Apple iOS 10 vs Android 7.0 Nougat: Battle for Smartphone Dominance Continues; Features and Specs Reviewed
One of modern day's biggest battles is most probably the choice between the dominant mobile operating systems—Android and iOS. Google and Apple have been at it since smartphones took over the tech world, but with the newest versions of their mobile software, which one has the upper hand? Read on how a general consumer would perceive the two.
Design and Interface
The user interface of these two are largely based on functional touch capabilities of their devices. The design language of Android 7.0 Nougat remains largely unchanged since the implementation of Material Design in 2014. Google wanted to veer away from previous three-dimensional and somewhat futuristic neon design and wants to build upon flat and pastel-colored design.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Apple, on the other hand, continues in iOS 10 the visual design of its flat and colorful graphics along with transparencies introduced in iOS 7. This replaces the previously glossy and skeuomorphic design of previous iterations.
Android 7.0 Nougat now provides native stylus support for its various devices. Meanwhile, iOS 10 sees the implementation of Force Touch in Apple devices.
Unique User Features
Apple dropped the bomb in WWDC 2016 when it announced a plethora of new features for iMessage in iOS 10. Users can now send messages in more personal and interactive ways than ever before. Widgets now make an appearance in the home screen, along with deeper integration of various apps with Siri. These features, with the addition of revamped feature sets in other applications, are the main pull factors of iOS 10.
Android, on the other hand, has been focusing on making the devices work more smoothly and efficiently overall. Multi-tasking and better battery performance through more Doze features are also natively supported. Google is now more deeply integrated into the system through various commands. Virtual Reality support is also now natively supported.
Compatibility
Compatibility has been one of the main aces of Apple. The iOS 10 is compatible with devices dating as far back as 2012 in the iPhone 5. The cross-platform compatibility ensures that whatever device a consumer is using, the same software experience can be expected with no additional learning curve.
As for the Android 7.0 Nougat, fragmentation is still the problem. This basically means that due to the variety of manufacturers that utilize the Android OS, some of them lag behind in adopting to newer versions. With previous versions of Android, some manufacturers rolled-out the updates as early as weeks after the release, most took several months, while a few just quite forgot to update. This would still most probably be the case for the newer version.
Release
The Android 7.0 Nougat has been released earlier this week, and is available for update through Google's Nexus devices. Again, future release on different devices are dependent on the manufacturer and the carrier. Apple will release the iOS 10 with the new Apple devices. The September event for the new iPhone means that iOS 10 won't be lagging far behind for the other devices' update.
Final Thoughts
The open-system of Android has always allowed the general public to act both as the users and developers. The new Android 7.0 Nougat once again moves a step forward in this direction, opening new possibilities for both user and developers.
On the other hand, the iOS has always tried to deliver as much as it could to the consumers without them worrying about the technical aspects. With iOS 10, Apple continues to offer not just a product but a service for its users to better connect with each other.
Apples and oranges, these two are. Comparing the two platforms based on specific details won't do anything without considering the whole user experience. The choice still boils down to individual preferences, so whether you side with the Nougat or the iOS 10, you are guaranteed the best possible mobile experience to date.
