I Ditched My Android For iPhone – 5 Reasons Why I’m Not Coming Back

Late last year, I decided to switch from Android to iOS for the first time in about seven years. I swapped my SIM card from Google Pixel 6 Pro to iPhone 13 Pro, and haven’t swapped yet.

Despite my skepticism about the more restrictive nature of iOS and the lack of major design changes from the iPhone 12, I’ve grown rather enamored with Apple’s $999 smartphone.

To clarify why I love it and to help people who might be in between a Samsung Galaxy S22 and an iPhone 13 Pro, here are the main things that always make me look for the iPhone instead of Android.

Brilliant 120Hz OLED display

a photo of the iPhone 13 Pro

(Image credit: future)

Apple’s Retina displays have long impressed me, but the move to OLED panels for iPhone in 2020 – and now the adoption of 120Hz LTPO displays for the 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max – have given phones really impressive screens.

Now, there are plenty of Android phones with great displays, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra being a standout example. But the 13 Pro‘s color calibration, balance, refresh rate and flat screen design just push my mental buttons; there’s also no need to really tweak the display settings out of the box – not that Apple gives you many options. And it might not be for everyone, but a 120Hz refresh rate really breathes some extra life into iPhones Pro.

However, I turn True Tone off, as I think it can sometimes make the colors look a little muted.

Killer battery life

a photo of the iPhone 13 Pro

(Image credit: future)

Every new phone touts great all-day battery life, but few really manage it without a quick top-up before I get home from the office. But the iPhone 13 Pro bucked that trend for me.

Most days. the iPhone 13 Pro will still have 30% charge late at night, enough to get me through part of the next day if I forget to charge it.

Most of the time I won’t need to charge the 13 Pro until late at night, I often have around 30% charge left to get me through part of the next day if I forget to charge it . This was rarely the case with the Pixel 6 Pro or the Oppo Find X3 Pro, two of my most used phones of 2021.

Obviously the battery life changes depending on my usage, with 5G downloads still greedily consuming power. But while Android phones would quickly run out of breath or sometimes complain of getting too hot, the 13 Pro performed well. It’s clear that Apple’s approach to efficiency paid off here.

Consistent cameras

back of iphone 13 pro showing camera array

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

You can’t talk about an iPhone Pro without mentioning the cameras. And unsurprisingly, one of the best features of the iPhone 13 Pro is its trio of main, ultra-wide and telephoto cameras; they deliver simply stunning photos that are full of color, detail, and clarity.

But there are plenty of phones out there that do photography – just check out our list of the best camera phones. However, where the iPhone 13 Pro wins me over is with consistency.

Every hit I take feels good. Sure, the Pixel 6 Pro might win on pure contrast, but the iPhone 13 Pro never strays into the slight overprocessing that I think Google’s flagship may encounter. There are no major changes in colors or clarity when bouncing between the three rear cameras either. I also love the portraits the 13 Pro produces.

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A photo of a cat taken on the iPhone 13 Pro

A photo of a cat taken on the iPhone 13 Pro. (Image credit: Roland Moore-Colyer)
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A landscape photo taken on iPhone 13 Pro

A landscape photo taken on iPhone 13 Pro. (Image credit: future)
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A portrait photo taken on the iPhone 13 Pro

A portrait photo taken on the iPhone 13 Pro. (Image credit: future)
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A macro photo taken on the iPhone 13 Pro

A macro photo taken on the iPhone 13 Pro. (Image credit: future)
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A photo of a Rocinante model taken on the iPhone 13 Pro

A photo of a Rocinante model taken on the iPhone 13 Pro. (Image credit: future)
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A photo of food taken on the iPhone 13 Pro

A photo of food taken on the iPhone 13 Pro. (Image credit: future)
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A night shot taken with the iPhone 13 Pro

A night shot taken with the iPhone 13 Pro. (Image credit: future)

There are phones that will take 10 out of 10 more impactful shots at times when the iPhone 13 Pro simply delivers a really good shot. But shot after shot, the 13 Pro delivers 9s; which is constantly combined with the neat camera app is hard to ignore.

Video is class leading too, with excellent footage delivered from a simple point and shoot. I’m not a big videographer, but having a camera system that only nails Full HD and 4K video is really a point for the Apple team.

Build quality and design

a photo of the iPhone 13 Pro

(Image credit: future)

For years, Apple has produced well-made devices that feel good. But Android phones from Samsung, OnePlus and now Google have arguably caught up. Still, there’s just something about the build and design of the iPhone 13 Pro that really works for me.

Since the design hasn’t really changed much from the iPhone 12 Pro, I was prepared to criticize Apple for its lack of innovation with the 13 Pro. However, there’s clearly a reason Cupertino didn’t do much more than reduce the notch, because the iPhone 13 Pro feels good.

I think it’s the combination of premium materials, the flat edges that help grip without digging into the palms, and the matte finish on the back. But I also like the size of the iPhone 13 Pro. The 6.1-inch screen isn’t too big to give me an embarrassing bulge in my pockets, but still offers a phone big enough for me to type in articles and assign news while I’m on the go. It also has a satisfying weight, which feels more premium than, say, the Galaxy S22.

And the neat way in which the screen’s flat panel adapts perfectly to the contours of the chassis is simply pleasing to see. Normally I’m all for curved display edges, but the flat edges here seem to work really well with the iOS 15 aesthetic; it really does feel like the software and the phone have been properly designed in tandem, something Android phones sometimes fail to communicate.

Of course, I’d still like to see bigger changes with the iPhone 14. But I’m pleasantly surprised at how warmed up I was to the look of the iPhone 13 Pro.

The organized ecosystem

a photo of the iPhone 13 Pro

(Image credit: future)

I’ve often laughed at Apple’s walled garden of the iOS ecosystem, which lacks the reach and flexibility of Android. And while I stick with it to some extent, I found it very easy to gel with iOS.

I really liked using AirPlay, which makes it easy to connect to my Sonos One speaker and LG C1 OLED TV, which I didn’t find easy to do on Android.

Since the iPhone 4S was my first smartphone and I regularly use an iPad mini, I’m not new to iOS. But by using the iPhone 13 Pro as an everyday phone, I got to grips with its features and feel.

And while strict curation and customization limits may seem restrictive, iOS is still a joy to use thanks to this walled garden approach. I can download just about any app knowing I’ll get a reasonably smooth and polished experience, and that’s not to be sniffed at. I was also rather impressed with the retention of Apple Arcade games; now if only we could get Xbox Cloud Gaming through the Xbox Game Pass app.

This ecosystem extends to other devices as well, with my iPhone easily syncing with my iPad. And I recently got a pair of AirPods Pro, which connected to the iPhone 13 Pro in moments and just worked, unlike other Bluetooth headphones where to get the best experience you really need to download an app.

AirPlay used on an iPhone 13 Pro with LG C1 OLED TV

(Image credit: future)

I also liked using AirPlay, which made it easy to connect to my Sonos One speaker and my LG C1 OLED TV, while allowing me to play audio through both, which I didn’t. not found easy to do on Android. This combination of curation and connectivity has now got me seriously considering the Apple Watch 7.

Of course, iOS isn’t perfect, and I have my troubles with that. But it was so easy to adapt to, and it’s so well laid out and cohesive that, combined with great hardware, it’s easy to see why so many people still follow Apple.

While I’m not saying I’m a complete Android to iOS convert just yet, it’ll probably take quite a bit of Android device to see me take my everyday phone away from the iPhone 13 Pro.

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