Android vs iOS app – Which one to develop first
Mobile application design is one of the areas of software products that is constantly growing. The number of applications has increased dramatically in the past years, but the demand for mobile application design is still growing. For example, according to available data, users spend approximately 87% of their online time on mobile applications.
On the other hand, with the spread of Covid-19, mobile application design received more attention; Because many businesses had to go online quickly and thoroughly. For example, Microsoft’s Teams video conferencing software saw a 1,000 percent increase in user usage in March, reaching 2.7 billion minutes in one day.
Also, medical applications, education, and many other businesses and industries have found the need for application design to adapt to their conditions. To design the application, one can choose one of the two leading platforms, Android and iOS. Before deciding on their choice, comparing these two options thoroughly is better. In the following, we review the advantages and disadvantages of both platforms and carefully examine their main differences so that you can make the best choice for your company.
Advantages of Android application design
• flexibility
Android offers an environment with fewer restrictions than iOS for designing applications. These applications run on almost any Android device, and the possibility that you will face hardware compatibility issues is very low. Also, the Android application design process is much more flexible. The platform also provides a more direct design experience based on Java. Java is a more versatile programming language that supports Windows, Mac OS, and Linux, allowing developers to design applications regardless of their device’s operating system
• Educational Resources
Google offers an extensive database, various examples, and complete training programs for beginners to design applications at multiple levels.
• Publishing the application
As of 2020, Google has a more lenient approach to publishing apps on Google Play. The review process that used to be done automatically in 7 hours can now take a week for new designers. However, most Android apps that do not violate the rules are approved and published.
Creating an app for multiple devices
Android application design means making the application compatible with all devices. For example, you can develop your application for headsets, smart watches, virtual reality devices, TV, and other platforms. This flexibility can create many ideas for application design.
Disadvantages of Android application design
• Quality assurance in making the app
It may seem helpful to use Android application codes for multiple platforms simultaneously, But it complicates application testing.
• Android application design cost
Designing an Android app usually takes more time than iOS. As a result, its cost is also higher than that of iOS application development.
• In-app users spend less
Android users prefer to use free apps. They buy apps less than iOS users.
• security problems
Android is an open-source platform for app design, and it is more likely to be a victim of cyber attacks than its counterpart, iOS, which has a closed system.
Advantages of iOS application design
• Performance
iOS mobile app design is in high demand because these apps work well. This platform has high load speed and security and is easy to use. One of the significant advantages of iOS applications is that the final version has few bugs.
• Making an app for the whole device
This can be considered both an advantage and a disadvantage for the iOS operating system. The iOS operating system is a so-called isolated operating system; The disadvantage is that it is difficult to transfer a file from one device to another. Sharing information with other devices isn’t accessible if you only have one Apple device. But its advantage is that it allows the developers to write the application for all Apple devices (phone, watch, headset, etc.) rather than developing the application only for the mobile phone.
• Impeccable Ui/Ux
Apple provides developers with detailed guidelines for creating user interfaces for their apps. Although it may be limited for some applications, it guarantees a good user experience overall.
Disadvantages of iOS application design
• iOS application development rules
Apple’s rules for mobile application design and the environment it provides to app developers are stringent. For example, to develop a native iOS application, you need software such as XCode, which only runs on Mac. Therefore, to develop iOS applications, you will need at least a Mac device that supports Apple technology.
- Publication of the program
The App Store is stricter than Google Play. Even if the application does not violate any law, it may be because it is not relevant or valuable; it may be rejected
• Customization
iOS limits the ability of developers to customize the application. Also, it may be necessary to use another software to add some features to the application, which makes it difficult due to the limitations set by iOS.
Comparison of Android and iOS platforms
• Future vision
Android devices currently hold 74.4% of the global market share, which makes the future of Android mobile application design very promising. On the other hand, iOS devices are gaining more and more popularity due to their high performance and innovations. Therefore, it is impossible to determine whether the future vision of Android is better or iOS; Because both platforms will not lose their popularity in the next few years.
• Income
The revenue from ios applications is more than from android applications. This is because while the market share of Android apps is more, the desire to buy in-apps of iOS users is more. Suppose you are looking to make money from the app. The iOS app is a good choice.
• Target audience
You must first define specific features to identify your target audience when designing your app. There are differences between Android and iOS users that should be considered when designing an application. For example, statistics show that Android mobile application design may be more successful if your target audience is in medicine or technology. Or for example, more professional jobs, such as managers, use iPhone phones more, so when designing the iOS app, you should also consider the needs of this type of user. Another critical point is that iOS users tend to keep up with the latest technology trends and earn more money.
• Budget and time required
Android application design requires more time and money compared to iOS application design. The programming language that applications use is an essential factor. Android relies on Java, while iOS uses Apple’s native programming language, Swift. Swift is more suitable and competent to meet iOS developers’ needs. This software reduces coding time and cost.
• Maintenance after launch
Android users often use older versions of the operating system. 50% of Android devices are currently running outdated versions of Android. This issue causes unwanted bugs in applications that can work well. This problem is less common in iPhone users; For this reason, iOS applications are often easier and cheaper to maintain than Android applications.
• Desired features
The most significant difference between Android and iOS is that Android is an open-source operating system, and iOS is a closed-code operating system, making it easier for developers. Still, on the other hand, Apple generally has higher security. Therefore, Android applications are exposed to more cyber attacks.
• User location
If your target audience is in Western Europe, Australia, or North America, iOS application development can be more profitable for you. Also, Apple’s market share in Japan is higher than that of Android. But in general, there are more Android users worldwide than iOS users. For example, Android users far outnumber iOS users in Germany, China, Brazil, Nigeria, and India.
• Publishing in the app store
Google Play is less strict compared to the App Store. And the cost of releasing iOS apps is higher than that of releasing Android apps.
Which platform should we design at the beginning?
When deciding to choose Android or iOS for mobile application design, consider the following factors:
• User location
• Budget and time required to build the app
• How unique do you want your user interface to be?
• Your target audience
Although there are many differences between Android and iOS application design; Overall, both operating systems dominate the market; They have a promising future and attract many contacts in all fields. So you should design and publish your application in Android and iOS versions.
