GoKawiilStephen Radochia / Android Authority
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I’m picking up an iPhone 18 Pro, my 14th iPhone, today. And while waiting in line for Apple’s latest doesn’t have the same appeal it did in 2007, something about the iPhone still gets people out in droves. I can always sense the frustration of Android users who look over and see the attention the iPhone gets. And I also understand the points made. I ranked the Galaxy S26 Ultra ahead of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and Google’s done a solid job with the Pixel 11 Pro XL.
However, it’s not enough.
Google and Samsung, along with other Android manufacturers, have closed the gap with the iPhone. Hardware improvements and better software have made Android a legitimate alternative to iOS devices. Still, Apple maintains its dominance because it does one thing better than anyone else: it tells a story.
Would you ever consider an iPhone? 50 votes I'm using one right now! 26 % I switched over to Android for more flexibility. 10 % I've been Android from the beginning. 64 %
Google and Samsung closed the gap
Joe Maring / Android Authority
Steve Jobs was right about the iPhone in 2007 — it was five years ahead of anything else. When you look at the smartphone landscape nearly two decades ago, you see a variety of standards and software platforms, none as intuitive or solid as the iPhone. The original iPhone wasn’t perfect, and I remember being frustrated by how limiting it was in its first year. Still, it set the bar for what followed.
But that advantage didn’t last forever. It took a while, but Android manufacturers started to get things right. I do pine for the early days of Android, when each company had its own (heavily) skinned user experience, but I recognize what we gained by giving that up. Not all Android flavors are created equal, but the experience is consistent enough across the platform that it’s much easier for new users than ever.
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