While Google only launchedAndroid 14in October 2023 alongside theGoogle Pixel 8 Proand its smaller sibling, Apple is already one step ahead with a big update to its 2023 operating system, iOS 17.1. At the same time, Google is working on its next major update to Android 14, slated to arrive at the end of the year as the December Feature Drop. Let’s look at the two operating systems and see what they focused on this year, which does what better, and if there is a clear winner.
It can be difficult to look at these different approaches to mobile computing, with Apple saving a lot of bigger improvements for its big releases while Google pushes all kinds of updates year-round. Still, some themes can be seen across both operating systems. Even if Apple is more cautious about adding AI to its products than Google and many others, it is adding some much-needed machine learning-supported keyboard improvements to iOS 17. A year after Apple introduced its customizable lock screens, Google noticed that wallpapers and lock screens are prime real estate.
We’re comparing Android 14 as it runs on a Google Pixel phone. The Android 14 beta program is also open for other phones. The new OS version will come to all the best Android phones in the future. However, some features are exclusive to Google Pixel phones, and the interface can vary across manufacturers. That’s why it’s simplest to look at how Google envisions Android and put that against what Apple offers.
Android 14 QPR1 vs iOS 17.1
Software continually evolves, even when major releases only happen once a year. Apple regularly brings more polish and new features to iOS with point releases while Google switched to a quarterly feature drop (QPR) system, with the company bringing bigger upgrades to its OS roughly every three months. While Apple released iOS 17.1 in stable in October 2023, Google’s next update will reach Pixel phones in December as the December Feature Drop. It’s currently available in beta, so we can look at what’s new and how it compares to iOS 17.1.
iOS 17.1: Finish AirDrop via the internet
Apple pioneered simple peer-to-peer file transfers with AirDrop, its proximity-based transfer tool that it introduced in 2011 on macOS and then on iPhones in 2013. With iOS 17.1, the system is getting more robust. After introducing NameDrop in iOS 17 (more on that below), the company is making it possible to use Wi-Fi or cellular data to continue a transfer even when the sender and receiver are out of range.
Google offers an alternative of its own to AirDrop called Nearby Share. It offers features like image previews and estimated remaining transfer times. However, it’s hard to discover and use, especially since it isn’t available on any desktop operating system other than ChromeOS, making it a bad choice if you want to use it to transfer images wirelessly from Android to your computer.
iOS 17.1: New favorite system in Apple Music
Apple’s system updates also include app updates, which is true for iOS 17.1. As part of the release, the company is tweaking the way your favorite music on Apple Music, going back to starring music you like rather than ❤️ it. The new system also makes it possible to favorite songs, albums, and playlists, complete with improved filtering options in your library.
Meanwhile, Google is focusing on its core strengths with YouTube Music, which can be updated independently of Android. The unique addition to the service is the option to comment and publicly like tracks like you would on YouTube, making the service a mini social network, just like Apple attempted years ago withiTunes Ping.
iOS 17.1: New StandBy options
StandBy is an ingenious new feature introduced with iOS 17. It automatically turns your iPhone into a passive smart display-like screen when it’s charging while propped up horizontally. iPhones that support always-on display now have a few more options for this. It’s possible to choose whether you want the screen to turn off after a few seconds all the time, automatically when you leave the room and it’s dark, or never.
Google Pixel phones have long had a similar option, but it’s more restricted in usage. You’ll use the Pixel Stand wireless charger to activate its version of StandBy. When you activate it, it’s more useful than what the iPhone offers. Pixel phones give you quick access to smart home devices and media controls. You can also have it play a slideshow of your images. All this has been available since the Pixel 3, and it’s a shame that Google hasn’t ever expanded this functionality beyond its charger.
iOS 17.1: Flashlight reminder on iOS
Google Pixel phones make it easy to turn off your flashlight with a quick shortcut showing up in the At a Glance space on your lock screen or home screen as soon as you turn it on. This also serves as a quick reminder that the flashlight is on. New iPhones with Dynamic Island get a similar feature as part of iOS 17.1. The flashlight hooks into the Dynamic Activities to show you a small icon at the top of your screen that makes it possible to turn the light off and lets you see that your flashlight is turned.
