Another way of looking at this is that it clearly isn’t a fatal flaw. Most phone users don’t download many apps. Once they have the few usual suspects, they’re done. Android is, for that market, a good bet. It’s also superior for anyone who wants to more heavily customise their device (launchers, actions, etc) or dig into categories that are effectively banned on iOS (such as open emulation).
Where in my experience Android fares poorly is in a certain kind of ambition. Part of my beat is apps coverage. I was relieved when an article I used to write was canned because it was a nightmare each month coming up with consumer/creative oriented quality apps on Android. (Things are getting tougher on iOS there, too, but it’s still ahead.)
Even in that space, there are quality apps on Android, and surprises do happen. LumaFusion is a good example of that – even if it showed up years after it had been on iOS. But in these sorts of premium app spaces – media creation; writing tools; cameras; children’s apps; even games – iOS remains ahead.
For most, that won’t make any odds. But for some, it’s the difference that matters.
Where in my experience Android fares poorly is in a certain kind of ambition. Part of my beat is apps coverage. I was relieved when an article I used to write was canned because it was a nightmare each month coming up with consumer/creative oriented quality apps on Android. (Things are getting tougher on iOS there, too, but it’s still ahead.)
Even in that space, there are quality apps on Android, and surprises do happen. LumaFusion is a good example of that – even if it showed up years after it had been on iOS. But in these sorts of premium app spaces – media creation; writing tools; cameras; children’s apps; even games – iOS remains ahead.
For most, that won’t make any odds. But for some, it’s the difference that matters.