With iOS 18, Apple is edging closer to features that, for years, have been a hallmark of the Android experience. But is it enough to make Android users switch?
When longtime Android users are asked why they don’t switch to iPhone, many mention features exclusive to Google’s mobile operating system. However, with updates over the years, Apple has steadily closed the gap with its main competitor.
The changes are especially noticeable with iOS 18. Aside from “Apple Intelligence,” which isn’t yet available, this update marks the most significant redesign in years. While the physical design of smartphones hasn’t changed in four years, the 2024 software overhaul is shaking up how iPhone users interact with their devices.
**Choice of Default Apps**
European users likely benefit the most from iOS 18’s “best” version. New European competition regulations have forced Apple to open up its operating system. Initially, this started with the default browser, but now many of iOS’s native apps can be modified or are set to be.
This includes apps for photos, messages, and passwords, and even the App Store must now coexist with other app stores, like the Epic Games Store, which has brought Fortnite back—at least in Europe. Essentially, it’s becoming less necessary to rely on official Apple apps, much like on Android.
**Customization Everywhere**
Beyond default apps, iOS 18 introduces greater freedom for user creativity. You can now place app icons anywhere on the screen. Previously, Apple required users to start from the top left and fill the screen in a set order, both for apps and widgets.
This is no longer the case. Now, apps, folders, and widgets can be arranged however you like, without following strict rules. This change makes one-handed smartphone use much easier, addressing a longstanding criticism of the iPhone.
Additionally, you can now change the colors of app icons to match your wallpaper or suit your preferences.
**A Fully Customizable Control Center**
While Apple hasn’t changed the core functionality of the Control Center, which opens by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen, you can now customize it with more options than ever before.
By swiping further down, you also get additional features, such as music controls and data management (Wi-Fi, 4G/5G, AirDrop, Bluetooth).
**App Hiding**
For privacy-conscious users—especially those who frequently lend out their smartphones—iOS 18 adds a much-needed feature long available on Android: the ability to hide app names on the home screen or even hide apps entirely by storing them in a special folder in the app library, where their icons are also hidden.
You can also require authentication—such as Face ID—to open any of these hidden apps, which is useful if you want to protect your privacy.
These software updates come alongside the upcoming introduction of RCS, a messaging format that will replace SMS and improve communication with Android devices, and the switch—starting with the iPhone 15—from Lightning to USB-C, the same connector used by Android devices.
**Some Limits Still Remain**
While Apple has made real efforts to appeal to potential converts, hardcore Android enthusiasts who value openness and freedom may still feel limited. Even with new color options, the ability to ditch mandatory official apps, and greater customization, iOS is still an Apple product, with its built-in constraints.
For instance, if you want to install an app outside Apple’s oversight, you still can’t do that easily. Moreover, Apple’s background activity management sometimes hampers the functionality of certain apps, such as those for non-Apple smartwatches.
Apple hasn’t improved the experience with non-Apple accessories either. If you prefer alternatives to AirPods, you won’t benefit from the easy, fast connection to iOS or certain integrated options. These may be future areas for development by Apple, or possible targets for European regulation, which could push Apple to further open up to competition.