Published on January 7, 2022, 11:19
I never really hung my colors on the mast of a platform; I've always had an iOS or Android device around me, I see the advantages of macOS and Windows, and I couldn't choose between PS5 and Xbox Series X. But despite that, I'm an Android smartphone user since five years.
This isn't down to any particular choice, just the fact that I tend to test a lot of Android phones and so have gravitated towards that platform. But since my first smartphone was the iPhone 4s, I've always been curious what it would feel like to fully revert to iOS after years of playing with a bunch of the best Android phones.
I had turned a deaf ear to the iPhone 13 – I thought it didn't go far enough to upset the iPhone formula and said I would wait for an iPhone 14 – but I got the opportunity to insert my SIM card into an iPhone 13 Pro, switching from the Google Pixel 6 Pro, to see if I could be tempted to fully commit to staying on iOS. And I have some ideas.
Go iPhone 13 Pro
Although I had an iPhone 12 for a while, one of the reasons I never upgraded was that Apple gave it a 60Hz display. After being spoiled by the Samsung Galaxy S21 and the Oppo Find X3 Pro for the better part of a year, I now find the 60Hz screens disturbing. Related: WhatsApp history can now be transferred from iPhone to Pixel and other Android 12 devices. Even 90Hz seems slow to me.
Apple's decision to finally switch to 120 Hz with an LTPO panel therefore caught my attention. And it's great.
I've long enjoyed Apple's Retina display, but the iPhone 13 Pro's OLED display isn't just great to look at, with color and contrast galore, that 120Hz refresh is wonderfully smooth. . Add to that the fine timing of iOS and the performance of the iPhone, and everything feels perfect to the touch. Thanks to its quick responses, the iPhone 13 Pro feels like it's in tune with what I want to interact with, without ever dragging or going too fast.
Not everyone will be interested in fast refresh rates, but for me this is the essential feature to bring me back to the iPhone after life on Android in the 120Hz fast lane. I'm disappointed that Apple stick to 60Hz for the regular iPhone 13.
The pro appeal of the $999 iPhone also extends to its trio of rear cameras. While there's no extra macro, microscope, or super-telephoto zoom lens, the main, ultra-wide, and telephoto series of cameras are still the best combination of cameras for what I'm looking for. from a smartphone. Sure, the standard iPhone 13's dual rear cameras are great, but having a telephoto zoom lens provides more comprehensive photography options.
And the photographic results are brilliant, confirming the iPhone 13 Pro's place in our list of the best camera phones. Photos are colorful, full of detail and contrast, and simply excellent on all three devices.
The only fly in the ointment is that I really like the contrasting photos of the Pixel 6 Pro, which makes it really hard to decide which one is best for me. I think the Pixel 6 Pro offers the best shots from the main camera, but the iPhone 13 Pro is more consistent across all of its cameras and never offered a single mediocre shot.
In terms of photography experience, I think the iPhone 13 Pro trumps the competition, although the Pixel 6 Pro is also brilliant in this area. Apple's flagship certainly has the edge over the Galaxy S21, although that phone also takes excellent photos.
Video-wise, the iPhone 13 Pro once again proves that iPhones are the kings of video recording. I had already found this to be the case with the iPhone 12, so there were no surprises; I'm not sure I can use Cinematic mode.
Could I recommend the iPhone 13 Pro cameras over the Pixel 6 Pro? Well, I'm not sure, because both look great. Could I recommend the cameras of the iPhone 13 Pro over those of any other phone? Yes, absolutely.
That old familiar feeling
As I've used an iPhone 12 for various tasks this year, like explaining how to connect a PS5 DualSense controller to your iPhone, the design and feel of the iPhone 13 Pro was nothing new. SEE ALSO: Trump sues to restore his Twitter account. But using it as my primary phone, I was struck by the phone's familiarity, even after years of using Android.
The rounded rectangular design of the iPhone 13 Pro took me back to the iPhone 4s, with the return of flat edges that are comfortable, but not slippery like the curved side of a OnePlus 9 Pro for example. Sure, they take fingerprints, but they scream high-end industrial design.
Related to this article: Apple: The new features possible in iOS 15Just like the rest of the phone; nothing looks out of place, and there are no sharp edges. I love the design of the Pixel 6 Pro, and the Oppo Find X3 Pro feels great to hold, but none of these devices feel like pristine build quality like the iPhone 13 Pro does. But again, Apple products have always had a high level of build quality, with the Butterfly keyboard mechanism being no exception.
I had thought that the screen notch would annoy me, as I am now very used to fist-hole shaped camera cutouts rather than notches of any shape or size. And yeah, it's not ideal and that's something Apple really should change with the iPhone 14. But it's smaller than before and when using iOS dark mode it gets a lot less intrusive.
And overall, the 6.1-inch screen seems like the perfect size for me, resulting in a phone that can be used in one hand, but still has enough screen space to be productive in shift.
iOS has come a long way since the iPhone 4s, but the menus, settings, and apps retain a graphical design and finesse that few native Android apps or skins can match. The weather app, for example, remains one of my favorites, the background showing the weather conditions outside in a wonderful graphic design.
