iOS vs Android Development: 7 Key Differences between Android & iOS
Because everything has essentially gone digital, it should be no surprise that many people today want to be mobile app developers. Becoming one has also gotten a lot easier since numerous learning materials and resources, both free and paid, are now available.
Aspiring iOS developers, for example, can learn using Apple Developer, a digital learning resource Apple provides. Meanwhile, Android developers have access to Google's Android Basic Series as well as learning materials from other academic institutions, such as Stanford's Android App Development Course.
But, whether you are or want to be a mobile application developer in the United States, you will need to determine whether to specialize in iOS or Android application development. So, in order to assist you in making a more informed decision, this post will go into detail on iOS vs Android development in the United States.
Which one to focus more as a developer?
In the United States, the iPhone has won the thoughts and hearts of more consumers. According to new Counterpoint Research data, iPhones now account for 50% of all active users in the United States. Nonetheless, globally, the iPhone has captured an acceptable 16% of the smartphone market.
In contrast, the total population of Android smartphone users in the United States is around 130 million on 2020. Over the last eight years, it has grown at a pace of 52.10%. One reason Android's rise is its open-source foundation, which allows smartphone makers to customize the operating system for their handsets.
As a result of the enduring iOS vs Android development confrontation, it is extremely complicated simply to come up with the proper decision, but anyway, let's try to discover the key differences between Android and iOS development along with settling on the ideal possible option.
And so, towards the very end of this particular post, it will be clear what OS establishment is more convenient and cheaper, how the iOS app is truly made, and what tools are superior nowadays for Android OS development.
Keep reading about iOS vs Android development!
1. iOS vs Android development code
The first huge contradiction amid iOS vs Android development is naturally the programming language. It is a special source code that is used to implement algorithms. Thousands of various coding languages are being created yearly, but the leading ones are still the same: Python, Java, C#, Delphi, Ruby, etc.
Programming languages for Android app development
Speaking of Android, probably everybody knows a coding language such as Java. This particular language serves for Android app creation and has been popular since 1995. One might think that making apps with chart-topping software is simpler or quicker, but it is not appropriate for Java. Being a mature language together with a diversity of extensions, Java could be too complex for newbies in coding. That is why, even though Java is widely well-known globally, people also apply Kotlin language as a greater alternative for making Android software.
Programming languages for iOS app development
In contrast to the above, iOS engineering demands a brand new, understandable, and super easy-to-pick-up coding language known as Swift. Swift first appeared in 2014 and replaced an earlier Apple coding language called Objective-C which was utilized almost since the 1980s. Swift is a powerful tool for fast-creating safe, and modern digital products. This language's nature is intuitive and open-source for everybody, and as Swift now has a reduced learning curve, so it could be quicker to get accustomed to it than to Java.
Multiplatform languages for iOS vs Android development
Simultaneously, there is a multiplatform language for those both iOS and Android operating systems, and it is called React Native. This framework allows convenient originating hybrid applications for Android, iOS, Windows, etc., and supports various coding languages. Moreover, one more popular tool exactly for iOS and Android mobile game development is Unity which supports C# and C++ scripting languages.
Summing it up, Swift's availability, safety, and speed put it on a pedestal among other well-known programming languages. And it is evident that coding an app for iOS devices is a bit simpler today. Nevertheless, all languages, including computer ones, are constantly still developing, and because of this reason, Java, together with Swift, could swap places in the nearest future.
2. Design issues
Some more evident key differences between Android and iOS development are obviously distinct in their designs. Its common diversity lies in the nearly contrasting style of those two systems' software.
Design features for Android development
Android designers prefer so-called Material Design with a rather natural and close-to-life styling approach. They usually use vivid icons, Roboto font, and bold graphic details. Moreover, smartphones with Android OS often have a Navigation Bar situated at the bottom of the screen and a commonly accepted screen size of 360dp×640dp.
