iPhone, or Android? An eternal question with no single right answer. It is not about which is better, but which suits you. Let us explain the differences, go through budget recommendations and, above all, the two things people most often get wrong.

Two worlds in a nutshell

An iPhone runs the iOS system from Apple. It is closed and unified: one brand, one system, long support. Android is a system from Google used by many brands (Samsung, Google, Xiaomi and others), it is more open and has a wider choice of devices and prices.

iPhone (iOS)Android
Update support5+ years from model release2 to 7 years depending on brand and tier
Choice and pricesnarrow line-up, pricierfrom budget to flagships
Customisationlimited but consistentalmost unlimited
EcosystemMac, iPad, Watch, AirPods click togetherbest with Google services, more mixable
Resale valuehighlower, drops faster
Battery and serviceauthorised service, original partsbrand dependent, wider repair network

Advantages of the iPhone

  • Long update support, often five years or more.
  • A smooth and unified interface that does not change for the worse over the years.
  • The Apple ecosystem (Mac, iPad, watch, AirPods) fits together.
  • Good resale value.

Advantages of Android

  • A huge choice of devices and price levels.
  • Customizability of the system to your liking.
  • More freedom in installing and settings.
  • Newer Samsung and Google models get up to 7 years of updates - longer than it used to be, though updates should not be postponed on any system.

Watch out for cheap phones

This is the most common mistake. Someone buys a cheap phone for a few tens of euros and compares it with an expensive iPhone, then is disappointed and declares Android is bad. But a cheap phone tends to be slow, stutters, has short support, weaker photos, often ads and preinstalled bloat, and sometimes a security risk too. That, however, is not Android’s fault, but the price.

We see it in our workshop regularly: owners bring the cheapest models with problems after a year and a half - the battery loses capacity, the storage is full and updates ended long ago. The hundred euros saved evaporates in one premature device replacement.

A fair comparison: an equally expensive Android

When you put side by side an equally expensive Android (a flagship like the Samsung Galaxy S or Google Pixel) and an expensive iPhone, the difference in smoothness and pleasantness of the interface is minimal. A quality Android offers just as pleasant and snappy an experience as an expensive iPhone. The difference is in preference and ecosystem, not in quality.

Recommendations by budget

  • Up to ~200 €: no new iPhone exists at this price, so the choice is clear - a sensible Android from an established brand (Samsung Galaxy A, Xiaomi Redmi and similar). Avoid completely unknown brands and models without promised updates.
  • 200 to 500 €: the mid-range, where Android offers the most bang for the buck - 120 Hz displays and long support. From the Apple side this bracket contains older or base iPhones; they are fine, just remember their support clock started at the model’s release.
  • Over 500 €: the flagships of both worlds. Here you are no longer buying performance (they all have it), but ecosystem, camera and taste.

We cover the detailed parameters (display, storage, battery, camera) in the separate guide how to choose a phone.

Watch out for 60 Hz displays on older iPhones

A detail that surprises people: the iPhone has a reputation for smoothness, yet older and cheaper models still on sale (iPhone 16 and earlier base models, iPhone 16e) have only a 60 Hz display, while similarly priced Androids tend to have smoother 90 or 120 Hz panels. Apple gave the whole line-up a smooth 120 Hz display only from the iPhone 17; before that, only the Pro models had it. Keep that in mind when buying an older or discounted iPhone.

Switching from one world to the other

Changing systems hurts less than people fear:

  • Transfers: contacts, photos and videos, calendars, e-mail, WhatsApp and most chats (with WhatsApp follow the official migration exactly, otherwise the history stays on the old device).
  • Does not transfer: paid apps (bought separately in each store) and data of some apps without their own backup.
  • Before migrating, make sure you have a backup - see cloud versus local backup.

New smartphone? We will transfer everything for you

Contacts, photos, chats and settings - from the old device to the new one without losing data, including between Android and iPhone. In person in the Liptov region or remotely.

Help me with the transfer

How to choose

  • You want the Apple ecosystem, simplicity and long support: iPhone.
  • You want freedom, choice and value for money: a quality Android.
  • Do not save by going for the cheapest model, it will disappoint you regardless of the system.
  • Before buying, go through our checklist: 10 things to verify before buying a smartphone (PDF) - print it or open it in the shop.

And whatever you choose, watch out for scam messages - those do not discriminate between systems.

Choosing a smartphone or need to transfer data from old to new? Get in touch, we will advise and help with the transfer and setup.

This article is part of our Hardware and components overview.