What makes iOS user experience so much better than Android?
Since starting my position as UI/UX Designer at Tapjoy I have had the opportunity to become more familiar with some of the latest Android Devices. Though I have been an iPhone user since the first iteration of the device, I consider myself open to new devices and experiences. I had heard a lot of hype about the Android phones (mainly the HTC) being a comparable alternative to the iPhone so I was excited about the opportunity to check them out. However, the point of this article is to tell you that, despite 4g, kickstands, larger screens, higher-res cameras, Android phones still can’t compete with the iPhone.
For the sake of clarity, I want to disclose that I will be looking at the phone from a user experience perspective. Typical reviews are quick to compare specs and features but don’t usually focus on the overall experience and aesthetic of the device. This aesthetic appeal is what makes the iPhone the top consumer handheld, despite any lacking features. So if you care more about features and specs than user experience, you might completely disagree with what I have to say. That being said, here are my thoughts on the two different experiences:
The Device
While both the HTC and the iPhone have a sexy factor (which I understand is completely subjective) I think the iPhone wins out on look and feel. The device is more solid and has less seams around the body. The HTC has a larger screen but it is nearly the same resolution as the iPhone. This makes the iPhone screen more crisp overall. Other than that the devices are pretty much aesthetically comparable.
The HTC has 4 physical buttons below the screen while the iPhone only has one. This, in my opinion, highlights the ease of use of the iPhone UI. They built it without the need for more than a single physical button. Also, depending on how and when you click this button, it executes multiple functions such as pulling up your music player, showing the multi-task pane, closing the current open program, waking up the device, accessing voice control. You have to hand it to Apple for this. They creatively and intuitively made a single physical button which accesses a wealth of functionality on the iPhone.
Home Screen
The HTC home screen is by no means ugly and it offers a wealth of information like date, weather, time, etc. The problem I have with the HTC home screen is the complexity. A 5 year old kid would have more trouble finding and launching a game on the HTC than they would on the iPhone. The reason the iPhone wins out is because everything is represented by an icon. Likewise on the HTC you have some icons, an arrow button to the bottom left and an art palette icon to the right, not to mention the physical buttons like home, menu, back and search which are on the device itself.
Some may see this as a trivial difference but I happen to think that this is a huge difference. It represents both brands as a whole. Apple has a reputation for creating increasingly simple interfaces, especially on iOS and that is what gives the device mass appeal despite the closed nature of the system.
Scrolling & Transitions
iPhone is the first device (and the only one that I have seen) to have fluid scrolling that doesn’t suffer from constant lag, over-sensitive touch sensors or unrealistic physics. When comparing the devices side by side it is clear that scrolling in general on the iPhone is much more realistic and lag-free than on the HTC. The iPhone is obviously trying to mimic reality by providing realistic flicking and easing.
I’ll give the HTC points for having respectable and usable scroll functionality, better than most of it’s fellow Android devices but it is still beat out by even a first-generation iPhone.
Windows Mobile / Blackberry Syndrome
I find the HTC interface to be a cross between Windows Mobile and iPhone. While it is a huge improvement over Windows Mobile, it is not as polished or refined as the iPhone. This is highlighted when interacting with many of the more mundane features and settings. Give both an iPhone and an HTC to a first-timer and give them a few tasks like changing brightness, connecting to wifi, managing contacts and adding a mail account and see what they say. More often than not the tasks will be accomplished more quickly on the iPhone and the user will prefer that device over the HTC. This is because you first have to click the bottom left arrow icon to access the real phone features and you are immediately presented with a huge Blackberry-style list of programs. Combine that with laggy scrolling and you have an overall bad experience.
Conclusion
My goal with this article was to explain why, regardless of bells and whistles, the overall experience of the iPhone beats out all Android phones I have used. This is due to crisp and lag-free scrolling, a basic child-like interface and usability standard, and intuitive controls, buttons, and layouts.
Though I have yet to use Windows Phone 7, I will likely be doing a comparison in the near future. I am excited about the platform and think it is great that Microsoft is finally taking a risk with their mobile platform and trying out some unique UI.
As always, thanks for reading!
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iOS is a walled garden and Android is a wild forest. I don't happen carry a machete.
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Excellent points. In my opinion, however, there are a few user experience advantages that some Android phones have:
1. Google apps. Grab an HTC Evo and an iPhone and compare use of Google Voice, Gmail, Calendar, Docs, etc. While the iPhone can handle the apps, the Android's tighter integration is a really nice thing to have when you rely on Google services more than Apple's.
2. Swype. Even though it still suffers from some of the same potentially hilarious auto-correct issues, swiping words instead of tapping has let me actually compose emails for a change.
3. Voice input. It works really well, and it's native for all input fields where a keyboard appears. Give it a try with the navigation app.
Like I said, just my opinion… there's no doubt that the iPhone is a little sleeker and has a better UI, but the HTC Evo is really quite good, too.
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Thanks for reading! Some good points. I think your last comment sums it up "there’s no doubt that the iPhone is a little sleeker and has a better UI, but the HTC Evo is really quite good, too." I completely agree. It is by no means a bad device but the iPhone just seems a little more polished and friendly overall. Thanks for the input!
