Presently, around 204 billion mobile apps are downloaded worldwide. So if you still haven’t decided to take your business online with an application, then now is the time!
The first step in the app development is deciding on which platform you should opt- Android or iOS. Maybe you wish to launch on both platforms, but it’s both expensive and risky.
So the better option would be to choose the one that suits your business requirements.
This article lists the number of factors that may help you in making the final choice.
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- Development environment
The development environment is another major factor that draws the line between Android and iOS platforms.
Android developers use Android Studio for development. The integrated environment supports a wide range of debugging and development features, cross-platform support, and has robust Documentation.
On the other hand, iOS developers use the XCode toolkit. The solution is quite clear, enjoyable to use, supports various iOS devices, and has a range of bug-fixing tools.
When it comes to choosing the better IDE, Android Studio enjoys the upper hand due to the following negatives of XCode-
- Time-consuming refactoring,
- Instability, and
- Incapable of running on a few simulators simultaneously.
- A gap in terms of Documentation
- Development Time
The overall time and cost for iOS app development are lesser than the Android one.
Certain elements contribute to slower Android development are as follows:
- More Coding
Android applications are written in Java, which is a verbose language than Swift or Objective-C. The former expects more coding, and often more coding means more bugs.
- Fast Emulators
iOS simulators are faster than Android simulators, which contributes to the quicker development of the former.
- Fragmentation
Testing against more devices may lead to higher vendor-specific bugs.
- WYSIWYG Techniques
Android layouts are usually written in XML, and hence the WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) techniques are utilized less than the iOS model.
Overall, we can say that the time to develop an Android Application is higher than iOS Application.
However, the Apple store has more quality expectations and stricter rules; hence it may take a longer time to review the app for approval. This may even result in rejection.
- Flexibility & Security
The flexibility of features is a significant pointer here. Android being an open-source platform, offers better flexibility for customizing the solution. One can quickly build the features and functionality as per the market trends.
However, an open environment gives an open invitation to malware and pirate applications. Owing to the closed nature, Apple is considered much more secure and therefore has a broader market.
- Demographics
Demographics have a say in deciding whether the app should be developed on Android or iOS.
As per the survey, iOS apps are majorly used in developed nations, while Android has popularity in developing countries.
Android apps witness higher downloads, but iOS is known for better engagement. Usually, adults (18-30 age group) with better income and education use iPhones. The majority of the audience is from North America and Western Europe, while Android is more used in low-income areas.
Hence, one should do the deep-research of the market before deciding the platform.
- App Revenue
On and all, any business is done with the intent of making profits. When you have decided to develop an app, you would want to make money from it.
There are different ways of generating higher ROI- Ads, in-app purchases, subscriptions. Etc.
As per surveys, iOS apps tend to generate more revenue owing to in-app purchases.
- App Testing
Testing ensures that everything works properly before the product launch. You got to hire QA/QC engineers and implement unit testing for verifying the quality of a product.
Android platform is equipped with massive testing features. There are various tools available that make the process seamless and quick.
The Xcode environment also possesses the testing component, but it’s not as robust as the Android one.
- App Publishing
Getting your app on the Play store is quite affordable, easy, and consumes less time. After the initial approval process, it will only demand a few hours and even requires almost no validation.
On the other side, Apple Store tests your solution for every bug before it is launched in the store. Publishing on the Apple store is a very time consuming and lengthy process; the cost is even higher than the Play store.
Let’s see what some famous CIOs have to say in this matter-
Mark Ridley
In an interview with ZDNet, the former Group Technology Officer at Blenheim Chalcot claims to be a big fan of Android. There are various reasons for his love for this platform-
- Google Pixel is one such thing.
- Biometric Authentication is very useful from a security perspective
- Also, he mentions the fantastic user experience the platform offers.
Neil Moore
The head of ICT at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Services, Neil Moore, says that his organization recommends the Android Platform. It is because Android is a clear lead system for EMSCP (Emergency Services Mobile Communications Platform), the next-generation communication platform for UK public bodies.
Moore emphasizes, “Openness is certainly a critical issue, and we’ve found in the past that there’s been more issues integrating systems due to the proprietary nature of iOS.”
Matt Peers
Matt Peers joined Linklaters (the global law firm) as CIO in May 2015. Before his joining, the company was wedded to Blackberry devices. Now it is more involved with Apple devices. All the people right from chief executive to back-office receive a corporate supplied device.
In 2017, the firm had 185 devices of iPhone 7s.
Peers claims that the company opt for Apple over Android due to following reasons-
- Familiarity with iOS devices
- Ease of Use in comparison to other platforms
- Compatibility with other existing products of the firm.
Conclusion
Both Android and iOS are famous for different reasons. Your selection must be based upon business requirements, time, cost, demographics, complexity of features, etc.
Author Bio:
Apoorv Gehlot is the founder of Matellio Inc., a software engineering studio based in California, USA. Being an avid learner, he takes a keen interest in exploring various aspects of the digital realm, and ideate some of the finest solutions with his team of innovators. Apoorv believes in sharing his time-tested experience and deep-rooted knowledge with the readers across the world to enlighten the audience
Omni Talk is the retail blog for retailers, written by retailers. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga founded Omni Talk in 2017 and have quickly turned it into one of the fastest growing blogs in retail. 
