> iOS takes all of these away. Complete backups are built-in (I know android has it, but I don't know how bulletproof is this)

Not to burn you down, but to burn Android down: no, Android does not allow you to take complete backups. Let alone "built-in". The only backups that are made are forced to Google cloud and only backs-up apps that where downloaded through Google Play and app settings for Google stuff. It is an extremely limiting almost non-backup if you're used to going around Google. When switching phones it's still a process of hours / days to get everything set-up the way you had it on a previous phone. Especially if it was rooted.

The only way I know to take a full backup image of an Android phone involves unlocking (not possible on all phones), rooting (not possible on all phones), installing Nandroid and pulling an image over USB. To restore to a "fresh" phone, you need to go through all of those steps again.

This would take hours to weeks depending on who does it and the puzzle your phone manufacturer sets up for you to unlock your phone.

This to me is one of the many absolutely mind-blowing facts about the trash Android OS (disclaimer: I'm still an Android user, because I can't accept a phone without a physical keyboard. Never used Apple products in my life).

Want to wipe your phone and restore an image after you travel into a "spy-state"? Nope. You simply can't with an Android phone.

You know a phone that was able to do this out of the box? My 2013 Blackberry Passport. No rooting or fiddling around required. Just install a desktop app, plug the phone into USB and press "full system backup".

You just described the whole iOS value proposition. Even Macs are basically "set-up and forget". My dad, a 76 year-old with no computer chops, was always losing his track on his computer (my old Windows desktop). I became tired of the permanent parental helpdesk service and I got him a late-13 Macbook Air and it's still running happily.

> iOS takes all of these away. Complete backups are built-in

They’re not. Backups are built-in but they’re not complete. For example google Authenticator data is not backed up. Microsoft Authenticator can be backed up, but you need to go through a few extra steps (and have a Microsoft account). Other secrets are not included either - my banks PhotoTAN app doesn’t store any credentials etc. There are reasons why this is so, but it’s really important to handle if you use your phone for 2FA.

Exactly opposite feedback of a colleague who switched from Android to Apple flagship few years back. After few days, he became frustrated how little the phone allows to tweak. I don't mean some low level tinkering, just normal things he got used to being able to change. He regretted the move since then but what happens people get often comfy with their choices and over time lose the will to do a big change again, so did he.

You mention setup & forget, that's how probably 98-99% of Android phones operate. Same for me, all the people and family I know. Initial install&setup after purchase, and then just running 1-click updates if one chooses to. After 3-4 years, switch to another one.

Hardware is +-same, what differences there are are invisible to user (apart from basic things like dual sims and memory card slots, which Apple lacks desperately... and bigger zoom for photos). Some like the smooth Apple UI, some feel they have the same on Android, most don't care. Some care about privacy which Apple seems to be the champion, most of the world simply doesn't care and isn't even aware. Some realize privacy is an illusion even with Apple, if you are 95% of the world that lives outside USA, various 3-letter agencies can do whatever they want and abuse your data in numerous ways without any recourse.

Its all relative, the most important is if one is happy with whatever one has and doesn't have unrealistic expectations.

>I like iOS, but not Android. Let me explain why.

No Firefox on iOS, hence useless.

Oh I totally agree. I treat my phone as purely a consumption and communication device. It's a dumb brick that should do those things well, including being secure. The more walled garden the better, in my opinion, as long as it's doing those things well and maintaining my privacy.

On the other hand, it's useless for creation. But that's fine, the trade offs are worth it in my opinion. I have dedicated hardware running Linux/Windows for that purpose.

I'm similar and for the most part don't really use the iPhone as computer. It just acts as a hotspot for the laptop and I use it to take photos so I don't have to worry so much about proprietary stuff running on it.

I agree with you overall, but felt the need of commenting as I thought "Settings do not change spontaneously" was true as well but it is not! I just discovered the other day that you cannot turn off WiFi or Bluetooth. If you do try to disable either of them, they will be turned off but only for a day. The next day they enable themselves automatically.

So much for not changing settings by themselves :)