Android Vs iOS: What Is The Main Difference Between Them?

Android Vs iOS 2021: Building an Android and iOS app may seem similar to newbies, but the fact is that each of them has its features and qualities. There are many differences between Android and iOS - not only at the technical level of development but also in terms of design and marketing strategy. In short, the concept behind an app idea depends on the selected operating system. In this post, you will learn the difference between Android Vs iOS 2021. 

5 common differences between Android vs iOS app development 2021

The biggest differences between Android and iOS are the technical ones. Both platforms have different programming languages, testing processes, and so on. The top five differences between Android and iOS app development are mentioned as follows:

Difference #1 - Programming languages

Android vs. iOS programming uses different tech stacks. The first one depends on Java or Kotlin while the second one has a proprietary language - Swift.  Many mobile app developers believe that an iOS app is easier to create than an Android one. The reason behind this is that coding in Swift requires less time than Java as this language has high readability. 

Difference #2 - Development - Android Vs iOS 2021

Another major difference between Android and iOS app development relies on the IDE (Integrated Development Environment).  Android developers use Android Studio, introduced by Google in 2013 and includes a wide range of features. This integrated development environment has cross-platform support, high reliability, and a huge range of debugging features.  On the other hand, iOS developers depend on the XCode tool. This Apple-backed solution offers various bug fixing tools and supports a wide range of iOS devices. 

Difference #3 - System-specific design differences

Both Android and iOS shares the starting principles of software design. The main difference between Android and iOS design depends on navigation and architecture organization.  Android apps are built using separation - a programmer will have to break the app down to activities.  iOS app architecture depends on view controllers. View controllers can control an entire screen. There are different types of app development available in the market such as page view, tab, and split view controllers. To manage controllers, you can write them in code or organize image in a storyboard and store it as an XML file. Hence, the development speed enhances while the risk of errors decreases. 

Difference #4 - Development complexity

When it comes to Android vs iOS app development complications, Android loses by large numbers. It has a lot to do with device fragmentation whereas Apple launches a limited range of devices. There are dozens of screen styles as per screen size, density and OS version. Apart front adjusting the graphic design of app development, a developer (whether it be Android or iOS) will have to use many device simulators during testing to ensure your app is displayed equally for all users. As result, both development and testing processes require many reviews and repetition, are time-consuming. 

Difference #5 - Market share - Android Vs iOS 2021

StatCounter indicated that Android is dominating the market share. Android devices are popular among over 805 of the population while iOS holds only 16% of worldwide smartphone users. Here are some statistics of market share by regions:

• US - 52.59% - iOS, 46.98% - Android
• Europe - 22.23% - iOS, 72.71% - Android
• Asia - 83.09% - Android, 13.85% - iOS

Deciding between Android and iOS app development is not as easy as it sounds as both come with pros and cons. In a nutshell, if you don’t have a budget limit and aim at narrow premium segments, iOS is a better choice! But, if you want to test out the app market, aim at the worldwide audience but have a tight budget, prefer going with Android.  App development on your own is a challenging task. That’s why it is better to have a dedicated mobile app development company like Yugasa to reply on. 

How can Yugasa help in mobile app development?

At Yugasa, we have developed dozens of mobile apps (for both Android and iOS platforms) for business, entertainment, education, and many other purposes. In our portfolio, you will see small-scale projects for startups and progressive apps for worldwide companies. If you want to enjoy the Android and iOS app development services, get in touch with us today!  Read More: IOS VS. ANDROID: A BETTER PLATFORM TO TARGET IN 2021!