Android Alternative: Top 12 Mobile Operating Systems
IOS 18 Could Make My IPhone Look Like Android, And I Hate It
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends If rumors are to be believed, iOS 18 will allow you to customize the home screen on your iPhone more substantially than ever before. This feature will be familiar to Android phone owners, but I don't want my iPhone to look like an Android phone.
It's a weird double-edged sword, as by giving you more freedom to make the home screen look unique, iOS may also lose what makes it unique compared to the less constrained world of Android.
iOS 18 and your iPhone home screenApple's rigid, grid-based app layout works. All your frequently used apps are right there, in familiar positions, when you want them. Those that aren't so commonly used are popped into the App Library or into folders, which can be relegated to other home screens to keep the main screens free from clutter. Widgets can be slotted in to spice things up and make good use of areas you don't want to fill with app icons.
In iOS 18, you'll apparently be able to partially ignore the grid layout and place app icons more freely on the home screen, which will introduce blank space around apps. This is what you can do on Android, where you can have just one app placed anywhere on a home screen if you want. The blank space around your app serves no actual purpose, aside from the fact that you can now see more of the wallpaper.
It sounds like I'm against it, right? I'm not. I like placing my commonly used apps in a row at the bottom of the home screen on Android. Just take a look at the photos of Android phones I review to see what I mean.
I stick to basically the same formula every time and appreciate the chance to enjoy whatever wallpaper I choose whenever I unlock my phone. It's what makes Android, Android. But it's not iOS, and I don't really want the two to merge any more than they already have.
The Android-ification of iOSIn its efforts to keep iOS "fresh," Apple has already taken more than enough design cues from Android over the past few years. Widgets — a longtime Android staple feature — first came to iOS on the Today screen and then to the home screen in iOS 14. In the same update, Apple introduced the App Library, which works in the same way as the App Drawer on an Android phone, where you can store infrequently used apps without deleting them entirely.
In iOS 16, the lock screen received some attention, including the ability to place widgets on it, change the font and style of the clock, and create different versions of the lock screen for different occasions. Through all this and other adjustments to the shape and style of iOS over the years, the iPhone's software has become more personalized and individual, but it has never completely lost its iOS-ness — and I really like that.
The influence of home screen and operating system design has worked both ways. Android phones have taken on key aspects of what makes iOS what it is too. Most recently, manufacturers and developers have found ways to adapt Apple's Dynamic Island into their own Android interfaces.
Before that, it was common on phones from Xiaomi, Oppo, and Huawei to set the software so apps spread over multiple home screens by default, iOS-style, rather than utilizing an app drawer. The two software platforms have similarities, but are still suitably different.
A step too far?I fear the changes rumored for iOS 18 will be a step too far. While I understand you won't be forced to space apps out or create open, blank areas on the home screen, the fact is that it'll likely be possible to closely mirror the app layout and style of my Android phone on my iOS phone — and this is what I really don't like about the prospect.
While it's possible to replicate my iOS home screen on Android, I never do it. I want it to look different as it's a different phone and software. It shouldn't look like another device. It should be its own thing. I roll my eyes at Xiaomi and others for making its Android interface look like iOS because it's lazy (and the same applies to smartwatches with watchOS-style interfaces). I do the same when manufacturers copy the iPhone's camera module layout. If I wanted an iPhone and iOS, that's what I'd buy.
It works the other way around, too. If I want an Android phone, I'll buy one. The lines between the software are already blurred, but there's enough differentiation between them that they're still clearly unique, and one really can't be mistaken for the other.
I'm cautious about the latest rumors because there's a risk this could change. I'm all for making the software on my phone individual to me, but I also want it to have its own identity and not just be a tiny variation on a single theme I find on every phone, regardless of its manufacturer or platform. That's not customization, that's boring.
Until recently, complaints about smartphones all basically looking the same were valid, but this has definitely changed for the better. I don't want to begin to think the same thing about the software on phones in the near future — especially after misguided efforts to introduce personalization accidentally eroded personality at the same time.
Editors' Recommendations10 Best AI Apps For Android And IOS
AI apps are hitting it off in a big way right now. It started with image generation and has since moved to chat, search, and other areas. Google has its service, Bard, while many other modern apps use ChatGPT. However, there were AI apps before the ChatGPT craze, and we'll list some of those as well. This is a swiftly growing category, so we'll likely update this list regularly until some true champions emerge. Here are the best AI apps for Android and iPhone.
