Changes are not easy, and when we talk about changing a cell phone, the situation can be particularly delicate if the transition is not to a device of the same brand or operating system. Today we know that Google and Apple lead the mobile OS market, so switching from iPhone to Android can be a real challenge for users.

However, we're here to help: we've put together 14 topics that detail the main differences you might feel during this transition. That's okay: if you choose a good Android smartphone, you'll hardly regret making the switch. In the past, the differences between the systems were more glaring. With recent modifications, however, both are quite secure and customizable, allowing the user to have a good usability and privacy experience.

A Google account always by your side

Are you ready? Then your first task will be to create a Google account. You can either create a new Gmail address or reuse your usual email address by simply registering it during the initial setup of your device as your account with the Mountain View company.

A Google account is essential after switching from iPhone to Android because it is where your contacts, messages, apps, content preferences and even subscriptions to services will be saved, making it easier to switch to another phone in the future. If you create a Gmail account, you will have 15 GB free to exchange emails, synchronize your records with Google Photos and even upload files to Drive. You can expand this capacity through paid plans.

Not every cell phone is top of the line

When you buy your iOS phone, you expect the latest in performance and technology, right? That's because Apple Apple Inc. has always charged high prices for all its launches, and therefore has always promoted a line of flagship products. Be careful when switching from iPhone to Android, because obviously an R$800 cell phone will not have the same performance as an Apple device.

In the Android environment, there are three segments of devices: entry-level, mid-range, and flagships. The latter will come closest to the performance and multitasking experience that you are probably used to. This is a vast universe, and even a premium mid-range device can offer features that surprise you. For example, to date, Apple has not implemented high refresh rates on its screen or biometric fingerprint reading on the screen. This has been a reality for years on devices that use the open source OS. There are a lot of new things, in terms of resources, to be explored!

One's software, another's hardware

Unless you travel to the United States and return with a Pixel phone, you will unfortunately be using a phone whose hardware is the responsibility of the manufacturer, and the software — in parts — of another. This is because Google develops Android and then licenses it to brands, which appropriate this code and promote customizations of the system.

You must imagine that there are hundreds of Android manufacturers on the market, and therefore it is impossible for Google to promote the best possible integration between the code and the device itself. This is a disadvantage of the open source OS, but many well-known brands manage to achieve good integration. When this does not happen, you will quickly notice that criticisms arise regarding battery performance or even performance. Trying to stay away from brands that have this bad reputation will do you good, but it is extremely important to consider another aspect below.

Updates depend on your manufacturer

Unlike the iPhone, Android updates only partially depend on Google. Every year, the Mountain View company releases a new version of the OS, but it only reaches your phone if it is convenient for the manufacturer that put it on the market, as it customized the operating system to work specifically with those devices.

Therefore, it is important to keep an eye on the reputation of brands, and right away we can mention two examples here, one good and one bad: Samsung recently committed to bringing three OS updates to its most popular flagships and mid-range devices, in addition to four years of security patches. Meanwhile, LG gives indications that has already discontinued updates of K-series devices released last year. If you're switching from iPhone to Android, the last thing you want is to switch from a device that receives up to five years of updates to catch one that is abandoned in 12 months, right?

Installing apps from third-party stores and directly from the internet

That's right: on Android, if the user wants an app that not in the official store, it may be possible to do so if you perform any dangerous or warranty-invading procedures on your device. This is because it has always been possible to use alternative stores, such as Amazon, to download apps. It is also possible to download files with the “.APK” extension directly from the internet for installation. Of course, always check the reputation of the sources that make the download available so as not to install a real advertising machine on your cell phone. This scam is very common, and Google Play Protect is not always able to detect these traps at the time of installation.

Interface with ads in some cases

Still on the subject of ads, your phone manufacturer may include ads in certain areas of the interface. This happens a lot with Xiaomi smartphones, for example, but even Samsung occasionally sends ads in notifications when new products are launched. Some manufacturers will allow ads to be disabled, while others will not. Doing some research on this is essential if this is the type of implementation that bothers you.

