Despite having an iPad Pro I would say my S23U is more advanced than my iPadOS. My S23U has better external monitor support for one, and file system makes it much closer to actually feeling like a computer over my tablet. Then there’s not needing to use stuff like the Alt store to side load. And apps like syncthing make iOS/iPadOS limitations so apparent with how files sync seamlessly across my Linux, Mac, Windows, and Android devices while my iPadOS is the black sheep in that department with the limited file access when trying out syncthing equivalent apps.
Apple is a very restrictive mobile that just doesn’t have great compatibility for anything that isn’t Apple. That it doesn’t let it be advanced despite the powerful chip becomes really apparent if you try to do anything more than try and use it outside Apple devices, use external monitors, or even want to split screen when it comes to iOS.
One thing it has going for it though is long term updates, but my iPad is pretty an expensive glorified comic book reader most of the time now. I found myself wishing iPadOS had the equivalent of edge panels and one hand operations+ so I could just navigate more easily without having to do full hand gestures.
As someone who’s struggled with the iOS file system and sync issue, Möbius is an iOS Syncthing client. It costs $5,but so worth it.
Still can’t auto-sync iOS images, because Apple doesn’t consider them files until you move them to a folder. Even setting up an automation on iOS can’t move them to a folder, since you have to select what to love. So stupid.
Ignoring low hanging fruit answers like “iOS can use Apple apps” or “iOS gets more than 4 years of updates”; These are hardware specific but they work out of the box:
- I don’t know if this is still true and even if it is, it’s not true for much longer; satellite SOS
- LiDAR on the pro phones and faceID. Both can be used for 3D scanning
- this also may not be true anymore but I had a bitch of a time getting my WireGuard VPN to automatically turn on when I left the house on android. I remember a pixel OS upgrade breaking my tasker script. Works fine on iOS.
Edit: I know android can unlock with your face. That’s not what I’m talking about. The 3D scanning aspect is what’s cool
Edit 2: I know there are things android can do that iOS can’t. Just answering OP’s question
So some iOS devices can do things that all Android devices can’t?
I mean I can cherry pick stuff some Android devices can do, too.
None of my four iOS devices can do any of what you’ve listed. (2 phones, 2 ipads)
Technically, no new Android phone I know of right now capable of securely unlock the phone with your face. But then all iPhone user I know prefer fingerprint to face unlock and hope Apple would implement underscreen scanner
Let’s be real, if you’re security conscious then you’re not going to use this method.
Security conscious folks in the states don’t even use fingerprint readers because law enforcement can force you to unlock them with your fingers, face, etc. due to the fact that information isn’t considered proprietary.
Just off the top of my head, Android allows multiple browser engines to work on it, allowing firefox to use extensions. Android can torrent, while you can’t on stock iOS without hacks. Firefox with extensions on Android is god send if you’re a power user.
For someone who claims to be a power user, it’s really showing… And don’t forget open source ecosystem is much much much bigger on Android.
Are you for real?
Downloading third party apps is the single biggest advantage I’d argue android has over iOS. This is highly practical - for example, I get zero ads on YouTube, and it even skips the sponsored content. This is free to everyone on Android. You have to pay Google’s troll toll if you want half of that on iOS (you cannot pay to skip the sponsored stuff.)
You can also easily, and safely install Roms on Android. This extends support for old hardware out, and gives full control over just about every single aspect of your phone.
Additionally, unless something changed recently, Firefox doesn’t have extensions on iOS still. This means you can’t use vital plugins looks ublock origin to block ads like you do on your computer.
Next we have one of my favorite features - swapping the entire launcher. You can’t do that on iOS, but on Android you can easily switch between really creative and interesting layouts in seconds.
There’s a lot of other things Android can do that IOS can’t (multiple user accounts, simultaneously running multiple instances of the same app, multi tasking apps in split screen, advanced keyboards that have gifs and such built in, direct and full access to the storage via usb, changing the default system apps, etc.), but the above are the practical ones I use daily.