We'd also like to give an honorable mention to SuperImage (Google Play). It is an AI image upscale that does a better job than any other image upscaler we tried. It's only available for Android right now.
The best AI apps for Android
AI Mirror
This AI image generator uses images you upload to the service to generate new images with different filters.
What we like:
What we don't like:
AI Mirror is one of the better examples of AI image manipulation. In other words, it uses AI to generate filters for existing photos. During our testing, it worked pretty well most of the time, but the free version has some obnoxious advertising, and the subscription to get rid of them is expensive. Aside from that, it does what it says. You add an image, pick a style, and the idea is redrawn with AI to fit that style. It seems to have some issues with skin tone, and it could do pets better, but this is a young technology, so we hope it gets better sooner rather than later.
Ask AI
This is one of the ChatGPT apps that does the kinds of things you see on the Internet all the time.
What we like:
What we don't like:
When AI chat apps first came out, they were universally bad. So, it was finally nice to stumble onto something that works pretty well. Ask AI to do what it says. You ask the ChatGPT-powered AI bot a question, and it answers you. That's about all it does. It's fun to ask various questions and get the answers. I fact-checked the 20 messages I sent, and they were all accurate. Granted, they were easy questions, but it's still encouraging. Some questions may need to be rephrased to get the AI to respond as you like, but most AI chat apps are the same. The premium options are a little weird as well. We don't often see apps go straight from weekly subscriptions to lifetime licenses like that.
Imagine An AI image generator that can use little more than words to create images for you.
What we like:
What we don't like:
Imagine is an AI art generator app that works with just words. You tell it what you want to draw, and it'll remove it for you. We tried over 20 examples, and it executed each one, albeit not necessarily with the expected style. I cite my experience with making samurai Yoshi as an example. The free version is very tolerable. You watch a video ad and are rewarded with one image per ad watch. You can alternatively pay the weekly, yearly, or lifetime prices to avoid the ads. This works surprisingly well and quite quickly compared to many of its competitors. PicSo (Google Play and iOS) also does this well, so you can choose between the two.
Microsoft Edge Browser and Bing Search
Microsoft Edge Browser is the first major player to bring AI-powered search to a mainstream product.
What we like:
What we don't like:
Microsoft Edge is an underrated browser. It works rather well, and it lets you tie into a different ecosystem than Google or Apple. Microsoft made huge waves in 2023 when they introduced ChatGPT-powered search into Bing. It eventually integrated this tech into the mobile versions of Edge. It works like most chatbots. You ask it for something, and it'll search the web for you. It's not 100% accurate, so we recommend fact-checking, but it seems to be fairing better in its early days than Google Bard. We expect Microsoft to continue pressing its lead in the AI space, and you can be a part of it with this browser.
Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard
It's not a name-brand AI, but SwiftKey has long used AI to help with better predictions and stronger auto correct.
What we like:
What we don't like:
Microsoft SwiftKey has been using AI for ages to help the typing experience. It uses AI to learn how a person types and then recommends words and auto corrections based on what it knows. The keyboard works well in practice, although we think Gboard is a bit smoother overall. In any case, you won't see a difference right away, but you will over time. The only downside with this one is the AI can learn some of your bad habits, so it may start recommending your typoes instead of the typo corrections. This doesn't use name-brand AI now, but ChatGPT is in the pipeline, so it's only a matter of time.
Gboard is also an excellent keyboard, and Google is working to add AI to it as well. We'll monitor and update as needed.
Nova
This ChatGPT 3.5-powered AI chatbot competes well with Ask AI. Both do almost the same thing.
What we like:
What we don't like:
Nova is another excellent example of ChatGPT in an app format alongside the previously mentioned Ask AI. It uses ChatGPT-3.5 to answer user questions, and it does so pretty well. We asked a few dozen different things, and the answers were correct. While we had no problems with it, some other users have reported that overly complex questions may return an error code, which you'll want to test for. Otherwise, it looks like most AI chatbot apps. It's just a single conversation box where you ask questions and get answers. The free version is limited, and the premium version is pretty expensive. There is no lifetime access here like there is with Ask AI.
Genie (Google Play and iOS) is also pretty good in this space, and if Nova or Ask AI isn't working, give that one a try.
