Android News
How to convince someone to get an Android instead of the iPhone
September 27, 2011 | by Andrew Kameka
Android, T-Mobile
T-Mobile, like any other carrier on the planet, would love to offer the iPhone. For whatever reason – money, network demands, or allergies to cutesy icons – T-Mobile USA has failed to secure a deal with Apple to officially deliver the iPhone to its customers. CMO Cole Brodman announced in a blog post yesterday that more than a million T-Mobile customers use the iPhone unofficially, and until his company can support them the proper way, the focus at magenta is to give “customers the best that Android has to offer.”
Our pal Phil at AndroidCentral says Brodman’s words won’t do much to appease the iPhone faithful and we’re inclined to agree. There is nothing you can say to convince an Apple diehard that Android is superior, and the iPhone has too much traction, brand recognition, and quality to convince most people interested in it to change course. However, it’s not impossible.
At my cousin’s wedding in August 2010, practically all the smartphone users had a BlackBerry or iPhone. At a wedding in September 2011, most were snapping pics with EVO 3D’s and Galaxy S’s. Based on data from various research companies and my own experience, “converting” iPhone fans is a tough sell. But convincing new smartphone buyers to forgo iOS for Android is more fruitful.
Having had the Android vs. iPhone debate with my family and friends several times, I’ve noticed a few talking points to always sprinkle in when it comes time to try to advocate for Android.
Mention choice. Over and over again.
The most effective thing that I’ve found in promoting Android is to point out how many different options are out there. An iPhone is an iPhone. An Android is an HTC, Motorola, or LG, etc., so you have plenty of choices to find the right phone. And once you do make that decision, there are thousands of ways to make it yours through apps, wallpapers, launchers, and the like. My phone can look and feel completely different on Thursday than it did on Tuesday. Brodman echoed that sentiment in his post.
Limit the full extent of Android’s features.
Yeah, I know I just told you to talk about choice over and over again, but don’t go overboard. Going too deep into Android’s power can sometimes have the unintended effect of making people feel overwhelmed. That can send folks running right back to the comfort of the iPhone, which is no slouch on the feature set either. Try to focus on a few key areas of features and promote them. If someone gets a glazed look when you bring up rooting, maybe CM 7 vs. MIUI is a debate you should save for later.
Don’t sugarcoat it. Be honest about downfalls.
Be open about Android’s shortcomings. If a device has terrible battery life, be upfront about it. Android has improved, but some devices still require reaching for a charger much sooner than others, so warn them about it. Say, “The battery life isn’t as good as the iPhone, but you can change settings to control it better. Plus the phone makes up for it with this feature here.”
Tailor your arguments to the person.
Talking to a younger sibling who’s constantly texting? Tell him/her about Swype and that the world record holder used it with great speed and accuracy. Your brother may be more interested in the awesome camera of the HTC Amaze 4G, and your sister may want to hear about the Galaxy S II’s faster download speeds. The worst thing you can do is go on about the stuff that you love about Android if you know that probably won’t impress them.
Pick a target and shoot.
While we’re on the subject of tailoring your argument, it might help to eventually steer the conversation towards a particular phone. It’s hard to express the benefits of iPhone vs. Android because it’s really iPhone – with a perfectly-executed message and focused path – versus Android and its many-things-for-many-people ecosystem. Pick one or two phones, like the Amaze and Galaxy S II, and compare that to the iPhone. It’s much easier to get your point across when you focus on something tangible.
Talk up the apps
Apps are what sells phones to a lot of people. So when you hear, “The iPhone has 500,000 apps while Android only has 250,000 apps,” people automatically think the one with the 2-to-1 ratio wins. Let them know Android has more apps than they’ll ever be able to test or use, and most of the top apps worth having are on it or coming soon. With few exceptions, important iPhone apps are on Android, too.
Conclusion
If you find yourself needing to explain to someone the merits of one or another, those are the ways I’ve found most effective in comparing Android and iPhone. The only problem is that my slow conversion has led to a rise in calls and texts asking me how to do certain things. Maybe that’s just more pronounced because people know that I’m into tech, but you should be prepared to be tech support if the person you convert needs help.
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Most important statement:
"Maybe that’s just more pronounced because people know that I’m into tech, but you should be prepared to be tech support if the person you convert needs help."
Maybe the judgement should be "if you want to spend all your free time helping this person learn their device, convince them to get an android. if not, tell them to get an iPhone
Hardly. The "judgement" would be exactly the same were the phones reversed. iOS is hardly free from defect.
- Screen size! A 4" screen has 30% more area than the iPhone, a 4.3" screen has 50% more. Easier typing! And pocket comfort is based on thickness not height and width (test it, it is true).
- Amazon is dominating new smartphone sales, so many people cannot be wrong.
- Amazon is dominating new smartphone sales, app developers are making Android their #1 focus.
- Insurance: It is easier to insure an Android than an iPhone. And iPhone screens break all the time.
Yeah, mine breaks, like, every day. It's annoying.
how about who cares what someone else is using? I know what device i enjoy, but that doesnt necessarily mean it will be the best fit for someone else. i wouldnt waste my breath convincing someone to get the same device as me because at the end of the i dont care.
