Some of the features on iOS 14 may be familiar to Android users. Here is our iOS 14 vs Android 11 showdown.
The New Features of iOS 14 & Android 11
With both iOS 14 and Android 11 bringing a whole host of changes to their operating systems, let’s first take a look at the key features of each.
iOS key features:
- Addition of custom widget stacks and layouts
- Apple music overall redesign and autoplay
- Picture in Picture
- App Library updates
- Pinned chats in messages and emoji search
- Quicktake Video and exposure lock
- Compact phone calls
- Homekit control center
- Third-party default apps
Android 11 key features:
- Priority conversations & chat bubbles
- App suggestions
- One-time permissions
- Unified payments
- Unified device controls
- Native screen recording
- Improved media controls
- Enhanced support for foldable devices
iOS 14 vs Android 11 – The Home Screen
When it comes to the home screen, the iPhone has always remained the same, for the most part. With the iOS 14 update, however, there is one major notable change, and that is the addition of widgets. With the new widgets on iOS 14, iPhone users are able to experience a level of customization that had been previously only reserved for Android users. Widgets have been a regular feature on Android devices for almost a decade, and the Android 11 home screen has remained mostly the same.
Also read: How to Customize iPhone Home Screen in iOS 14
The issue that many have with Android widgets is that they have become a little stale and unnecessary over time, with the innovation, is shown in earlier years tailing off. The iOS 14 brings a plethora of new and interesting apps and widgets to the table that is sure to capture your attention, as well as being visually pleasing in the way they can be laid out.
Quick Settings
Touching on widgets as well as music settings, a notable update in Android 11 is the addition of the music player widget in the quick settings menu. iOS, for the most part, remains unchanged.
One thing that iOS 14 does well that Android 11 does not do at all is wallpaper dimming, which is great for squeezing out that last bit of battery life.
App Drawer
Another new feature on the iOS 14 is the addition of the ‘App Drawer’. This is essentially one-stop storage where you can find all of your apps and is a great place to store any that you do not want clogging up your home screen but also do not want to delete.
Android has had an app drawer for a long time and it is no different with Android 11. They are both very similar in the way that they work and their visuals. When it comes to the app drawer, it comes down to personal preference. Which one do you prefer?
The Camera Interface
The user interfaces for both the iOS 14 and the Android 11 systems remain unchanged. They are still easy to access and simple to use. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it!
Translation
As you’re likely already aware, Google has had excellent voice translation software on their Android devices for a long time, and Android 11 is no different.
And now, with iOS 14, iPhones have it too. Of course, it is technically not Google translate, but a simple app that effectively does the same job. iOS 14 is able to translate 11 languages.
Password Monitoring
Keeping your passwords safe is very important when it comes to technology, which is why it is essential to always be using password monitoring software. .
Somewhat surprisingly, Google only introduced password monitoring to their Android devices last year. iPhone was behind on this, too. In fact, Safari will have the same password sign-in alerts as are available on Chrome.
This means that on both iOS 14 and Android 11 you will get an alert if your password is being used from another location or on new devices.
Recent Apps
The changes to Android 11 in the way of recent apps can be made in one word: none. Android has obviously decided that there was nothing wrong with the system they were already using and has kept it just as it was.
The idea of recent apps has been implemented interestingly on iOS 14 by choosing to display just one app at a time while having only a small hint of another just off to the left-hand side.
Privacy And Security
Apple has introduced several enhanced privacy features with iOS 14, which is a big plus in our book.
- You will now get a notification if an app is using your camera or microphone, or both
- You are able to see exactly what apps are keeping track of in the background
- Apps will still be able to track you, but you must give them permission first
Android 11 grants users the ability to allow one-time permissions. This means if you ‘allow’, the apps with be able to access not only your location date but also you camera and microphone as well. Apps also have a certain scooped storage that every app must fulfill. This was implemented well with Android 13 and means apps get limited access to your directories and files. No app can ever get total access to your phone.
So iOS 14 vs Android 11: Which Is Better?
Weighing all of these subjects up against one another, it could be argued that Apple has actually designed and created a better ecosystem than Google does.
It’s worth noting that Android has had many of the features that the new iOS 14 now has, for many years. It reminds us a little of a student peeking over to copy from another intelligent student’s work.
Although both iOS 14 and Android 11 are decent updates. It’s Apple that brings the biggest overhaul to the table and perhaps deserves your attention this time around.
As it usually is with comparisons, at the end of the day it comes down to what you prefer for yourself as the user. Many people already have a preferred side of the fence and may be here looking for a little nudge in the other direction. Either way, hopefully, this article has helped you out and answered all of your questions about both iOS 14 and Android 11!
