So Which Mobile Platform Should We Pick?
We're used to big name companies releasing mobile apps for both Android and iOS. For smaller businesses that don't have quite the same resources available, they may be forced to target Android or iOS, rather than both. So which one should they pick? This can depend on many things. Who is the target audience? What development resources does the company have available? Do they care more about presentation or functionality? These are all things to consider, and will ultimately decide if the app is a hit or a flop.
To come to a decision, first we should know what each platform is capable of - what are their strengths and weaknesses? To begin with, I'll go through the perks of the Android operating system.
Strengths:
- Android is backed by Google, a big name that users know and (might) trust. Personally, I wouldn't call this a strength, I say with my tinfoil hat on.
- Android has the largest market. In the picture below, you can see the number of users grow over the years:
- Android is open source! For some companies, open source is very important, falling in line with the values of both the company, and the developers they employ.
Weaknesses:
- With all the phones available come the various screen sizes and resolutions. This can make designing an app difficult.
- Batteries on Android devices drain quickly, due to the processes used in the operating system. Without proper optimization, your app may be uninstalled if it's a battery hog.
How does that compare with Apple's iOS? Here are its strengths and weaknesses, from the view of a developer.
Strengths:
- Apple's hardware is uniform, with limited screen sizes and resolutions. This is a perk for a developer, making the UI easy to design.
- Because of the consistent hardware, iOS' performance is incredible. On this platform, it is easier to create a smooth, fluid app, which leads to a satisfied customer.
- Apple offers a powerful set of APIs that can be used to the advantage of the developer.
Weaknesses:
- Because of the limited user base for iOS users, an app can't reach as large of a market as an Android app.
- Apple requires a developer account for publishing apps, which comes out to about $100 a year.
- If a bug is found in an app, which could be minor or critical, a hot fix cannot be pushed out in a matter of hours. An app has to be approved before there's an update, which can take days to go through.
Sources:
https://crazytechtricks.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-android-operating-system/
https://android.jlelse.eu/apple-vs-android-a-comparative-study-2017-c5799a0a1683
https://medium.com/@electrobabe/10-things-i-hate-about-ios-development-6cda685372bd
To come to a decision, first we should know what each platform is capable of - what are their strengths and weaknesses? To begin with, I'll go through the perks of the Android operating system.
Strengths:
- Android is backed by Google, a big name that users know and (might) trust. Personally, I wouldn't call this a strength, I say with my tinfoil hat on.
- Android has the largest market. In the picture below, you can see the number of users grow over the years:
- Android is open source! For some companies, open source is very important, falling in line with the values of both the company, and the developers they employ.
Weaknesses:
- With all the phones available come the various screen sizes and resolutions. This can make designing an app difficult.
- Batteries on Android devices drain quickly, due to the processes used in the operating system. Without proper optimization, your app may be uninstalled if it's a battery hog.
How does that compare with Apple's iOS? Here are its strengths and weaknesses, from the view of a developer.
Strengths:
- Apple's hardware is uniform, with limited screen sizes and resolutions. This is a perk for a developer, making the UI easy to design.
- Because of the consistent hardware, iOS' performance is incredible. On this platform, it is easier to create a smooth, fluid app, which leads to a satisfied customer.
- Apple offers a powerful set of APIs that can be used to the advantage of the developer.
Weaknesses:
- Because of the limited user base for iOS users, an app can't reach as large of a market as an Android app.
- Apple requires a developer account for publishing apps, which comes out to about $100 a year.
- If a bug is found in an app, which could be minor or critical, a hot fix cannot be pushed out in a matter of hours. An app has to be approved before there's an update, which can take days to go through.
Sources:
https://crazytechtricks.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-android-operating-system/
https://android.jlelse.eu/apple-vs-android-a-comparative-study-2017-c5799a0a1683
https://medium.com/@electrobabe/10-things-i-hate-about-ios-development-6cda685372bd
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