u/Ifightfortheuser93

Curious what everyone is using. I have been using natural for years because I figured everything else in my house I want to match but I turn vivid mode on and it is so colorful. So what is everyone else using and why?

View Poll

​For three years, I rocked an iPhone 13 Pro Max. Honestly, iPhones were always just an idea to me—they had that Apple allure, but they were never my absolute go-to. My journey actually started with the iPhone 11. I had a Galaxy S10 Plus (android user all my life previous of this) that I completely loved, but due to my own stupidity, I completely shattered it and didn't have insurance. A friend recommended I try an iPhone, so I did. I liked it enough to stick with it for over a year before moving back to Android with the S21 Plus. I rocked that phone until the iPhone 13 Pro Max dropped. One thing about me: I never trade in my old platform for a new one. Once I entered both ecosystems, I kept a foot in both camps, only upgrading within each respective class.

​Fast forward three years: my iPhone 13 Pro Max battery was running out of steam, and I decided to finally get it repaired. But honestly, I was growing tired of iOS. So, when the Galaxy S25 Ultra was released, I jumped on it. After trading in directly with Samsung, I snagged the white 1TB model for $830 USD, which felt like an absolute steal. Moving completely back to Android and One UI was a massive breath of fresh air. The ability to literally buy, customize, or do whatever I wanted was intoxicating. Don't get me wrong, I know iOS is good. But after a year of using the S25 Ultra, the iPhone 17 Pro Max finally enticed me to upgrade my old 13 Pro Max.

​For the past 90 days, I’ve been using the 17 Pro Max as my daily driver. Because I've spent serious time with both flagships, I wanted to share some input for anyone trying to decide between the two.

​1. The Keyboard Experience

I mean this with all due respect: Apple’s keyboard absolutely sucks to type on and instantly slows down my typing speed. On my Galaxy S25 Ultra, I use Gboard, and the speed and accuracy are beyond insane.

​2. Media Playback & HDR

iOS is freaking phenomenal when it comes to movies purchased through the Apple TV app. The HDR and overall quality when you download in HD make the screen absolutely pop. I’m not joking—it’s that good. Conversely, Android absolutely drops the ball on HDR playback across third-party purchase apps like Fandango (RIP Vudu), Google TV, and Prime Video. I have no clue why. I can download movies in HD just fine, but the HDR just isn't there.

​3. Android Auto vs. Apple CarPlay

Simply put: Android Auto has better software, but CarPlay has better sound. Android Auto is much quicker to connect (if I have both phones on me, Android Auto usually wins the race). However, because CarPlay uses Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth to connect, the bitrate is higher. As someone who primarily uses Apple Music and YouTube Music, the bump in audio quality on CarPlay makes the music sound that much better. It is super noticeable to me.

​4. Navigation (The Missing Back Button)

The lack of a dedicated back button on iOS is a dismal experience. I’m not kidding. Once you get used to having a back button at the bottom of your screen for any app, navigating without it is beyond annoying. iOS gestures are fine in first-party apps, but having that dedicated button on Android is incredibly nice. Plus, on Galaxy, you can use Good Lock to enable a left-edge swipe gesture and keep the traditional back button at the same time.

​5. Ecosystem Connectivity

iOS absolutely excels here. The iPhone 17 Pro Max connects effortlessly to my iPad Pro 11 (M4) and M1 MacBook Pro. Want to move a file? AirDrop that sucker. Move it back? Done. Delete a file from an iCloud folder? It’s instantly gone everywhere. Get a phone call? I can answer it on my iPad. I’m not saying Android doesn't have these features—it does. But they just don't work to the same flawless extent as they do on iOS.

​6. Gaming Performance

Gaming is freaking awesome on iOS. It is super frustrating to have a phone as powerful as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, only to see it struggle with some games or lack the graphics settings available on the 17 Pro Max. While some games, like Dredge, play equally well on both, titles like Fortnite and Genshin Impact really shine on iOS. I know optimization plays a huge role here, but the difference is highly noticeable.

​7. App Freedom and the "Apple Tax"

I truly miss being able to use whatever app I want on Android. If I completely hate Chrome on Android, I can download a browser built entirely on its own engine—I'm not locked to a specific web engine wrapper. (To be fair, I actually love Safari and don’t use Chrome on my iPhone, but the principle matters). This restriction bleeds into other apps, too. It is incredibly frustrating that I cannot open Fandango and buy a movie directly within the iOS app. It’s a stupid limitation that really should be abolished. I can’t even pay for certain creators on Patreon inside the app because of the "Apple Tax," forcing everyone to subscribe via a web browser outside the app. It shouldn’t be a big deal, but it is.

​Final Thoughts

All in all, this comes down to the classic differences between iOS and Android, which I know is nothing new. However, I am a firm believer that all platforms should feature interoperability, and the phone you choose shouldn't be a barrier.

​I’m not sure if I’ll keep using the 17 Pro Max as my primary device. While certain things have been really nice, I truly love the freedoms Android offers, and that speaks volumes. For the users who are on iOS: if you are happy, please don't let me change your mind, but know there are other great things to try. And to the Android users: don't let this be a hate-on-Apple moment, as I've clearly outlined where iOS is superior.

