3 reasons why I chose an iPhone 13 over the Galaxy S22
Firstly, let me set the record straight: I own a plethora of devices, be it smartphones, PCs, laptops or portables. The desktop I own runs Windows, and my current laptop is a MacBook Pro (2019). When it comes to smartphones, I use Android and iOS daily. Before my new smartphone purchase, I carried a Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus and an iPhone 11 Pro.
Now, the battery situation on my Galaxy S9+ was no longer ideal. As is the case with Lithium-ion, the battery degrades over time. And as surprise to no one, the battery life on my S9+ had worsened. Hence, it was time for an upgrade.
I know some of you must be wondering why I need two different smartphones at all? Well, the answer is two-fold. Primarily, I like to keep my work and personal devices separate. Secondly, I am a resident of two different countries on different continents of the world; so I need a device that can use apps (especially payment and banking) for two distinct regions. One significant benefit to using Android devices is that you can simply change the Google Play account on the fly to download region-specific apps, although some restrictions still exist. Try doing the same with an iOS device, and you will lose all the benefits of the ecosystem as it would require changing the account on the entire device. Nonetheless, it is a First World and Third World problem, as I am a resident of countries that fall under either category.
Finally, after much digression, let us dive into the topic I am actually writing this piece upon. As I decided on upgrading my device, I was faced with a dilemma: “should I go the iOS route or the Android one?”. Galaxy S22 had just launched at the time of my decision-making process, and iPhone 13 was about five months older. So, the following is why I went with the older device:
1. Alas, the “Ecosystem”
If you have missed the part about me owning some Apple devices, let me restate it. I currently use a MacBook, two iPhones, an iPad and AirPods Pro. And, if you do not already know, they work together flawlessly. Using the same iCloud account, I can get texts and calls on multiple devices, send files through AirDrop, copy and paste across devices, annotate Screenshots taken on Mac using the Apple Pencil on the iPad, control my Mac and iPad using the same mouse and keyboard through Universal Control, and do quite a bit more. Staying in the ecosystem makes life easy but also worse. You already know how and why it makes life easy. And it makes life worse because jumping over the walled garden becomes that much harder.
Moreover, I can affirm that using two iPhones, in my case at least, has cut down the amount of time I need to carry two devices. I can get calls and texts on either of my devices. It is a lifesaver when it comes to managing One-Time Passwords.
2. Better battery
One of the general complaints highlighted in the reviews of the S22 was its weak battery life. And although battery life through optimizations has become much better than it used to be, I still sided with iPhone. iPhone 13 impressed me with its battery life. I never have to charge it twice in a day of my average daily usage. And, compared to my 11 Pro, it lasts much longer- which is a big plus in my book.
In general, my regular usage includes watching Youtube, streaming movies and tv series, reading blogs on Medium, and using social and email apps- and the battery life on the iPhone 13 has never once disappointed me.
3. Longevity
When it comes to the longevity of devices, I am a bit biased. I still have Galaxy S4 and S6 in my possession, and, much to my disliking, they both got old and unoptimized rather quickly. They are both in running condition, although I can barely move through the UI or keep the phone turned on long enough for me to be productive on them. On the other hand, my iPhone 6S+, which I have now handed over to my mom, even though being 6S+ years old at the time of writing, is still going strong with 85% battery health on iOS 15.
With the number of devices supported in each update of iOS, I am sure my iPhone 13 is bound to get updates and optimization fixes for at least five years. As I like to keep devices for as long as I can and only upgrade or handoff if there is a particular feature or two that I really want in a new device, the aforementioned is very important, at least to me.
Moreover, when reviewing the performance between Apple A15 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, it is clear that A15 pulls ahead and would potentially help the phone stay peppy for longer. The iPhone 6S+ still works fine on iOS 15, in my opinion, and I hope the iPhone 13 will be as well six years down the road.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the ecosystem, battery life and longevity prevailed over my reasoning when choosing between an iPhone 13 and Galaxy S22.
All in all, I have shared three of my decisive reasons to go for the iPhone 13 over the Galaxy S22. If you were in the same dilemma as me, I would like to hear your reasons for choosing one over the other. If you were in my shoes, what you have done?
I hope you enjoyed reading, and please feel free to share any constructive criticism on my first post on Medium.
Have a great day, night or weekend, and thank you for reading!
