Even if you’re trimming expenses to tackle student debt or saving up for a house, a smartphone has become almost indispensable.
And we’re not just talking about Facebook, Tinder and Candy Crush.
As daily life becomes increasingly digital, smartphones let us synchronize and mobilize the online services we rely on. They can make us healthier, sharper, more efficient and, naturally, more connected to others.
In 2016, carrying a flip phone signals eccentricity. But even if you can tolerate social snubs, you may be at a social and professional disadvantage if you’re not on par technologically with peers.
Sadly, the smartphone landscape isn’t as straightforward — or as cheap — as a Savinly reader might wish.
You can easily shell out hundreds for a handset and nearly as much for a monthly plan.
Complicating things further, the market is split among many manufacturers, and weighing their costs and perks isn’t always easy. The biggest divide is between two dominant operating systems: Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS.
Because we happen to have staunch supporters of each on our team, we set them against each other: Which widely used smartphone OS gives you the most bang for your buck?
Apple vs. Android
Staff writer Jamie Cattanach has been using Android since a tech-savvy ex mocked her Apple gear six years ago.
After discovering how much flexibility she had been missing for the supposed ease-of-use of the iPhone, she made the switch and never returned.
Staff writer Dana Sitar avoided Apple devices for years because of the price. She kept a flip phone until 2011 — not to be quirky, but to save cash.
As she transitioned to a nomadic life and remote work, the need for a smartphone became obvious.
In 2011, iOS led the mobile market, so the decision was simple. A free phone was commonly offered with a contract, so cost wasn’t a concern.
Five years, three phones, an iPad, an Apple TV and a MacBook later, her allegiance is solid.
Here are their cases.
Jamie: Android Phones Deliver Affordable Flexibility
When I started dating an IT guy whose friends sneered at my iDevices, I wasn’t bothered.
Let them talk, I thought. My iPhone’s beautiful!
But being around Android users daily made me draw my own observations.
“How are you replying so fast?” I remember texting my then-boyfriend early on when our text-heavy chats were constant. His replies seemed instant.
“I use Swype,” he said.
Swype, I discovered, was an excellent alternative keyboard that lets you glide your finger across letters instead of tapping each key, saving loads of time. My iPhone didn’t support it.
Actually, the app wasn’t in the App Store for years — not until iOS 8.
As I explored my boyfriend’s phone, I found a whole ecosystem of apps like Swype I couldn’t access, plus the ability to personalize homescreens and the user experience with widgets.
I could tell apart all my Android friends’ phones, even when they were identical models, thanks to the personalization Android permits.
Because many manufacturers build Android phones, they also alter the OS to match their design ideas. Not every Android device feels the same, unlike Apple’s uniform approach.
Some had an inventive pattern lock screen; others displayed a weather widget or a news feed on wake. My boyfriend had a whole screen dedicated to a calendar app synced to Google Calendar, a setup I still use now.
Good luck getting your Apple devices to sync smoothly with Google’s apps, whichyouprobably rely on.
And for those Apple users squealing about widgets now: sure, but they didn’t appear until iOS 8, and word is they’re somewhat limited.
Even if you see the lack of tweakability as a virtue in the name of “simplicity,” using Apple gear can really hit your wallet.
You can get an Android handset with equal — or superior — specs to an iPhone for a fraction of the cost.
With Apple, you’re often buying a status symbol as much as you are the device. It’s like paying top dollar for boutique workout pants.
That’s hardly good savviness for a Savinly reader.
Android: More Performance, Less Cost
I carry a smartphone I genuinely love.
It came preloaded with Google’s apps I already use for everything, like Hangouts, which is my main messaging tool.
While my great Google Fi-like plan includes unlimited talk and text for just $20 a month, if I had to pay per SMS, Hangouts would bypass the fee since it’s web-based. It also keeps automatic records of conversations.
I’ve never been unable to find and install an app I wanted to try.
Even better, I purchased my phone for under $400 — contract-free.
That’s right: My LG Nexus 5X cost only $399. I could have grabbed a similarly capable device for $349, but I opted for extra storage because I shoot a lot of photos.
Before you label it a bargain-basement handset, look at the specs.
It has the same 2GB RAM as theiPhone 6s, and its quad-core CPU is arguably stronger. It boasts superior pixel density, broader connectivity and a slightly larger camera pixel size.
And it’s not even the most luxurious Android currently available.
Which, to me, is another point for Android: you can actuallychoosea handset instead of just following whatever Apple issues that year.