Pure Android 12, as well as the Pixel's version, shows how far Google's mobile operating system has come since my early days with Android Jelly Bean and KitKat; the phrase "it works" applies to both Android and iOS when it comes to ease of use.
But I still think iOS has the edge in terms of general design - the effect of tapping on an apps folder to bring up a translucent box showing the apps it contains while dimming out those that are in the background is a very nice little touch.
Admittedly, it took me a little while to reacquaint myself with iOS, given my daily use of Android. But once I'm up and running, I can't deny that Apple's approach to mobile software is nothing short of brilliant.
Apple's Walled Garden
Things are far from perfect with iOS, however. We often complain about iPhones because Apple keeps them pretty locked down and limits customization below the surface. See also: Fossil Gen 6: The announcement of new smartwatches for 2021 without the latest software. And I found it to be.
Just moving apps around to get the home screen set up the way I wanted was deeply frustrating. You can't just drag and drop an app where you want it; move one and the others move too.
While the addition of widgets to iOS is appreciated, they lack the flexibility and variation of those found in Android. For now, iOS's widgets all look a bit first-gen, though very usable.
And while you can add things like third-party keyboards, the process isn't very clear. There are also no options to enter iOS settings; there is no way to change the colors of the Retina display, for example.
The lack of an app drawer, the lack of an always-on display, and the clumsy handling of notifications on the lock screen — you have to long-press the screen to access them, which isn't very clear right now. departure – remove some of the shine from iOS.
I'm not a heavy Android user, but I like having options. That said, there's an upside to Apple's lockdown approach.
Controlling everything from the chip at the heart of the iPhone 13 Pro to the apps that end up in the App Store has perfected the phone and iOS. All of the apps I've downloaded work flawlessly, with consistent design and performance. Even Google apps like Docs and Drive are a real pleasure to use on iOS. And the games, just on the App Store or provided by Apple Arcade, all run brilliantly, no doubt thanks to the optimization and sheer power of the A15 Bionic chip.
Of course, Apple's walled garden approach means that some apps and games on Android aren't allowed on iOS; I really wish the Xbox Game Pass app in iOS would allow native game streaming.
But there is a very comforting feeling inside this restricted ecosystem. I would liken it to being wrapped in a duvet on a cold night: you can't move much, but you feel good and content with where you are.
iPhone: Boring and shiny
The overall combination of sleek design, brilliant cameras, carefully curated features, and nifty (if stiff) software is more than enough for most people. And the tightly tuned interplay between the iPhone, Apple Watch, and MacBooks makes me see why people choose the iPhone and stick with it.
Related to this article:IPhone 14 and the mixed reality headset: according to Ming-Chi Kuo they will be equipped with Wi-Fi 6EBut I remain on my hunger. I feel like the iPhone 13 Pro lacks the smarts of the Pixel 6 phones with the Tensor chip and the features it enables. And there's nothing extra with Apple's phones, as is the case with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra with its secondary telephoto lens and the ability to become a pseudo desktop computer with DeX.
As such, the iPhone 13 Pro is glossy but rather dull at the same time. Hopefully that will change with iPhone 14, with the adoption of USB-C connectivity, a version of Touch ID under the display, better widgets and smart features for Siri that really offer something new and exciting.
After all, there are only a limited number of incremental iterations Apple can do with the iPhone in its current, proven formula before it has to go back to the drawing board.
No easy answer
The purpose of this article is not to determine whether iOS is better or worse than Android. Both are excellent and available to everyone, with Android offering more flexibility and options, while iOS offers a smooth and consistent experience.
Rather, I wanted to see if, as a longtime Android user, I could easily switch to iOS, and assess whether the die-hard attachment to Apple phones is relevant in a time when we're overwhelmed with great Android phones. And I had thought that I would end up leaning towards Android or iOS as the platform of choice.
But to be honest, I'm torn on my conclusion. That's mostly because the Google Pixel 6 Pro is the Android phone I've been waiting for with its heady mix of specs, smarts and stellar photography. Still, the iOS experience has taken its toll on me, and the iPhone 13 Pro's size, design, and camera performance are undeniably appealing.
For work, I carried both the iPhone 13 Pro and the Pixel 6 Pro, and that won't change except my SIM card is now in Apple's phone.
But, for now, after a busy day of tech news and views, it's the iPhone 13 Pro that I'll be using.
There are three reasons for this: long battery life, fast mobile internet connection, and AirPlay being excellent at streaming music to my Sonos smart speaker when my home Wi-Fi is down. capricious.
I don't know how long this will remain the case. With the Samsung Galaxy S22 on the horizon, I'm sure the lure of a new Android phone will hook me. And my Pixel 6 Pro will also be kept handy. Still, for better or for worse, the iPhone 13 Pro is now my everyday phone; well done Apple, very well done.
Roland Moore-Colyer is the UK editor of Tom's Guide. It mainly deals with news, feature articles and opinion pieces. He often writes about games, phones, laptops, and other hardware; he is also interested in cars. When not at his desk, Roland can be found walking around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face.
Roland Moore-Colyer is the UK editor of Tom's Guide. It mainly deals with news, feature articles and opinion pieces. He often writes about games, phones, laptops, and other hardware; he is also interested in cars. When not at his desk, Roland can be found walking around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face.