Apple’s Inexplicable Appeal

Why we continue to buy Apple devices instead of Android

Isadora Blatt

What are you reading this article on right now? For many, it is likely the Mac or iPad that Bishop’s requires its students to purchase. For others, it could be your iPhone. A much smaller percentage is reading this on an Android smartphone such as a Samsung. Have you ever wondered why Apple is so popular in the first place? The new features that come with Apple’s software updates always create a buzz of excitement. The latest update (iOS 14) introduced many exciting new elements, especially for iPhones. One example is the app library, which organizes all your apps on the last slide of the home screen, including ones you have removed from view on the main pages. There are also some nifty new features on iMessage, like being able to pin conversations and respond directly to individual texts. The specific feature that teens have seemed to be most intrigued by is the widgets—little additions to your home screen that can tell you the weather, the date, or really anything you want. Many have gone crazy with iOS 14’s organization features, spending hours perfecting their aesthetic new home screens. However, Android users scoff at the obsession with Apple’s new widgets—they’ve been around since the very first Android phone was created way back in 2008. This is not the only example of Apple implementing technological advancements long after they were first created by another company. In fact, Apple is often way behind their competition. For example, Apple has recently introduced wireless charging, water resistance, and camera improvements that Android has already had for years. So if this is the case, why is Apple so popular? Chloe Shiue (‘24) expressed that she prefers Apple because of its simplicity to use. “I like the display of it, it’s smoother, and its features are really easy to use.” Although many Apple users think that Apple devices are easier to navigate, it is true that people could easily say the same thing about Android. Ripples Turquand (‘24) agreed with Chloe and added that she’s only ever used Apple before. One of the biggest advantages of using

“The iPhone is basically the social norm.” Marcus Buu-Hoan (‘24)

Apple is that their devices sync together. However, they do not sync with other devices, so once you start using Apple, you are more likely to buy other Apple devices rather than Android. “It’s sort of a comfort feeling,” agrees computer science teacher Ms. Sara White. “That’s why I will keep buying Apple, because it fits in with what I have already.” Marcus Buu-Hoan (‘24) followed a different reasoning. “The iPhone is basically the social norm,” he said. “I use it to make communication with my family and friends easier.” Many people, especially in the younger generation, would agree with Marcus’s claim. It is worth noting that Apple and Android are split nearly 50/50 in the United States (although the category of Android does encompass many brands, like Samsung, Huawei, and Lenovo). However, a survey by Piper Sandler, an investment bank and institutional securities firm, found that 82% of American teens prefer Apple. Ms. White believes that Apple does a better job of appealing to the younger generation. Take the new widgets for example. “That’s something useful, but also kind of cool and fun,” she said. Since Apple is so popular, Android users can stand out from the crowd. And it is easy to tell, because of the green text messages that show up when an Apple user messages an Android. If there is one Android number in a group chat, all the texts become green, and everyone loses the ability to rename or leave the chat. “It’s a bit annoying to text with people who use Android,” Marcus says. “It’s just much harder, since I can only see their texts on my phone and it makes group chats glitch out.” But there are many benefits to using an Android that are overlooked by the Apple community. Emily Zhu (‘23), for example, has multiple reasons to justify using a Samsung phone. First of all, it can be a more cost-effective option. It is difficult to directly compare Samsung’s prices to Apple’s, because of the many steps that go into a purchase, like trade-ins and monthly payments. But since there is a large array of Android smartphones compared to Apple’s narrow selection, it can be easier to find less expensive devices from Android.

The Tower

Sophia Gleeson (‘24) recently reorganized her home screen, using the widgets and other new features on iOS 14.

Second, it helps her communicate with family members. “My parents and all of my relatives overseas also have Android, so it makes it easier to interact with them,” she said. A study by Statista proves that although the majority of the United States’ population uses Apple, other countries such as China and India have a majority of Android users. Having an Android phone has worked well for Emily, except for some minor annoyances. “It does sometimes become inconvenient because I have a Macbook, and things like AirDrop don’t work,” she explained. “But it’s manageable.” Since Bishop’s uses Apple devices and works closely with the company, Ms. White has had experience going to their product launches and talking to reps from Apple. She explained how many people work as ADEs, or Apple Distinguished Educators. “They hire people who were past teachers to work for them,” she said. This way, they receive input based on people with real world teaching experience, which explains Apple’s popularity in schools - Bishop’s being a prime example. Mr. Tony Trumbo, the Director of Educational Technology and Information Systems, agreed with the idea that Apple does not typically release features first. They wait until the technology is fully developed before implementing it into their own devices. “They’re not trying to just find a trend because it’s new,” Mr. Trumbo explained. “The whole point is, does it work, and does it make people’s lives easier?” He also thinks that Apple does not always “hit the nail on the head” when they try to create their own new features. For example, in his experience, the split-screen feature on iPads is not as smooth as it could be. Computer science faculty member Mr. Joshua Bloom offered multiple additional examples of times Android beat Apple to new features. The Galaxy phone was first to have the screen wrap around the edge to maximize its size. Android was also first to create water-resistant devices. Samsung just released the Galaxy Z Fold 2, a groundbreaking folding phone with 3 times the screen size as standard smartphones. Mr. Bloom pointed out that Android has not always been ahead. “It seemed like Apple was on the front line in terms of development for at least 5 years,” he said. “And then Android really stepped up the game.” The first iPhone hit the market in June of 2007, and the first Android phone followed in September 2008. Around this time, Android was the one trying to catch up to Apple, but that changed after a few years. Interestingly, Apple stopped reporting sales figures for iPhone models in November of 2018. But a well-researched article on Fortunly says that Apple makes only 20% of the sales in the smartphone industry, while bringing in a whopping 92% of the profits. Apple has somehow managed to convince us all that they are the better choice for our ever-advancing technological devices, despite the advantages of using an Android. Will we ever escape Apple’s hold on our generation? Only time will tell if Samsung’s latest folding phone is enough of a game-changer. In the meantime, most of us will continue to be glued to our iPhones, with their blue text messages and state-of-the-art widgets.