Design features for iOS development
Regarding iOS development, its devices prefer the simple, minimalistic design, and unlike the previous ones, they usually apply San Francisco's system font. Their screen sizes differ from one iPhone to another, and the smallest screen, for which the design is developed most often, reaches the size of 320pt×568pt. During a program development process, software engineers must keep in mind the phone's safe areas because what fits for iPhone 7 is inappropriate for iPhone XR and so on.
As a result, software engineers should consider all those things of both operating systems before starting an app creation. It is also essential to pay much attention to fingerprints, touch IDs, and back buttons while making apps. And above all, it seems that the Apple operating system's architecture organization and the smaller variety of iOS devices support simple and fast app development.
3. Integrated development environment
The third thing that differs between iOS and Android development is their IDEs (integrated development environments). The integrated development environment is an application program that provides complex facilities to software engineers for software development.
IDE for Android app development
Before diving deeper, it should be mentioned that both Apple OS and Android OS developers use completely free tools. For Android OS, there is Android Studio with the latest updates. A new IDE provides:
- An agile Gradle-based building system.
- Multiple APK generation.
- Proper expanded template support for diverse mobile device types and Google Services.
IDE for iOS app development
The XCode tool suits iOS development and requires Mac hardware or any other MacOS alternative. Unlike Android Studio, XCode offers an asset catalog, source editor, and even an assistant. Simultaneously, the XCode is much simpler to handle because of its usage convenience. But, all at once, there is a rumor that the XCode tool is renowned for being really buggy, even though it can do wonders for apps.
On the whole, it is hard to say which development environment is better and which is worse. Almost every IDE customer could mention something good and bad about those two application programs. Usually, software engineers pick the IDE fully based on their individual needs and habits.
4. Money-making
Another iOS vs Android development variance consists in making revenue. In general, both Android and iOS apps make a good amount of money. In 2021 Apple earned 365 billion US dollars, and Google made 256 billion US dollars that same year, according to a revenue comparison of Apple Inc. and Google Inc.
Android source of revenue
First of all, it should be mentioned here that Android's target audience is large, but almost every one wants more free stuff and is unwilling to pay tons of money for an app. And that is why Google's Android makes its income out of ad monetization.
iOS source of revenue
Conversely, the user base of iOS devices is smaller but wealthier, and they usually tend to buy some apps. Thereby, iOS development aims to earn more money from purchased apps than advertising. This suggests that iOS developers often tend to be paid a little bit more because it is kind of more specialized and relevant type of work.
As follows, before creating an application, mobile app developers should decide which money-making source is perfect for them. They either earn from the ad industry or directly from app purchases.
5. Google Play Market vs App Store
The other perceptible distinctness is the distribution platforms of those operating systems. It is common knowledge that Google's Play Store and Apple's App Store completely are the most distinguished marketplaces for downloading mobile applications.
At first glance, Play Market and App Store are almost similar in their interface, user reviews, gallery of each application, description, search, and downloading process. But delving into the smallest details, every digital store has ups and downs.
Features of Google Play Store
The Google Play Store has proven to be quite convenient, and the Play Market has some particular features.
- It's easy to fix bugs there.
- Play Markey is quite flexible.
- It allows you to download apps within hours.
- It is a good opportunity to cover a larger target audience.
- The application can be downloaded from the Amazon App Store.
- The app's security could be questioned due to the validation speed.
Features of the Apple App Store
Conversely, the Apple App Store has the following features.
- It could take weeks to get an update or validation.
- It is non-flexible.
- The App Store is overall safer because of the careful and manual moderation of each application.
- The risk of getting tricked by malware is very low.
- It gives a chance to release an application not only for public usage but under individual licenses too.
- Enterprises could distribute their products among any particular group of people.
6. Entrance fee
Speaking of application marketplaces, it is important to mention that releasing an app on each store, as distinguished from IDE's tools, is not a free option. Software developers should pay the entrance fee to release their app on a digital distribution platform.
Play Market entrance payment
Google Play Market requires software engineers to pay only once for lifetime access as a developer, according to Google Support. The price for a lifetime admittance to a Google Play Developer Account is about 25 US dollars.