Android 14 QPR1: USB webcam mode
Apple introduced Continuity Camera with iOS 16, which lets you use your iPhone as a webcam for your Mac, wired or wirelessly. Google is following up on this in Android 14 QPR1 with a solution of its own. When you plug your Pixel phone into any computer, you can select a newWebcammode that lets you use your phone’s front or back camera for video output on your computer. The advantage is that it works with any computer, though the downside is that it requires a cable.
Android 14 QPR1: Battery cycle count
Over the past few years, people have become more conscious about battery degradation and measures to prevent it. Apple is likely at fault here after the company was caught silently throttling devices with degraded batteries to keep them from unexpectedly turning off. The company reacted with reduced prices for changing iPhone batteries and more information on the state of the battery.
Google is adding similar capabilities in Android 14 QPR1, allowing you to see the number of charging cycles your phone went through during its life. Google will likely build this out with more information, like a degradation percentage.
Android 14 QPR1: New lock screen clock style
A few years ago, Android was the champion when it came to device customization. Still, with Apple’s highly customizable lock screens, introduced with iOS 16, and with Android 12 moving to an automated theming system, this isn’t the case anymore.
Google is fighting back with customizable shortcuts and lock screen clocks in Android 14, and the new QPR1 release adds one more new clock option to the mix. It’s also possible that Google will bring back lock screen widgets of its own in the long term, as the company has been spotted working on features relating to this for a few months.
Android 14 QPR1: Repair mode in the works
Another option that Google is working on is a repair mode. This will reportedly make it possible to send in your phone for repair without giving out access to your sensitive data or resetting it. A repair mode isn’t unheard of in the Android realm, with Samsung offering a solution of its own.
For both of these follow-up releases, we’re only covering the main points. There isa ton more to Android 14 QPR1and iOS 17.1. The rest of this article covers the original comparison between iOS 17 and Android 14.
Lock screen and wallpaper improvements
Apple introduced a big tweak to lock screens in 2022 with iOS 16. This year, Google is trying its best to keep up with Android 14. During the Google I/O developer conference, the company announced it’s adding a few custom clocks to the lock screen on Pixel phones, allowing you to swap out the boring mono-color dual-line clock with fun alternatives. The company also introduced emoji wallpapers and cinematic wallpapers, with the latter adding an intriguing 3D effect to existing photos in your library. It’s the perfect counterpart to Apple’s solution, with subjects in your wallpaper overlapping the clock.
Meanwhile, Apple is tying up loose ends with iOS 17, like the option to “uncrop” images on the lock screen, as spotted by@AppleSnob on Twitter. Intelligent color fill makes it appear like the image was meant to be cropped this way. It’s a small but needed addition, especially because photos usually aren’t taken with the iPhone’s screen aspect ratio in mind.
The one thing Google hasn’t added, or more accurately, re-added, is widget support for the lock screen. Android used to have the option to do that for years, but it disappeared from Google phones a long while ago. At least you’re able to switch out the predefined home controls and wallet shortcuts with a small selection of other actions that might be more useful for you. Apple offers more customization options with its widget support, which has been added in iOS 16.
Better autocorrect and a great typing experience
Apple’s autocorrect has been so bad it’s become a meme, but that’s finally changing with iOS 17. The company announced that it overhauled its autocorrect engine. Based on our testing, it’s better and almost on par with the typing experience on Gboard on a Pixel phone. The suggestions and corrections are almost always on point now. On top of this, it’s easier to correct a wrongly autocorrected word. It’s underlined and lets you revert it to what you initially wrote.
The redone keyboard is also friendlier to swear words, with Apple executiveCraig Federighi pronouncing on the WWDC stage, “And in those moments where you just want to type a ducking word, well, the keyboard will learn it too.”
Meanwhile, Google’s Gboard isn’t coupled to a specific version of Android, and it’s already in a better state than the iOS keyboard. It offers a flexible interface with an intuitive way to access international and multilingual keyboards, supports Tensor-powered voice typing, and has Emoji Kitchen integrated, which lets you create wonderful and creepy emoji mashups. However,you can now access this fun tool on your iPhone via Google Search.
Animated stickers and drag-and-drop
Apple introduced ad-hoc sticker creation in iOS 16, allowing you to drag and drop subjects and objects from images and use them in messaging apps or anywhere else you want. The company is expanding this with animated stickers in iOS 17, making it possible to create custom moving stickers.
