Two of the biggest names in the smartphone industry are undoubtedly Apple and Samsung. If you’re considering buying a new smartphone in 2018 and you’re split between Samsung and iPhone, this article shall help you zero in on one.
Operating Systems
iPhone and Samsung smartphones are two different breeds if one had to only consider the software on-board. The smartphones run on two completely different operating systems: Android (Samsung) and iOS (iPhone). If you already own an iPhone and love the stability and reliability that iOS brings to the table, switching to Android may take some getting-used-to. Android is stable and reliable too but not as effective at the two as Apple. But the main highlights of Android are its open source nature and customisations. In other words, the home screens of two different iPhones would pretty much look the same. This won’t be the case with Android-based Samsung phones.
Ecosystem
If you’re invested into the Apple ecosystem or you own a Macbook or iPad, then the iPhone is a better pick. And if you own an Apple Watch, then the next iPhone should be your obvious inclination as Apple smartwatches don’t work with Android. Samsung has an ecosystem of its own too, but it’s not as guarded as Apple. Moreover, Samsung’s Gear smartwatches work with both Android and iOS.
Product Portfolio
Apple makes not more than a handful of smartphones every year. It usually comes with two high-end phones: a 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch model. 2017 saw Apple celebrating the 10th anniversary of the iPhone with an even more premium device called the iPhone X. Samsung, on the other hand, is all over the place as far as its product range goes. Samsung makes phones for the extremely frugal buyer and makes high-end, flagship devices. And there are Samsung’s Galaxy A series of smartphones for the mid-tier segment.
Apple sells cheaper models as well, but those are primarily older iPhones. When the latest and greatest iPhones arrive, the current models see a price cut and end up competing in the mid-tier phone segment. iPhones usually have a software support window period of 4 years. In the case of Android, the official support period is constricted to 2 years. In other words, if you’re considering buying a 2016 or 2017 flagship in 2018, buy an iPhone. Interestingly, iPhone spends more on its component parts, which is something to consider in terms of value for money.
2018 Lineup
Since this comparison entails Apple, let’s talk only about the premium phones that both the manufacturers are slated to offer in 2018. Samsung would get the ball rolling first with its Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus phones. The latter part of the year would see the launch of the Galaxy Note 9 phablet.
Unlike 2017, Apple may launch the Apple SE2, a refresh of the SE that it launched early 2016. This would likely be a compact device sporting a 4 to 4.5-inch screen. A few months later you would see Apple launching the most awaited Apple phones: the iPhone 9 and 9 Plus. If you like smaller phones and don’t mind minor performance sacrifices, the SE2 should be your best bet. Otherwise, there is not a lot differentiating Samsung and Apple’s 2018 smartphone lineup.
