Apple vs Samsung

 by Attish Das

If you are looking for an electronic device, particularly a phone, the two most popular options are Apple iPhones (running on IOS operating system) and Samsung Galaxy S series (running on Android operating system).  Every year both Apple and Samsung compete with their new camera features and designs, with the best versions costing up to £1000. It is now common to see multiple variations of these flagships, typically a standard model, a 'Plus' or 'Pro' version with enhanced features and/or a larger display, and the very top end 'Ultra' or 'Max'.

The first smartphones were made by Apple in 2007 named the iPhone 2g. This phone was created with a plastic back cover. Newer models now take on a sleeker glass and stainless-steel design that aim to turn heads and get Apple to win the competition. Similarly, Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones have veered away from the plastic design. The S6 Edge was the first of its models to feature its innovative ‘dual-edge’ display in 2015, and the range has evolved since with larger displays and thinner bezels. Samsung now uses more subtle 'holepunch' front cameras – a small hole to house the lens rather than a notch (which Apple had), which can make the display seem more immersive. Apple initialised with a home button on their phones and then later on moved to no home button with their iPhone X and Samsung did the same thing until the Samsung Galaxy S8.

The latest versions of each company: Apple offers three main versions of the iPhone 13. The 13 and 13 Pro actually have the same size display – 6.1-inches, and the same resolution – 1,170 x 2,532. The iPhone 13 Max is larger, with a 6.7-inch screen and 1,284 x 2,778 resolution. Samsung takes a slightly different approach. It's 'standard' S21 has a 6.2-inch display (1,080 x 2,400), and the S21 Plus bumps this to 6.7-inches, with the same resolution. The S21 Ultra boasts a 6.8-inch display and 1,440 x 3,200 resolution.

Moving on from phones, both companies have moved on from just phones and have other products too.

The iPad ecosystem is a huge strength for the iPad. This includes the App Store (the IOS version of the Play Store), which has over a million apps, many of which are designed with the iPad's larger display in mind. This ecosystem also includes accessories, which go beyond just tablet cases, wireless keyboards and external speakers. You can do everything from hook your guitar into an iPad to converting your iPad into an arcade game. The iPad also tends to be more stable and easier to use than Samsung tablets. Apple approves each app individually, ensuring that it (mostly) does what it claims it will do and the worst of the bugs are eliminated. And while Samsung has made great strides in becoming easier to use, Apple's device tends to be more simple and less overwhelming. The iPad is also fast - on fact, the iPad Pro exceeds the performance of many laptops.

The biggest strength of Android is the vast array of devices from which to choose and the amount you can customize your tablet once you make your purchase. And there are some great Samsung tablets to go along with hundreds of other lesser-known name brands. Android has also matured quite a bit over the last few years, supporting some features like widgets (small apps that run on your home screen, so you don't have to open them which Apple also has).

Samsung’s Google Play marketplace has also come a long way in the past few years. While the relative lack of supervision means more of those apps will be throwaways without much use, the boost in numbers does provide a lot more variety than Android experienced when the tablet wars began.

In conclusion, both Apple and Samsung have their pros and cons so therefore it is difficult to tell which is better. Apple has outstanding levels of security and Samsung has far more many applications than Apple and being able to download apps that you have made yourself.