Snapchat
Snapchat is not only a pioneer in AI-powered image filters, but also now includes a ChatGPT bot for its users.
What we like:
What we don't like:
Snapchat is a popular messaging service when you don't factor in any AI stuff. However, the service has long been a bastion of AI-powered image filters, and the inclusion of its My AI chatbot with ChatGPT puts it ahead of most other benefits in terms of AI usage. By now, most of you know how Snapchat works. You take pictures or videos, send them to friends, and use them to communicate. Many people covert their Snapchat streaks, and the premium version can let you keep them even if you miss a day. We're sure other services will catch up in the coming months, but for now, Snapchat sits alone at the top of the AI hill regarding messaging.
Socratic
Socratic by Google uses AI to help people understand their school work better. It's best used for the K-12 stages of learning.
What we like:
What we don't like:
Socratic is an excellent educational app from Google. You take a picture of a piece of homework you're having issues with. The app then finds the resources to help you solve the problem. It aims to help teach you concepts so that it won't do your homework. You can ask it questions about the subjects it supports, and it'll use online resources to tell you the answer, much like how today's ChatGPT bots do it. It's ahead of its time, and we think Google will eventually migrate this over to Bard when it's ready. It's a prime candidate for it.
WhatsApp (specifically chatbots)
WhatsApp doesn't have any AI stuff on its own, but AI-powered chatbots are available to everyone.
What we like:
What we don't like:
WhatsApp (and Telegram) have several ChatGPT-powered chatbots you can add to your app for the AI chatbot experience. They work a lot like the standalone AI chatbot apps on this list. You ask it questions or talk to it, and it answers you. They also work about, which makes sense because they use the same ChatGPT to perform the work. The bots aren't free, so you can only have limited interactions while using the free versions. Unfortunately, the pricing structures are a bit weird, with some limitations you don't see in standalone apps. In either case, WhatsApp and Telegram users can try ChatGPT without downloading a separate app.
WOMBO Dream
One of the original AI-generated image apps that does it correctly most of the time.
What we like:
What we don't like:
WOMBO Dream is an AI art generator and was one of the first. We covered it in our best Android apps of 2022 list, and it's still one of the better examples today. It works like the others on this list. You add an image you already have or give it a text prompt. The app then generates art for you. It has the same general upsides and pitfalls as other apps in this category. Sometimes, you don't quite get the image you expect when you use specific nouns. The free version is slower and has a bunch of ads as well. If you can get past that, though, this is good for what it aims to do. Plus, it's a bit older than others, so it's had time to mature.
If we missed any AI apps, tell us about them in the comments.
CommentsAndroid Vs IOS: Is One Actually Better? Let's Find Out…
03/25/24 • 23 min read
Unsure between Android and iOS for your next smartphone? This beginner's guide highlights the key differences of each platform so you can decide which is best for you…
What are Android and iOS? Android:Android and iOS are the two most dominant smartphone operating systems worldwide, with a combined global market share of over 99%.
According to Statcounter, Android holds the leading position with a global market share of approximately 69.74%, while Apple's iOS comes in second with a market share of roughly 29.58%.
In terms of user base, both operating systems boast an impressive number of users globally.
It is estimated that over 3.5 billion people actively use Android devices, while iOS has a user base of over 1.3 billion. These figures demonstrate the massive scale at which these two operating systems operate.
Interestingly, the market share distribution can vary significantly depending on the region. For example, in North America, particularly in the United States, iOS might has a slight edge over Android, with close to 60% market share (as of 2024).
