There Has Never Been A Better Time To Switch To Android [Video]

Given Apple’s growing problems with integrating Apple Intelligence into the iPhone lineup, there has never been a better time to switch to Android—here’s why.

If you rely on Apple, just stay put

Before we really get into the weeds on this one, if you cannot live without things like iMessage, Airdrop, and the “Apple ecosystem,” then don’t throw all that away just because you think that attempting to switch to an Android phone will make things better for you.

The truth is that you’ll just end up disappointed unless you are happy to use alternatives like RCS in Google Messages over iMessage. Our advice is to stick with what you know.

But take it from me: I use Apple products every single day, but I live and breathe Android and use lots of other products without issues or problems. If you want a change of scenery, some new form factors, and maybe a little more excitement from your smartphone, then making the switch to Android has never been easier.

Apple “Intelligence” woes and Gemini gains

It’s stupid to say that Apple is not in a good place right now. The reality is that the iPhone is still the most popular individual device globally. However, the disaster that has been Apple Intelligence isn’t to be underplayed. The company doesn’t make many missteps like this, whereas it feels more commonplace in other tech companies.

So if you live under a rock for a while, Apple basically used Apple Intelligence as a vehicle to sell the iPhone 16, which isn’t great when you consider that much of the functionality showcased is not even available on the hardware around 6 months or so after launch. This isn’t just about missing features, I think it’s more about broken promises and a potential erosion of trust. When you’re paying a premium for a device, you expect delivered features, not “buts” or “maybes.”

I think we’ve said it here on the channel before: you should never buy a product or invest in something on the promise of future functionality or features. So understandably, it’s not a good look, given the dazzle and razzmatazz of the Apple Intelligence shown back at WWDC last year. It looked incredible.

I’m naturally a skeptic, so I really didn’t think that Apple could pull all of it off in just under a year, especially given that the company has been unable to make Siri a helpful product after almost 15 years. It does the basics but little more. It hasn’t evolved apart from adding some truly lovely animations with iOS 18.

Rant and complaints aside, I think this looks even worse when you consider that Google has been making steady progress with Gemini. Many of the things that Apple Intelligence claimed to be able to do actually already work on lots of Android phones, or at least versions are being added. Gemini started off in a rough state, but the catalyst for Google is that it will replace the Assistant across the entirety of the Android platform in the coming year or so.

Let’s not forget that Android offers a massive variety of hardware at various price points. You’re not locked into a single ecosystem with a single price tier. Gemini bridges that gap better than any other AI service. Apple Intelligence and the new Siri are locked to the latest and greatest.

Google isn’t new to this space either. Deepmind and Astra functions look like the next frontier for the company; even if you don’t use or want to access AI, I think it’s clear to see that Google has a distinct advantage, and as Android and Gemini are more and more decoupled from OS updates – which is something Apple still can’t do – the progress is much faster and can be rolled out way more readily to billions of people.

This modular approach allows for faster innovation and wider accessibility. You’re not waiting for a yearly OS update for crucial AI improvements; the update comes if your phone supports it, and that’s it. Astra is going to offer a world-facing AI that could be helpful in more scenarios – and it’s rolling out very soon.

Does AI even matter?

Let’s be honest again for a second. Most people don’t care about any of this – which is absolutely fine. AI alone is not enough of a reason to switch to Android.

You might be one of those people, though, who wanted those functions or might be sick of iPhones. I think there appears to be a growing number of people online hankering for a change of scenery when it comes to their mobile phones.

Maybe you’re tired of the walled garden approach, the limited customization, or the increasing prices. Maybe you want more control over your device, more options, and a more open ecosystem. As always it’s about finding what suits you. To a lesser extent, it’s also about a feeling of being ahead of the curve, not necessarily behind it, for some prospective buyers or users.

Android: More open, infinitely more flexible

There are undoubted pros and cons. Apple has a tightly integrated system that almost forces you to add another product. The downside to that approach is you have a homogenized pool of products that will fit into your “ecosystem” – it doesn’t allow for outside product integration easily. It’s more of a closed system like a fishbowl rather than an open ecosystem with scope for change or integration of other hardware.

This does mean that you get a more consistent experience across hardware and software. But on the other hand, you are limited to what works and what doesn’t. Android naturally offers more options. You don’t need to use all Samsung products or all Google products, but you can if you want. Common protocols and processes are used for hardware and software, so you can tailor things to your needs, and often, that means that you can adjust to suit specific cost barriers.

There are more form factors: folds, flips, slabs, various sizes, shapes, colors, and finishes that make an Android switch enticing. The choice isn’t exactly endless, but it’s varied across the entire price spectrum. On iOS, you have Pro, Pro Max, standard, SE, or E. That’s it—four choices.

Communication between iPhone and Android is also better now that RCS is working on more global carriers. It’s still not perfect, and we have a guide on all things you need to know, so go check that out via the link in the description. Sure, you might not get blue bubbles, but you can send photos and videos at high resolution, and group chats actually work. This doesn’t matter if, like the rest of the world, you use WhatsApp, which is fine on both sides.

Objectively, the highest-end Android phones have better cameras – particularly when it comes to stills photography. You have better zoom ranges, various profiles, looks, and tuning. Although iOS still has the edge in video recording at 4K resolution, you can shoot at 8K resolution on more Android phones. The gap there is closing drastically, and even social media in-app cameras work well on Android now.

You can also mix and match accessories from brands and still get a cohesive experience. For instance, the Pixel Buds Pro work well with a OnePlus phone, or a OnePlus Watch plays nicely with a Samsung Galaxy phone—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Fast Pair means you can quickly switch and get things working by tying to your Google Account, and the Android hardware you use is actually secondary.

Even the update timeline for flagship-level Android phones has drastically changed over the past couple of years. You actually get updates for longer than most iPhones now at the high end. The Pixel 8 series was the first to offer 7 years of major updates. Samsung has followed, but other OEMs like OnePlus, Oppo, and Xiaomi are offering up to 5-year update schedules too. The idea that you buy a phone and it never gets updated isn’t a problem from reputable Android makers now.

Gemini is already starting to do what Apple Intelligence claimed it would last year. On Samsung phones, you can control various parts of your phone using voice commands with multimodal AI, which allows you to do things step by step. The integration is limited to Galaxy phones at the moment, but with the Pixel 10 expected to launch with Pixel Sense, which will integrate with almost all default apps, the era of true hands-free voice control is coming – something Apple Intelligence was supposed to do.

At the high end, Android phones can cost more than Apple’s flagship lineup, especially when we consider foldable phones. However, there are more options in budget, mid-range, and high-end catch points. Take, for example, the OnePlus 13. It’s an incredible phone that is just $899 at retail. It’s a great value proposition for a top tier 2025 flagship phone. Apple’s best phone, the 16 Pro Max starts at $1,099 with discounts not as forthcoming when compared to other brands and manufacturers.

Switching is easier than ever, too. If you use third-party services, the process is easy. If you are entrenched in Apple services, you can switch; it’s harder, but it is doable. Google has built-in switching tools, and some OEMs offer apps to transfer things so you don’t miss out on things when you make the jump.

I appreciate these aren’t the most in-depth explanations of why you might want to take a look if you’re getting bored of your iPhone; I am here to tell you that you don’t have to stay on one side of the fence just because you think you have to. When you put aside the cringe “which is better” argument, the main experience is very similar now, but with some undoubted benefits that make Android a really nice place to be and there has never been a better time to switch.

Add 9to5Google to your Google News feed.