We’re not knocking iPhones, but there are some cool things Android phones can do that iPhones can’t. In this article, we’ll take a look at the top 10 things Android phones can do that iPhones can’t in 2022.
The argument between iPhone and Android owners is as old as both platforms, and one I can’t see coming to an end anytime soon. With each announcement and release of major updates, both sides like to point out copied features or updates that the other operating system lacks. In a lot of ways, the debate feels similar to politics, both sides just can’t find common ground.
Even though Apple keeps adding Android-like features to iOS, Android users still have plenty of bragging rights over iPhone users. From being able to use two apps at the same time to expanding internal storage are, for now at least, some of the things iPhones can’t do. Below are ten things Android phones can do that iPhones can’t. Facts.
Don’t worry, though. I’ve given Android the same treatment by highlighting things iPhones can do that Android Phones can’t.
10 things Android phones can do iPhones can’t
1. Use the apps you want, not the apps Google wants you to
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Apple added the ability to set your default app for email or web browsing in iOS 14, but that’s it.
Google has always given Android users the ability to set their default apps for a number of different tasks. Want to use a different app for text messaging than what came preinstalled? Do it. In fact, you should use Google Messages as your default app for its sweet chat features that are getting closer to being an iMessage equivalent.
Finding the setting for default apps can take a little digging, but at least it’s there.
It isn’t hard to see which apps have been labeled as default on your Android device: Open the Settings app and go to Apps & notifications > Default apps. To change the defaults, select the app category, such as Phone app or Browser app and choose from the options.
2. Split-screen apps
Even though iPadOS supports using multiple apps at the same time, iOS 15 and the iPhone do not. Android users, however, have had split-screen apps since 2016 with the release of Android 7.0 Nougat.
Using two apps is helpful if you’re trying to look up a contact’s phone number to send to someone on Facebook Messenger, or if you need to reference information in a document when composing an email. It’s unclear why Apple hasn’t added this feature to the iPhone yet, but perhaps it has something to do with the size of the app windows on the iPhone’s display as compared with the larger iPad.
The easiest way to use split-screen mode is to open the multitasking view and tap on the app’s icon at the top of its multitasking card — it’s the same icon you use to launch the app from your home screen. Select Split screen from the list of options, then select the second app you want to have open at the same time. (These steps might vary depending on which Android phone you use. For example, Samsung phones have their own version of the interface.)
You can adjust the size of each app by dragging the small handle between the two apps to expand or decrease how much space each app takes up.
3. Customize your home screen just how you like it
Android phones in general tend to have a myriad of options that let you play with their settings, appearance and all sorts of other parameters. There’s a real joy to setting up an new Android phone, from perusing a manufacturer’s take on Google’s mobile OS to calibrating the display’s colors and layout.
Granted, iOS now has widgets and other flexible tools for an added layer of customization, but they pale in comparison to the scope of customization that Android offers. This has always been the case, but I reckon it’s only something that you feel is very noticeable when you use an iPhone for a decent amount of time.
Apple’s approach to the home screen is still locked to placing all installed apps in a rigid grid, although you can now add widgets to the home screen and use custom app icons to mix up the overall look. However, the home screen on Android devices don’t follow a grid layout, allowing you to place apps anywhere you’d like.
Messing around with phone options, say display, gives one a taste of what a tailored phones experience can feel like, rather than one orchestrated and dictated by a bunch of folks from Cupertino. To my mind the price of iPhone convenience and ease comes at the cost of innovation and intrigue.
4. Use launchers to fully customize your phone
Launchers are the epitome of Android customization. These apps let you completely change how you interact with the home screen, the app drawer and even the app icons on your phone. Using a launcher on your Android phone allows you to customize almost every aspect of how your phone looks and behaves, making your phone even more personal than it already is.
Launchers like Nova Launcher, Microsoft’s Launcher, Apex Launcher and Action Launcher all add their own twists and features to your Android phone. For example, another popular Android launcher, Evie, emphasizes using a search bar to quickly find and open apps, or anything else on your Android phone for that matter. It’s minimalism at its finest.
I recommend taking some time to research the various launchers, trying a couple of them and really customizing the look and feel of your phone. Just be forewarned: The deeper you dive into the world of launchers, the more time and energy you’re going to spend on tweaking your setup.
It’s hard to imagine a world where Apple ever lets something like this happen for the iPhone, although it appears it is loosening its grip on how much iPhone users can change the look of their home screen.
