Apple and Google have presented iOS 12 and Android 9 Pie: here’s how they are, what changes and what is the best update of the year.
iOS and Android are two completely different worlds and comparing them can be a gamble. But since both Apple and Google have launched the first versions of iOS 12 and Android 9 Pie, sometimes encountering some problems, a comparison between the two new updates can be useful to make a summary of the most interesting features and to find out if ( in the long run) iPhone and iPad devices will be with the most innovative and performing operating system.
iOS 12 was released on September 17, and has already received a first patch a few days ago, and is now installed on half of compatible Apple devices. Android Pie instead has undergone a different path, choosing a gradual release and for the moment only for some selected devices. What is the best? Let’s see it together.
iOS 12 vs Android 9 Pie: notch and gesture
Let’s start with the notch and gesture, which are also supported by Android 9 Pie as well as iOS 12.
Both features are now associated with the family of the iPhone X (which is joined by the new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and the next iPhone XR ) that made them popular although it was not the first device on which they appeared (remember the Essential Phone and, even before, WebOS developed by Palm in 2009). This makes Apple the obvious winner of our first comparison with a choice that has made school for many, such as Google Pixel 3/3XL and Huawei.
In the gesture the similarities between the two systems are obvious, with points to the detriment of Android 9 Pie that somehow copy from Apple: the gesture to return to the home screen, in the absence of physical keys, is practically the same by scrolling from the bottom of the display upward. Android, however, allows you to choose to go back to the old buttons, if you do not like the new navigation system.
iOS 12 vs Android 9 Pie: Siri vs Google Assistant
Siri on iOS 12 has recently been able to predict your needs through the Command app, which allows you to start a certain routine when you say certain words.
For example, “I’m coming home” can start a routine that sends a message to your wife, sets up your favorite radio station and suggests the least busy way. The app can still improve, being a bit ‘cumbersome regarding the initial configuration.
Google Assistant, on the other hand, is able to do even more: not only already uses routines, but also has six new items to handle the questions and orders even if all done together.
Google, which is trying to make its assistant more human and able to support small conversations, wins this duel.
iOS 12 vs Android 9 Pie: messages and notifications
Apple’s iMessage is definitely ahead, with its animoji, peer-to-peer payments, video calls, the ability to text over wi-fi with other users and the ability to send text messages from iPhone, iPad and Mac. Google is dispersive, divided among a thousand applications, such as Hangouts, Android Messages and Google Duo, which, moreover, often can not be used on different devices.
Different discourse regarding notifications: Android continues to keep a pace slightly on that front, with a system now tested and appreciated by users. But iOS 12 is not watching, enhancing the lock screen and making it more powerful for reading and reordering notifications: these are now grouped by app or thread, allowing more order in the consultation and the ability to delete them in bulk (a depending on the application) with a simple tap. Android 9 Pie maintains more control, allowing users to choose a quick response to be given to the chosen notification.
iOS 12 vs Android 9 Pie: augmented reality
The augmented reality is undoubtedly one of the battle points on which more and more operating systems are colliding. Apple has provided a new multiplayer feature with iOS 12 that allows users to interact with each other simultaneously in the same augmented reality session: from building something together with Legos to playing ping pong.
Even Google implements this feature on Android 9 Pie, but thanks to Cloud Anchors allows you to do even better: in fact, allows access not only to Android devices but also to the iPhone.
On the technical level Apple mounts the robust and powerful ArKit, which allows, for example, to measure the length of objects in everyday life with Metro. Google is still missing reference apps to make a bang in this sense, but Android 9 Pie still holds the record for the greatest accessibility possible, winning the hand.
iOS 12 vs Android 9 Pie: Face unlock and Maps
The face unlock (safe unlocking through facial recognition) is synonymous with Apple, also seen the primacy of the iPhone X as regards the front camera in 3D and Face ID.
The Android version is less reliable, except for the version of iris recognition on the Galaxy S9, but is available only on (some) Samsung devices.
As for Maps, Apple is useful to get to your destination, but does not integrate to the suggested route the amount of information you can choose to use on Google Maps.
iOS 12 vs Android 9 Pie: manage smartphone addiction
Both operating systems also integrate features aimed at digital detox, to manage the dependency on smartphones, helping you sleep or know the amount of time you spend on your device.
On iOS 12, the Do Not Disturb mode deactivates most of the notifications, you can control how much you use the phone through weekly reports and set a limit of access hours for each app.
The equivalent on Android 9 Pie is Digital Wellbeing, also Google implements the Wind Down feature to decrease the intensity of the colors of your smartphone during sleep hours, with access to a dashboard to see how much you use each app, which you can also assign usage limits, setting the mode do not disturb by putting the phone face down.
These features make the two operating systems equally competitive, even if on Android 9 Pie are still in beta and being tested.
iOS 12 vs Android 9 Pie: what is the best?
From the comparison the two updates come out almost even, with some slight superiority on the part of Google in some dedicated functions: voice assistant on all. The real battle is against the habit: if you are fond of iOS, the new version will only lead you to discover improvements and new features that can make you appreciate Apple devices even more.
On the other hand, Android 9 Pie has nothing to envy by providing more freedom than iOS, a factor that could be crucial if you’re thinking of migrating from the green robot system. The game is still open and more concrete answers we will have only in the coming months.