Main Differences Feature Android iOS Developer Google & Open Handset Alliance Apple Inc. Initial Release September 23, 2008 July 29, 2007 Latest Stable Release and Updates Android 14 iOS 17 Customizability A lot. Can change almost anything. Limited unless jailbroken Source Model Open source Closed, with open source components. File Transfer Easier than iOS. More difficult. Widgets Yes Yes Internet Browsing Google Chrome (other browsers available). Safari (Other Browsers Available) Web Mapping Service Google Maps Apple Maps (default). Available Language(s) 100+ languages 40 languages Video Chat Google Meet and other 3rd party apps FaceTime (Apple devices only) and other 3rd party apps Virtual Assistant Google Assistant Siri Available on Many phones and tablets. IPhone Calls and Messaging Google Messages. IMessage, FaceTime (with other Apple devices only). App Store Google Play Store – 2,500,000+ apps. Apple App Store – 1,800,000+ apps. Alternative App Stores and Side Loading Several alternative app stores. Apple blocks 3rd party app stores in US; EU users can access third-party stores from 2024. Battery Life and Management Many Android phone manufacturers equip devices with large batteries. Apple batteries are generally not as big. Open Source Kernel (Based on Linux), UI, and some standard apps The iOS kernel is not open source. File Manager Android File Manager Files app Photos & Videos Backup Google Photos & Drive Up to 5 GB of photos and videos can be automatically backed up with iCloud. Rooting, Bootloaders, and Jailbreaking Access and complete control over your device is available. Complete control over your device is not available. Cloud Services Native integration with Google Drive storage. Native integration with iCloud. Interface Touch Screen Touch Screen Biometric Authentication Fingerprint and/or Face Authentication. Fingerprint (Older Models) or Face Authentication. OS Family Linux OS X, UNIX Headphone Jack Very Few Phones Now Support Headphone Jack None on iPhone 7 and later. User Interface and Ease of UseKey Takeaways:
With iOS, what you see is what you get. You can add widgets to the home screen and app folders but you cannot change the look and feel of the operating system itself – not unless you jailbreak your phone.
One of the key aspects that sets Android apart from iOS is the ability for manufacturers to customize the user interface through custom skins. This is why the software on phones from brands like Samsung, OPPO, and OnePlus all look different, despite the fact they all run the same Android operating system.
Android Skins & Custom UIs
Pin Key Takeaways:
These skins allow companies like Samsung, Oppo, and Xiaomi to differentiate their devices and offer unique features and designs.
Samsung's One UI is one of the most popular custom skins for Android. It features a clean, modern design with a focus on one-handed usability.
One UI includes features like Samsung's Bixby virtual assistant, Samsung Pay, and the Samsung Galaxy Store for apps and themes. The skin also offers a variety of customization options, such as the ability to change the app icons, apply themes, and adjust the home screen layout.
Oppo's ColorOS is another prominent Android skin known for its vibrant and colorful design. ColorOS includes features like Game Space, which optimizes the device for gaming, and the Smart Sidebar, which provides quick access to frequently used apps and tools.
Like One UI, ColorOS offers a range of customization options, including the ability to change app icons, apply themes, and adjust the home screen grid size.
In terms of navigation, both Android and iOS have embraced gesture-based navigation in recent years. However, there are some differences in how users interact with each operating system.
On iOS, users can navigate the interface using a series of swipe gestures. Swiping up from the bottom of the screen takes users to the home screen, while swiping left or right along the bottom edge switches between recently used apps.
Pin To access the app switcher, users can swipe up from the bottom and hold their finger on the screen. IOS also includes a back gesture, which involves swiping from the left edge of the screen to go back to the previous page or app.
Android's gesture navigation system is similar to iOS in many ways, but there are some key differences. To navigate to the home screen, users can swipe up from the bottom of the screen. To access the recent apps menu, users can swipe up from the bottom and hold their finger on the screen, similar to iOS.
However, Android's back gesture involves swiping from either the left or right edge of the screen, depending on the manufacturer's implementation.
One advantage of Android's gesture navigation system is that it allows for greater customization. Many Android skins, including One UI and ColorOS, allow users to choose between traditional button navigation and gesture navigation. Some skins even allow users to customize the sensitivity and behavior of the gesture navigation system.
Despite these differences, both Android and iOS offer a relatively intuitive and user-friendly navigation experience. The uniform design elements of iOS contribute to a more consistent and streamlined user experience, while Android's customization options allow for way more tweaking and personalization.
CustomizationAndroid's open-source nature and customizable interface provide users with a more PC-like experience. You can change almost anything on an Android device, from the home screen layout to the default apps, without the need for jailbreaking.
iOS has little to no customization options unless you jailbreak your iPhone, which can compromise its security and your phone's warranty.
App Ecosystem
PinCheck out all the best apps for Android and iPhone Android and iOS boast extensive app ecosystems, with millions of apps available on their respective app stores.
The Google Play Store on Android offers a staggering 3,413,666 apps. Apple's App Store has a slightly smaller selection, with approximately 1,887,049 apps available. Both have more applications than you co
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