Uninstall useless apps that came from the factory

One annoying thing about Android is the inclusion of unsolicited apps due to partnerships that manufacturers promote with software companies. Today, this movement is promoted more timidly by companies, but it still exists. Don't be surprised if you buy your new device and notice a ton of apps that you won't use already there, waiting for you. Long-tap on them and uninstall them without hesitation, to free up storage space.

Convenience to pay subscriptions directly in the app

Maybe because I spent a lot of time with the Apple Before switching from iPhone to Android, you may not know that it is possible, for example, to subscribe to Spotify Premium directly through the app. Due to restrictions imposed by the App Store, it is not possible to purchase a series of subscriptions directly through the apps, because the Cupertino company wants to charge companies up to 30% on these transactions. Perhaps due to better agreements with Google, these restrictions do not apply to Android. You can pay for your subscriptions with your Play Store balance or purchase services directly with your credit card details.

You may suffer a little with Instagram

Unfortunately, you may notice a loss of quality when posting some stories on Instagram, especially when using filters. The fact is that images taken with the phone's native camera software have always produced better results than when we use third-party apps, but the photo social network has always made an effort to include beneficial drivers in the app for iPhone lenses to take high-quality photos.

When we talk about Android and its universe with literally thousands of devices, we give Instagram an impossible task, which, in the vast majority of cases, processes images and videos recorded in stories with inferior quality. Samsung managed to maintain an interesting partnership with the social network for a while when it launched the Galaxy S10. After a few updates — and with the next generation of devices — there was no more talk of image optimization for the online photo platform.

You will not be able to use your Apple Watch

O Apple Watch is one of the best smart accessories on the market and a great help for health checks. It is also one of the most popular smartwatches on the market, so it wouldn't be surprising if you were planning to switch from iPhone to Android while keeping your Watch. Unfortunately, we don't have good news in that case: Apple Watch is not officially compatible with Google's OS.

You can still use your AirPods without any problems, but you will need to retire or resell your Apple Watch and migrate to a Wear OS, Tizen, or other Android-compatible solution. The good news is that today most products on the market have the same sensors and features as a Apple Watch, promoting heart rate monitoring, sleep readings, offering oximeter and electrocardiogram functions.

No physical button to mute notifications

A very practical invention of the iPhone is its physical button to immediately disable all sounds on the device. Well, for unknown reasons, in the Android universe only OnePlus offers this type of function. And since the brand does not officially sell its products here, we work with the reality of 99,99% of Brazilian users, who need to navigate through the notification bar to silence the phone's noises via software. This takes a few seconds, and at the beginning of the transition from iPhone to Android it can be annoying. That's right.

Increase space with a microSD card

You may be a little surprised by what we are going to say next, but yes, it is possible to expand your phone's storage capacity after switching from iPhone to Android. That's because most smartphones that use the open-source OS come with a microSD card slot. So, while your phone's 64, 128 or 256 GB of internal storage are essential for installing apps, you can move photos, videos, downloads and even the cache of some programs to a 512 GB, 1 TB or larger card (depending on your device's compatibility).

Customize as you like

It's true that since iOS 14 it's been possible to use widgets on the iPhone, but this has been a reality on Android for at least a decade. What's more, here you can exchange the desktop for a third-party application, which will allow an even greater degree of customization, enabling the redesign of the app grid, customization of folders, inclusion of interactive wallpapers, new icons and much more.

More complicated device integration

A very strong point of the products Apple is the easy integration between them, which unfortunately is not so strong here on the other side. Therefore, when switching from iPhone to Android, it is important to check whether the manufacturer of your next cell phone also offers a smart ecosystem of home products. In Brazil, the strongest brand in this regard is Samsung, which offers not only cell phones but also sound systems, Smart TVs, and even the SmartThings app to connect your electronics to Amazon Alexa, for example. Outside of iOS, it is essential to research how each product can communicate with the ones you already have, as it is difficult to find everything you need — or simply want — with the same company, at least in Brazil.

So, we hope we have demystified the process of switching from iPhone to Android a little. You can also check out our tutorial on how long does a cell phone last, which provides additional tips to help you start your Google adventure off on the right foot.