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I have to disagree with this article entirely. The iphone experience is a one size fits all and android let’s the user create their own experience. I come from ios and android let’s me do so much more. I make my home screen look and feel the way that suits myself. I get turn by turn navigation for free, a bigger screen for youtube, a dual core processor, better keyboard, etc. I could go on and on about what makes android better than ios.
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I have to disagree with this article entirely. The iphone experience is a one size fits all and android let’s the user create their own experience. I come from ios and android let’s me do so much more. I make my home screen look and feel the way that suits myself. I get turn by turn navigation for free, a bigger screen for youtube, a dual core processor, better keyboard, etc. I could go on and on about what makes android better than ios.
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Thanks for reading! Some good points. I think your last comment sums it up "there’s no doubt that the iPhone is a little sleeker and has a better UI, but the HTC Evo is really quite good, too." I completely agree. It is by no means a bad device but the iPhone just seems a little more polished and friendly overall. Thanks for the input!
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[...] what I have to say. That being said, here are my thoughts on the two different experiences:via ericbieller.com – What makes iOS user experience so much better than Android?. In a nutshell these were more or less my main issues with the experience of using an Android [...]
I have used both phones currently I have a htc inspire my comment is this why would I want a device that a five year old can figure out I want something a bit more challenging. It is beginning to look like iPhones are standard issue out there it has lost it's cool factor for me.
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Hey Kristina, thanks for the input!
"why would I want a device that a five year old can figure out I want something a bit more challenging" – Why would you want a device that is challenging to use? Just because a child can use it doesn't mean it is any less powerful. The beauty if iOS is that it is the most powerful mobile OS out there yet it is the simplest.
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Hey Kristina, thanks for the input!
"why would I want a device that a five year old can figure out I want something a bit more challenging" – Why would you want a device that is challenging to use? Just because a child can use it doesn't mean it is any less powerful. The beauty if iOS is that it is the most powerful mobile OS out there yet it is the simplest.
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All I want to say is that I have this HTC phone, and I can say that scrolling is not laggy! Not at all.
Written on my HTC.
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Iphone sucks, HTC RULES!!! ANDROID ROCKS!!! no more no less. its the reality.
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hah I agree in some ways.. but when it comes to usability, iPhone has not been beaten yet..
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hah I agree in some ways.. but when it comes to usability, iPhone has not been beaten yet..
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Wow I read that whole thing
very nice,if I want freedom I'll jailbreak my iPhone ,no need to have pure freedom …it's risky all the time
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omg…" no need to have pure freedom it's risky all the time!"
I certainly hope you do not apply this rule to your life.
In any case on the UX level iphone so far seems better, but what ruins it, is when i step out of the device: having to link via itunes is a drag especially if your mac dates a bit and you cant update itunes you are somewhat screwed. The whole sync system is so closed that you have no options, that, for UX, is a iphone killer.
The fact that i have to have apple's permission to do whatever with the device i paid for is, on the user expericence level, not acceptable; how can it be a good expérience when i'm trapped ? Even if the scrolling is smoother…
So yea i'll go with Android anytime. Then again maybe i'm not the average user.
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omg…" no need to have pure freedom it's risky all the time!"
I certainly hope you do not apply this rule to your life.
In any case on the UX level iphone so far seems better, but what ruins it, is when i step out of the device: having to link via itunes is a drag especially if your mac dates a bit and you cant update itunes you are somewhat screwed. The whole sync system is so closed that you have no options, that, for UX, is a iphone killer.
The fact that i have to have apple's permission to do whatever with the device i paid for is, on the user expericence level, not acceptable; how can it be a good expérience when i'm trapped ? Even if the scrolling is smoother…
So yea i'll go with Android anytime. Then again maybe i'm not the average user.
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i'd like to point out one main thing,
The Home screen is what you make it to be..If i want an home screen full of icons for apps and all i could easily do that on My HTC or actuall in general an android…could you change how an home screen looks on an iOS??
And ask yourself…is a 5 year old really a benchmark of comparision?
If ur comparing an iPhone to an HTC device that costs half of what an iPhone costs,there would be lag issues…But take something of comparable costs and then show the lag issues.
i have had and used all iphone till the 3GS…And now use the HTC Sensation…
When you are spending your hard earned cash..I'd preffer something that gives me more freedom..
iTunes only isint a freedom.
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Thanks for the input. Here's what I think
- Some of the greatest interfaces lack customization. This is because, if it's put together right, there should be no need to change the way it works. The iOS home screen is a pretty good example of this.
- And yes a 5 year old is a good benchmark. If they can use it then anyone can use it. Doesn't mean the phone isn't powerful.. just means it's extremely usable.
- This laggy interface is specific to Android. WP7 devices don't sport any amazing hardware yet their transitions and UI runs very smoothly and is executed very well. Plus iOS devices are quite affordable nowadays.
In either case thanks a lot for sharing your opinion!
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Thanks for the input. Here's what I think
- Some of the greatest interfaces lack customization. This is because, if it's put together right, there should be no need to change the way it works. The iOS home screen is a pretty good example of this.
- And yes a 5 year old is a good benchmark. If they can use it then anyone can use it. Doesn't mean the phone isn't powerful.. just means it's extremely usable.
- This laggy interface is specific to Android. WP7 devices don't sport any amazing hardware yet their transitions and UI runs very smoothly and is executed very well. Plus iOS devices are quite affordable nowadays.
In either case thanks a lot for sharing your opinion!
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