These Are the 7 Biggest Differences Between an Android and an iPhone

Perhaps the most obvious difference between the iPhone and Android is the one you see first: the style. The interface, apps, and emoji all look different, with the iPhone generally considered to have a sleeker and more streamlined aesthetic.

Though Android had a facial recognition feature first, Apple's Face ID is much more advanced and secure. In fact, the Android version is more of a bonus than a key component, much less commonly used as the primary way of logging in and out compared to the iPhone. That being said, it's suspected that a more direct Face ID competitor could be included in Android Q, Google's forthcoming mobile OS system.

Try as they might, Google and other Android developers can't quite compete with Apple's in-person accessibility. These days, it seems like there's an Apple Store on every corner, from Manhattan's Fifth Avenue to the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris. But while Apple has long set the standard for store locations, resources, and design, Google wins out when it comes to online, phone, and chat customer service support.

For those closely familiar with the more technical side of each phone, the biggest different between the Android and iPhone devices is quite clearly the type of system, closed vs. open. Apple has a closed system, which means you can only download software and apps through Apple itself. However an open system, like Google's Android, can be downloaded from and paired with many different sources and apps.

But with an open system comes more vulnerability — though Apple devices can be infected with viruses and malware and certainly have documented security flaws, this happens much less commonly than with Android devices. This is both because of the nature of the open system as well as the worldwide user base. In fact, around 88 percent of the world's smartphone operating systems are Android, with around 12 percent on iOS.

Siri may have more character, but Google Assistant reigns supreme when it comes to comprehension and information delivery; essentially, Google's assistant is better at answering your questions. But Siri certainly has some advantages, including the seamless integration between the assistant and apps for music, ride sharing, and directions.

Of course, brand perception is an important distinguisher between Androids and iPhones. Thanks to differences in design, worldwide popularity, and exclusivity, the iPhone has developed a prestigious reputation associated with designers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and celebrities. To be fair, brands like Google and Samsung haven't exactly taken the same strategic approach to branding as Apple.