​Just my two cents, for whatever it's worth!

​For three years, I rocked an iPhone 13 Pro Max. Honestly, iPhones were always just an idea to me—they had that Apple allure, but they were never my absolute go-to. My journey actually started with the iPhone 11. I had a Galaxy S10 Plus (android user all my life previous of this) that I completely loved, but due to my own stupidity, I completely shattered it and didn't have insurance. A friend recommended I try an iPhone, so I did. I liked it enough to stick with it for over a year before moving back to Android with the S21 Plus. I rocked that phone until the iPhone 13 Pro Max dropped. One thing about me: I never trade in my old platform for a new one. Once I entered both ecosystems, I kept a foot in both camps, only upgrading within each respective class.

​Fast forward three years: my iPhone 13 Pro Max battery was running out of steam, and I decided to finally get it repaired. But honestly, I was growing tired of iOS. So, when the Galaxy S25 Ultra was released, I jumped on it. After trading in directly with Samsung, I snagged the white 1TB model for $830 USD, which felt like an absolute steal. Moving completely back to Android and One UI was a massive breath of fresh air. The ability to literally buy, customize, or do whatever I wanted was intoxicating. Don't get me wrong, I know iOS is good. But after a year of using the S25 Ultra, the iPhone 17 Pro Max finally enticed me to upgrade my old 13 Pro Max.

​For the past 90 days, I’ve been using the 17 Pro Max as my daily driver. Because I've spent serious time with both flagships, I wanted to share some input for anyone trying to decide between the two.

​1. The Keyboard Experience

I mean this with all due respect: Apple’s keyboard absolutely sucks to type on and instantly slows down my typing speed. On my Galaxy S25 Ultra, I use Gboard, and the speed and accuracy are beyond insane.

​2. Media Playback & HDR

iOS is freaking phenomenal when it comes to movies purchased through the Apple TV app. The HDR and overall quality when you download in HD make the screen absolutely pop. I’m not joking—it’s that good. Conversely, Android absolutely drops the ball on HDR playback across third-party purchase apps like Fandango (RIP Vudu), Google TV, and Prime Video. I have no clue why. I can download movies in HD just fine, but the HDR just isn't there. And I use movies everywhere for most purchases to have on all platforms.

​3. Android Auto vs. Apple CarPlay

Simply put: Android Auto has better software, but CarPlay has better sound. Android Auto is much quicker to connect (if I have both phones on me, Android Auto usually wins the race). However, because CarPlay uses Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth to connect, the bitrate is higher. As someone who primarily uses Apple Music and YouTube Music, the bump in audio quality on CarPlay makes the music sound that much better. It is super noticeable to me.

​4. Navigation (The Missing Back Button)

The lack of a dedicated back button on iOS is a dismal experience. I’m not kidding. Once you get used to having a back button at the bottom of your screen for any app, navigating without it is beyond annoying. iOS gestures are fine in first-party apps, but having that dedicated button on Android is incredibly nice. Plus, on Galaxy, you can use Good Lock to enable a left-edge swipe gesture and keep the traditional back button at the same time.

​5. Ecosystem Connectivity

iOS absolutely excels here. The iPhone 17 Pro Max connects effortlessly to my iPad Pro 11 (M4) and M1 MacBook Pro. Want to move a file? AirDrop that sucker. Move it back? Done. Delete a file from an iCloud folder? It’s instantly gone everywhere. Get a phone call? I can answer it on my iPad. I’m not saying Android doesn't have these features—it does. But they just don't work to the same flawless extent as they do on iOS.

​6. Gaming Performance

Gaming is freaking awesome on iOS. It is super frustrating to have a phone as powerful as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, only to see it struggle with some games or lack the graphics settings available on the 17 Pro Max. While some games, like Dredge, play equally well on both, titles like Fortnite and Genshin Impact really shine on iOS. I know optimization plays a huge role here, but the difference is highly noticeable.

​7. App Freedom and the "Apple Tax"

I truly miss being able to use whatever app I want on Android. If I completely hate Chrome on Android, I can download a browser built entirely on its own engine—I'm not locked to a specific web engine wrapper. (To be fair, I actually love Safari and don’t use Chrome on my iPhone, but the principle matters). This restriction bleeds into other apps, too. It is incredibly frustrating that I cannot open Fandango and buy a movie directly within the iOS app. It’s a stupid limitation that really should be abolished. I can’t even pay for certain creators on Patreon inside the app because of the "Apple Tax," forcing everyone to subscribe via a web browser outside the app. It shouldn’t be a big deal, but it is.

​Final Thoughts

All in all, this comes down to the classic differences between iOS and Android, which I know is nothing new. However, I am a firm believer that all platforms should feature interoperability, and the phone you choose shouldn't be a barrier.

​I’m not sure if I’ll keep using the 17 Pro Max as my primary device. While certain things have been really nice, I truly love the freedoms Android offers, and that speaks volumes. For the users who are on iOS: if you are happy, please don't let me change your mind, but know there are other great things to try. And to the Android users: don't let this be a hate-on-Apple moment, as I've clearly outlined where iOS is superior.

​Just my two cents, for whatever it's worth!