Meanwhile, Google is only now adding an option that allows you to drag and drop content across apps while using multitasking gestures with your other hand. That means you can hold an image, return to your home screen, select another app, and drop it there. iOS has supported this for a while, so it’s great to see Google catching up.
Contact posters and memories of Android Beam
A long time ago, Google supported exchanging quick bites of information by bumping two phones against each other, establishing a handshake via NFC. It allowed you to quickly share your contact info, the website you’re currently visiting, and almost anything else. The feature never gained wide adoption, and Google quietly killed it with Android 10 in 2019 after introducing it with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich in 2011.
Fast-forward to 2023, and Apple has introduced a revolutionary new way to quickly share your contact info among iPhone users via a feature called NameDrop. This allows Apple users to exchange their fancy new Contact Posters, which are digital business cards that also show up on your contacts' lock screens when you call them. It sounds a lot like Android Beam. However, the technology is based on UWB, which has a wider range than NFC, forcing you to align the backs of two phones perfectly. Apple’s new sharing method also supports features like starting a music or video session together or sharing content, much like Android Beam.
Android 14 only supports Google’s AirDrop alternative,Nearby Share. It doesn’t work by tapping your phones together anymore. Instead, you’ll search for nearby contacts, much like you do with regular AirDrop.
Live Voicemail and Call Screen
Google phones have long been thephones to get when you want an effective way to fight spam calls. With its Google Assistant-powered Call Screen, it’s possible to send callers to an automated Q&A before they reach you, making them explain the reason for their inquiry to Google Assistant. A transcript helps you decide whether to take the call.
Apple’s new solution to this problem isn’t as powerful as Google’s, but it will make the lives of many iPhone users easier. Its new Live Voicemail will show you a live transcript of what someone you send to your voicemail is saying, allowing you to decide whether to take their call. In contrast to Google’s local solution, the feature is dependent on your carrier, so it might take some time until it gains traction and is widely available for everyone.
This differs from Google Voice and iOS’s existing transcriptions for voicemails, as these are only available after a call to voicemail is finished.
iPhone on StandBy and Google’s Pixel Stand
Google has long realized that ambient computing is important, offering features like always-on displays and always-active music recognitions on Pixels. Last year’s iPhone Pro models followed suit in the always-on display department, and now, Apple is coming for the Google Pixel Stand experience.
Google’s Pixel Stand is the company’s first-party wireless charger, and it offers a simplified standby mode that gives you quick access to Google Assistant, smart home controls, calendar events, reminders, and calls via the ambient display option. you’re able to even turn your Pixel into a photo frame that way.
Apple’s new iPhone on StandBy mode is essentially exactly that, though it’s compatible with any charger and only kicks in when you place your iPhone horizontally. You can then scroll through different full-screen experiences, from clocks to calendars and image galleries. It works on all recent iPhones, but the screen goes dim on all iPhones except for the iPhone 14 Pro and 15 Pro series, which are also the only iPhones to support always-on display.
We’re sure Google’s first-mover advantage is diminishing quickly here, given that third-party manufacturers will likely swoop in quickly and offer custom hardware for this new iPhone mode, even if Google’s mode is more actionable.
Small steps for Siri, none for Google Assistant
Google rarely mentioned its Google Assistant on stage during its Google I/O developer conference in May, with the helper being pushed aside byGoogle Bardfor the most part. However, Apple doesn’t appear to be done with Siri. The company is updating its assistant to react to “Siri,” allowing you to omit the “Hey” that you used to say before it. It’s not a big change, but it makes interacting with Apple’s assistant easier, likely much to the chagrin of anyone whose name is Siri.
Install Android 14 and iOS 17 right now
There are more tweaks in Android 14 and iOS 17, but these are our highlights. New software is exciting, and if you’re up for a deep dive, we also have an opinionatedAndroid 14 reviewwaiting for you. There isn’t much setting Android and iOS apart anymore, and both have their strengths and weaknesses. Android is a more open system at its core. It has caught up in the security department without sacrificing its decentralized app acquisition options. iOS has become more open with more hooks and capabilities for third-party apps but is still a walled garden at its core, first and foremost, thanks to its App Store-only policy.
