iOS vs Android: Which Operating System is Best for You?-Part 2

In a previous article, we discussed the differences between mobile operating systems and their impact on user experience.  But operating systems are not the only point of comparison when looking at smartphones. There are other specs you need to be aware of before purchasing your phone. Just like an operating system impacts the way your phone looks and how you interact with it, other specifications impact how fast your phone operates and how you can get the best out of it.

Your Processor

When you click a button on your phone, it sends a signal that is translated by your processor. Your smartphone’s processor works very hard to ensure a quick response to your commands.  According to Samsung, “a processor processes instructions in order to carry out certain functions that make your device operate properly.” It is “responsible for most of the functions on your smartphone, such as running the operating system and relaying touch-screen input.”  Just like operating systems improve from year to year, so do processors.  Apple and Samsung’s latest processors are the Apple A12 Bionic and Snapdragon 855, respectively.  So whether you have an iPhone XS Max of a Samsung Galaxy S10, you are using the latest and, by far, the best processors.  So to get a more meaningful comparison, you will have to look at more things.

RAM vs. Storage

Imagine if your smartphone did not work as fast as it does.  You try to open an app, and it takes too long to respond; try to use the internet, and it takes an eternity; you try to watch a video, and it keeps buffering.  Frustrating, right? The good thing is that we rarely have to deal with these problems. The reason why is because of the size of your phone’s RAM. RAM stands for random access memory and it determines the speed of your phone.  It works by storing all the information that your smartphone needs so that it can respond quickly. This storage, however, is on a short-term base. That means that RAM, unlike your phone’s storage, only keeps information temporarily.  Of the two, Samsung phones come with higher RAM capacity, with the Galaxy S10 coming with 8GB or 12GM RAM. The iPhone XS Max, on the other hand, has 4GB RAM. 

By comparison, your phone’s storage is designed for long-term storing of information.  There is no question that phone memory is essential. With the sheer amount of pictures, videos, and files we keep on our phones, a16GB memory is no longer viable.  For its latset model, Samsung has spoiled its customers with a starting storage space of 128GB for the Galaxy S10. On the other hand, the iPhone XS Max’s storage space starts from 64GB.  While 64GB is not too low, someone who relies heavily on their phone may have to pay more for more storage.

Camera

If the first thing you do when you get a new smartphone is check out the camera, you are not alone.  Photo quality is a huge factor for smartphone users, and manufacturers have noticed. This is why each new phone model comes with an improved camera.  Usually those improvements include an increase in megapixels, which are the number of little dots that make up a picture. The more megapixels, the less blurry a picture will be.  But simply adding megapixels is just not enough. The video below shows a great comparison between the iPhone XS Max and Galaxy s10+ cameras and the features you should pay attention to.   

So What Should You Consider When Comparing Phones

It’s often tempting to make purchase decisions based on price alone.  Buying a smartphone, however, is not that simple. When you buy a smartphone, you have to consider what is important to you.  Choosing the right operating system is just as important as prices. With the number of gadgets per household increasing, it is important that we buy compatible technology.  Think of someone who owns an iPad, an Apple TV, and a MacBook. An Android phone will simply be out of place, and they would be sacrificing convenience. On the other hand, if you take lots of pictures and storage is an absolute must for you, then you might opt for the convenience of a Samsung.  There is no magic formula for what is important when comparing two smartphones. That is usually determined based on your needs and the reason you’re buying the phone. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to point out one specific feature that you absolutely must have, and that will guide your search in the right direction.