What bothers me about the Apple Iphone and the Ipad is the control that Apple has over the applications. The public libraries were allowing users to check out books and Mp3 audio books through the Overdrive system on Android and Non-apple products for several years. The libraries always had to tell those with Apple products that they could not read digital public library books. Finally, Apple decided that maybe it would be a good idea to allow library users to read library books on their products. It is the total control of what one can put on devices. I want to see more openness by all of the companies to let buyers of their products put the applications that they would like to use.
I really like the Android based products and watch for new improvements such as the Nfc chip which i hope will create a more secure credit card (chip-pin) system that will work with Google Wallet.
Why would you try to convince someone to pick one handset over another?
Don’t you think it would be better to listen to what they like, how the device is used to augment their life, hobbies etc, and then help them make an informed decision based on their needs instead of your own agenda?
I am very much tempted to buy an HTC because it looks so cute, and for an android phone, it really has a lot of features. But I still prefer iPhone OS and applications. It is still better. What I like best on iPhone is its Instagram application. I can't compromise that for an android phone.
So what is best is one app? Not battery life, ease of use, cost? But one single app? That’s insane, and ultimately irrelevant as instagram are developing for android now! biggest reason for me is simple-do I want to be chained to itunes for the rest of my life? No thanks. I can use my droid as usb storage without having to installlc ANY software, huge bonus over iphoney
Buying iPhone is matter of prestige for most of them. they even add it at the end of email “Sent from iPhone”
They know that Android is better than iPhone… still they say iPhone is iPhone. lol.. iPhone5 copied the notification bar from Android, it still doesn’t come with the basic FM radio, no widgets…..
Whatever it is… I love Android.
Using HTC now, ll wait for new year to buy new one… b’coz hardware companies are coming up with quad core processors for Android Samart phones.
PLEASE, people, don't do that! If there's one thing I really like about the Android community, it's that it doesn't consist (mostly) of brainwashed fanboys who are out to convince everyone and their brother about why their particular choice of hardware is the best thing in the world. If someone asks me for a smartphone recommendation, I wholeheartedly recommend the iPhone – it's a fantastic phone, and everyone I know who has one is really happy with it.
If you have 600 € to spend, get an iPhone. If you have 400 €, get a Galaxy S II. If you have 100 €, get a ZTE Blade. I would not try to convince anyone to get an Android just for the sake of getting an Android.
There are so many reasons to choose Android phone, especially the price. I bought HTC because it's cheaper than iPhone but I can do many thing I need.
If they aren't smart enough to comparison shop, they probably should just get an iPhone. Plus, you'll never get over the image thing. If a person wants an iPhone or iPad badly, its more than about the actual device. Its about their personal self image. I wouldn't waste my time.
The app "shortage" isn't the real problem, because most people realize that it isn't a shortage. Greater than 50% of the people in the U.S. have Android and don't complain, and they tell them its not a problem when they ask.
The bigger issue is being trapped on iPhone once you have one. If you buy music and apps from iTunes, then its hard to move from the Apple ecosystem because you have a lot of money invested. For music lovers, they have no choice but to stay, because its not a seamless transition and they are too lazy or dumb to change. Google should build a music converter into the software.
It's why Apple has a high resale rate. People are trapped, but they don't complain about it. Its a great business model.
Great point, a lot of people don't look at it from this view. Truth is, Apple has devised a perfect system that traps customers in to buying its devices, with iTunes as the main attraction. If you are a music lover, and you have poured hundreds of dollars into making your library the best it could be, then it's hard for you to just walk away from it. Apple's smart, the company gives customers ultimatums with a system which says — hey, you could leave us, but you'll lose access to all of your media. If Google can figure out a way to allow those users to move their media to Google Music, the search giant will be really cutting into Apple's armor.
There are quite a few apps that will do this now (idk about Google) for music. But iTunes is good in some ways, but other ways obnoxious. Either way, I won't get an iPhone because I don't want to be corralled into the whole iTunes/Apple zone.
I always use price, price, price. Android go from free to somewhere around $250(susidized). At most price points you can get pretty decent devices. I always mention that data plans have more flexibility with an android compared to iphone.
If it’s a person that likes pretty shiny things I’ll show them the live wallpaper.
Pretty much everyone is impressed by the voice commands, “map of McDonalds”, “navigate to home”, “text Jennifer, I’m running 15 minutes late. ” That’ll feature has not failed to impress yet. I’m sure when the voice control trick for ios is announced it’ll make Android voice commands look old and a less cool but I’ll still show it.
I agree with all talking points,but I think that iphone users, actually are bull-headed so, this is debatable with "iphone wanna be users".
Ivana, Soc.io™ Mall
Why exactly would I want to convince someone to buy one phone over another? I am not in the habit of telling people what products to buy, they can buy whatever they want for all I care.
Don't forget to bring in the "future" statement. I have a Motorola Milestone (almost 2 years old) if I am going to buy a new phone i can choose a different brand and still take my contacts etc (all that is synced with google) with me on the new system. So tell them that they have a lot of options in the future but don't have to learn or install a new OS every time (Like what happend in the old days, Nokia vs Sony vs Siemens etc.)
If somebody bothers about "short battery life time", i would say what i allways do: "No problem at all. Just ask an iphone user for the next power socket." ;o)
Lol, I am sure alot of Apple fans are going to be hating you for this. A huge Thanks from all Android users for finally noticing all that Android can do as compared to the crappy iOS.
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