want a lot of privacy, the Shiftphone 8.1 has physical kill switches which is kind of neat. Also, all their phones use the same battery (so the 6 uses the same as the 8, 8.1, and future models), which seems pretty nice for longevity of the device. The hardware is pretty lacking though, the Fairphone definitely beats it in that
I have none of these apps in my Pixel
I’ve never used iOS, but from this list, I think only emulation is something that’s not properly possible on iOS. Most other features are from third party apps, I’m sure they have alternatives. No?
Some system level access/metrics is restricted in iOS. Accubattery for battery measurement is not available in iOS. Not sure about the accuracy of iOS alternatives to Accubattery.