App Store entrance payment
Apple App Store asks for even more money as an entrance fee. Apple Support says it is a must to pay 99 US dollars for an application to enter iOS App Store, which is a yearly sum. A little bit more expensive, isn't it? It should not be forgotten that Apple Inc. takes a certain percentage of the whole app's gain.
From the information above, it becomes apparent that a person should pay at least 99 US dollars per year to be an Apple app developer. The Android Play Market's price is far ahead of Apple's one out there. Once paid 25 US dollars and you are already an application developer forever.
7. Time estimated for app development
Maybe someone is ready to spend years making an amazing and breakthrough application, and for this person, time is not a matter of quality. Still, some mobile app development companies are not ready to waste their time. That is why the development timeline is also an important part of software engineering.
But what is the average time for creating any application? It is hard to say because it depends on what exact app is in the process of setting up.
Approximate time for Android development
However, looking directly at the existing code complexity and the mobile device varieties along with iOS vs Android development OS, undoubtedly, developing apps for Android appliances seems to be a longer process. On the other side, after the application is made, it must be permanently placed on the App Store or Google Play Market. And here, the review time will pass quickly in the case of the Android app.
Approximate time for iOS development
What about iOS digital products? They have to go through a long process of reviewing and revisions that take time. And, as the saying goes, time is money. So the faster developer does his or her job, the sooner he or she will get income.
Approximate time for hybrid app development with React Native
As there is a framework platform for iOS vs Android development, the average time estimated for React Native app development is in the range of one week to six months due to its features described in the article.
FAQs
There are so many more details between iOS vs Android development that there is no way to cover them all in just one post, but let's find an answer to some disturbing questions.
How is the iOS app developed?
Application development is a long, hard, and entertaining process. Based on the above, it is known that software developers first decide which platform, coding language, programming tool, and hardware to use. App developers also have to decide whether to adopt a native app development approach or a cross-platform approach when developing their apps. After they made up with the decision, they started developing, designing, debugging processes, and writing a particular code for their future app. Once the app is built, it should be beta tested and only then launched to the marketplace.
Which software is best for Android development?
It has already been told that the number-one Android OS development software is Android Studio. It provides a simple coding process and is a super user-friendly tool. Besides, it is official software.
Is iOS development still in demand?
Yes, definitely! Every single day Apple's user base becomes wider and wider. It means that people still allow more money to be spent and are ready to download more applications. Besides, different companies, governments, and medical and educational establishments are developing in a digital direction and require individual high-quality apps. That is exactly what iOS development is. Talented iOS software engineers always will be in high demand.
Is Android development the future?
Android and iOS development always go hand in hand, and both are in high demand. Android app's market, beyond any doubt,, has good earning potential and has a bright future unequivocally. Its program development is not falling into decay but continues to prosper.
Conclusion
To sum up, all the key differences between iOS and Android development continue existing lots of possibilities for establishing a unique and breakthrough application with the help of iOS vs Android development operating systems. And every software engineer can choose the perfect OS.
Without any doubt, it is clear that Android engineering is at a lower price than iOS development because of the entrance fee and spending on Windows hardware. Android marketplaces are not as demanding as iOS ones, but at once, it means they are not as safe as the App Store is.
In contrast to the above, even though the iOS audience is smaller, simultaneously, it is wealthier and ready to pay more for good apps. The iOS coding is undeniably quick to learn, and the programming tool is still yet easier to handle. Besides, the iOS App Store is safer and close to fully minimizing the risk of getting tricked by sneaky malware. Additionally, the design terms of the iOS help to develop an amazing app in a simple and fast way with great styling facilities.
According to user feedback on both platforms, Android customers generally appreciate how well-organized and simple the Play Store is. Meanwhile, Apple App Store users are generally pleased with the overall items and the easy app integration across several Apple devices.
So, it is evident that both operating systems are worth paying attention to. And finally, understanding all dissimilarities between those two superb iOS vs Android development confrontations, it is simple to decide which one OS to select for future worthwhile app creation. There is only one thing left, and this is to start working!