5. Native Call Recording
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a spy or anything (promise). But I do sometimes have to take quick notes from the team and clients. Call recording has become a very important part of our lifestyle now-a-days. As many people are working from home and attending online meetings and conference calls, call recording is a must have feature in smartphones. Why? Let me explain!
The thing is if we forget something after the phone call, we can listen the recording to recall it. People attending interviews might find call recording very useful. Sometimes you may need call recording to record your conversation with a brand’s customer care or service center.
By default, Apple’s iPhone doesn’t come with call recording feature. If you are planning to move from Android ecosystem to iOS and want call recording functionality, you might be disappointed to know that iPhone doesn’t support call recording.
If you check Apple App Store, you’ll find plenty of free as well as paid call recorder apps to bring call recording facility BUT!
Most of these apps depend upon 3-way call conference workaround. Please note many of these apps are fake or useless and only few of them work. Also some of these apps ask to purchase monthly/yearly subscriptions to continue using their services.
So, what can Samsung do that iPhone can’t? Many Android smartphones come with native or built-in call recording such as Samsung.
6. Stylus Support on iPhones
Not every Android device supports a stylus, but Android owners at least have the option to buy a phone like the Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy S21 Ultra or even Motorola’s Moto G Stylus.
Having built-in stylus support means you can write notes, create sketches and edit photos with precision. It’s a tool that many users like, and on Android, it’s definitely an option. With Samsung expanding its S Pen to more devices like the S21 Ultra, one has to assume other Android-makers will follow. Samsung has led the way for years on bringing new features to Android, often beating out Google. Either way, Android fans already have some worthy options if they want a stylus.
Rumors have circulated for years that Apple would bring Apple Pencil Support to the iPhone, but we’ve yet to see it happen.
7. Sideload apps
Sideloading is a term you see from time to time while talking about Android applications, and it’s simple to explain. It means installing applications without using Google Play to do it.
Android isn’t like iOS and was built from the ground up to allow for applications to be installed on the phone from any source. It has nothing to do with root or piracy (unless you’re sideloading apps without paying for them). Sideloading is simply another way to install an app from its package files.
There are plenty of reasons why you might want to sideload Android apps. Maybe an application isn’t available through Google Play for your region or a developer has decided to not offer the app through the Play Store at all. You might even be testing an app or building one yourself.
The most important thing is that nobody is telling you that you can’t install any app you like on the best phone you paid for and that no matter where you got that app it’s covered through Google Play Protect as long as your phone has Google’s Mobile Services installed.
ith iOS, you’re allowed to download applications only from the App Store. However, on Android, you can also install apps downloaded over the internet.
8. Automatically change wallpapers
If taking the time to find and customize a launcher feels like a lot of work, there’s another way to make your Android phone constantly feel fresh and it’s yet another thing your iPhone friends can’t do — use Google’s Wallpapers app.
The Wallpapers app refreshes the wallpaper on your home screen and lock screen daily, without you having to do a thing.
There are several different categories of wallpaper styles to choose from. Pick your favorite and let the app take care of the rest. Personally, I like to use the geometric shapes category. The wallpapers are unique and colorful.
Granted, the iPhone now has wallpapers you can pick from that change based on whether or not dark mode is activated, and if you take the time to find or build a Shortcut, you can automate changing your wallpaper on a schedule — but it’s not as easy to use as the Wallpapers app.
9. In-App Purchases Using Mobile Plan
This is one feature I really wish iOS had. On Android, you have the option to pay for in-app purchases using your postpaid mobile plan. This handy feature will bill on your regular mobile plan, so you can pay via your network provider. Any purchases aren’t immediately debited from your bank account but added to your postpaid mobile bill.
10. Expand the storage
Apple has never allowed you to expand the storage with a microSD card on any of its phones. Many Android phones let you pop in a microSD card to expand the base storage. This allows you to use a microSD card to keep photos, apps and other media that won’t fit on your device’s internal memory.
That’s an amazing benefit, given the exorbitant prices that Apple and other phone makers charge to double or quadruple storage when you buy your handset. Why tack on another $100 to $150 to the price of a new phone just for an extra 128GB or 256GB of storage (that you’re not even sure you’ll need) when you can just drop $70 on a 512GB card later?
These are the things Android phones can do iPhones can’t.
So here are the 10 things Android can do that iOS can’t, but I really wish it did. Do you have any such wishes too? Drop them in the comments below!
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