Take the Nexus 6P, a premium step up from my phone.
Note: Plenty of other Android models exist from vendors like HTC and Samsung. But I favor Google’s Nexus line because:
- I’m a total Google fan. (Notice?)
- These phones ship with the pure Android OS as Google intended, unmodified by manufacturer skins like Samsung’s TouchWiz or HTC’s Sense.
I skipped the 6P because my small hands balk at phablets, but comparing it to theiPhone 6s Plus, there’s no contest: theNexusoffers an extra GB of RAM, a display more than 100 ppi denser, and a stronger processor.
Also, you can own it outright — no contract, no financing — forjust $499.
What does an unlocked 6s Plus cost? About a grand, whether you buy on resale sites or use Apple’s payment program, which totals roughly $978.
And I pay just $30 per month for my service.
Better, Faster, Stronger
Although the iPhone pioneered the smartphone, it’s tough not to think Apple users could be missing out on a superior offering, especially if price matters.
The fact Android launched later might be a strength: it learned from Apple’s initial missteps and user feedback.
Android evolved without bearing the cost of inventing the category.
And what it evolved into was… choice.
https://youtu.be/xLhJIFC8xkY
Dana: Apple Handles Everything Beautifully
When I bought my first smartphone, Apple’s iOS dominated, Windows phones weren’t in the mix and BlackBerry was already falling behind.
I lived in San Francisco, where it seemed everyone was born with an iPhone instead of a blanket.
I’d moved from Wisconsin, where Compaqs still populated desks and flip phones hung on belts. I was charmed by both the Apple community and the products.
The iPhone captivated me.
Using other Apple devices, I loved how effortlessly they worked together. I could navigate the interface across my phone, laptop, tablet, desktop and Apple TV because they all behaved consistently.
Before Google offered competitive hardware, this cohesive experience wasn’t matched on the Android/PC side.
More Options Aren’t Always Better
Android fans point to the abundance of choices.
You can pick from a wide array of models and tweak your setup with widgets and countless third-party apps.
I don’t crave more options on my iPhone because it does what it does very well.
Using an Apple device is like dining at a fine restaurant. The menu is limited, and you can order anything and expect quality because you trust the chef.
Using an Android device is like hitting a big buffet. The spread is endless and caters to all tastes.
But you’ll end up fishing green bean casserole out of mac ’n’ cheese with a utensil you just watched a kid handle with Jell-O on his hands.
Value Over Price
On price alone, anyone can assert Android beats Apple (and many will).
But you must consider the value you receive for your money.If paying less gives you less, that isn’t always a win.
Google’s hardware has closed the gap recently. Apple still leads with features like 3D Touch, Live Photos and Reachability.
Apple’s native iMessage and FaceTime compete well with Hangouts. Outside of work, I have no friends on Hangouts; if I want to spare a non-iPhone friend SMS charges, we use Facebook Messenger.
Apple also excels at integrating third-party services. With iOS 6, Apple made Facebook and Twitter setup straightforward. Setup instructions look like this.
By contrast, instructions for Facebook integration on Android read like this. Yikes.
Being Frugal with Apple
Bottom line? New Apple gear costs more than most alternatives. No argument changes that.
But being thrifty doesn’t mean you can’t use Apple.
I hunted for the best deal to get a new iPhone. I pay $19.77 per month through Sprint.
I bought a refurbished two-year-old iPad 2 for $200, used it for two years, then sold it for $100.
My partner and I recently bought a used four-year-old MacBook Pro for $650. Previously, he’d used a new MacBook for eight years and sold it for parts for $100.
A true Savinly reader doesn’t buy solely based on lowest price. She knows how to obtain the best for less.
The Best Smartphone for a Savinly Reader
So who takes the crown?
A straightforward price check will usually favor an Android device. And options like Google Fi make service incredibly affordable.
Android is typically the top pick when cost is your main factor.
If you prioritize design, functionality and ecosystem, you may feel Apple’s overall value outshines Android’s cheaper tag.
Bottom line: As Android matures and carriers offer more economical ways to acquire an iPhone, no single brand clearly dominates.
Instead, you must decide which features matter to you — and use your Savinly savvy to score them at the best price!
Your Turn: Which do you pick: Apple or Android?
Jamie Cattanach is a staff writer at Savinly. She also pens other pieces, like wine write-ups and poems.
Dana Sitar is a staff writer at Savinly. She’s contributed to various outlets, including Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com and Writer’s Digest, often attempting humor where possible.
