One of the questions we are asked most often is which is better: Android or Windows Phone? The good news for smartphone fans who don't fancy being locked into Apple's world or tied to a BlackBerry is that there are now two great alternatives: Google Android and Windows Phone. Here we compare Android and Windows Phone.
We like Windows Phone, we like Android. But which is best? There's only one way to find out...
It is a subjective question and one that is impossible to definitively answer - ultimately Windows Phone fans claim their platform is the best, and Android lovers will hear of no other OS. They are both, now, polished and feature-filled mobile operating systems. But it is possible to compare some elements of both Android and Windows Phone. Here then, is our guide to which is better: Android or Windows Phone?
Which is better, Android or Windows Phone: handsets
Android has much the greater market share, and this is reflected in the amount of handsets from which you can choose. There are literally dozens of Android smartphones you can buy in the UK, and at the last count only five Windows Phone 8 handsets, with a few more now outdated Windows Phone 7.5 phones kicking around the remainder bins in phone shops. (You can grab a bargain here, but they will never be updated to Windows Phone 8.) See also: Group test: what's the best Windows phone?
This doesn't necessarily mean that Android is best, however - the five major Windows Phone 8 smartphones out now are all high-end, high-quality devices built by Nokia, HTC and Samsung to showcase WP8. Those manufacturers rarely make poor hardware.
But Android also has great high end handsets, such as the hugely popular Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note II from Samsung, and Google's own, LG-made Nexus 4. Indeed, because of Google's price lowering support the Nexus 4 is probably the biggest bargain available to smartphone buyers right now. See also: Group test: what's the best Android phone?
And Google really wins out if you don't want to shell out a fortune. Android handsets range in price from bargain basement up to the top-priced phones mentioned above. You get what you pay for, but for those who simply want an entry-level smartphone on a major platform, Android is where it is at.
Windows Phone is very much a premium product right now. Microsoft will hope that it becomes sufficiently popular for handsets to appear at all price levels, but only time will tell.
VERDICT: The Windows Phone 8 handsets available are nice, but if you want choice Android is where it is at.
Which is better, Android or Windows Phone: apps
Again, on the face of it, a big win for Android. At the last count there were around 700,000 apps for Android on Google Play, the vast majority of them optimised for smartphones. Two years after launch and Windows Phone is still hovering around the 100,000, most of which were written for Windows 7 (they are forwards compatible with WP8). The bald numbers really don't matter, so long as the key apps are represented, but at the time of writing key big name apps missing from the Windows Phone Apps+Games Store include Spotify, BBC iPlayer, Instagram and games like Bad Piggies and Temple Run.
Not that Android is perfect in this regard. It's fair to say that Google Play is second only to the iTunes App Store in the list of world's great app stores. Pretty much all major apps are there. But there are a couple of major caveats. Because of Android's relatively open nature, rogue apps do make it on to the Android app platform. Because Google Play informs you of the permissions required by each app you can make a solid judgment in most cases, but you do have to tread carefully.
Also, not all apps are available for all Android smartphones. A relatively small number of Android apps are tablet only. More pertinantly, because of the multitude of different versions of Android that abound on smartphones old and new, app makers struggle to keep up with every flavour, and will often target only the most popular. So if you have a handset with Android 2.3 you can choose from a very different list of apps from which those with an Android 4.2 smartphone can choose.
Don't worry if that sounds confusing, Google Play shows you only apps compatible with your phone, so you never know what you are missing.
VERDICT: Microsoft will be hoping that this changes soon, and Google Play is far from perfect, but right now Android is the winner.
Which is better, Android or Windows Phone: upgrades & versions
We've hinted at this earlier, but the plethora of Android versions and the chances of each being upgraded is positively Byzantine.
Android is to an extent an open platform so smartphone makers can use it as they please. This means that they sometimes use older versions of Android in order to fit lower specified hardware. They also tweak the operating system to fit their own stylings. And phone makers are under no obligation to upgrade your software when a new Android comes out - which may mean you lose apps as they are updated. Most Android phones never get an update, which increases the bewildering variety of Android OSes on the loose.
The benchmark in this area is Apple (we did well not to mention iOS up to this point, right?) Because Apple is both hardware and software maker for the iPhone, upgrades are rolled out seamlessly to the later generations of handsets. Microsoft's relationship with Windows Phone 8, then, is a hybrid of the Android and iOS situations. It will endeavour to keep phones updated, and wants only a single WP8 OS in the wild. But it is reliant on hardware makers passing on the upgrade to end users. The early signs are good - for Windows Phone 8, at least. The Apollo update for Windows Phone 8 is akin to an 8.1 release, and is coming to all WP8 users.
Windows Phone 7 users will read the above paragraph with a raised eyebrow, however. In launching Windows Phone 8 Microsoft announced that Windows Phone 7 devices would be upgraded to something called 'Windows Phone 7.8', but no further. and to add insult to the injury of pulling up the ladder on early adopters, Microsoft has subsequently failed to release the 7.8 OS, saying now that it will be out in 'early 2013'.
VERDICT: This is one area in which Windows Phone is a winner (for Windows Phone 8, at least).
Which is better, Android or Windows Phone: speed, stability, features
This is another area in which Android's very openness can be both a good and a bad thing. Because of the vast variety in Android handsets from which you can choose, prescribing on the speed and stability of Android is something of a pig in a poke. For every Galaxy Note II or Nexus 4 that nukes our speed tests, there is a bargain basement handset crawling along in the slow lane. And because hardware makers can tweak the software, there is a variety of speed, stability and features in the Android world. Ultimately you are advised to read lots of reviews from publications such as PC Advisor. And, if possible, try before you buy.
Windows Phone 8 is much more of a known quantity. It is zippy and stable, and has a couple of nice extra features such as Rooms and the brilliand Kids Corner (this turns your phone into a child-friendly toy on demand).
VERDICT: A score draw. Android varies from phone to phone. Windows Phone 8 is fast and friendly.
Comments
RK said: hey shivam although windows is a grt phone for socializing i think u shud probably go for htc one if u r a true blue facebookie
Aamir Lehri said: Android is BEst
Sreekanth said: i have one and only one point to say i used both android and Windows 8but windows 8 is simply awesomecompared to poor android performanceAndroid is like childish OS
magnus mallan said: I agree with u bra
Barishan Chakraborty said: if u want worthless apps then choose android and on the other hand if u want a fast smooth reliable os then surely buy windows phone the main thing is whats the purpose for using mobile its quite simple basically we do fb chatting checking maps navigate etcetc etc u will find all this features in windows phone m using android phone S3 and m now getting tired and sick by its worthless model and all the worthless security-less apps for that now m planning for a windows phone lumia 720 because if u see the number of apps in android market u gonna see a huge number of apps but if u want a helpful app u gonna see that the number is lacking far away or u have to pay a lot and at the same time if u search for apps in MARKET windows 8 u gonna see a less numbers of app but the each apps are gr8 and supportive and helpful So for performance handy and for security windows phone is best its also one kinda money saving phone too value for money
Gaurav 556 said: Dude but in previous window phone it was worst but not nowgo and watch lumia 920 u will understand
Vishnu said: Upgrade to Windws 78 you will have option of Bluetooth Transfer and Great UI as Windows 8
Kim shah said: are you sure about thisdo WP8 removed all the faults from the earlierversion
Matt Egan said: A perfectly valid viewpoint to which I would add one minor caveat the Lumia 800 is a Windows Phone 7 device Windows Phone 8 may resolve these issues
Sapan said: Window is worst Specially Lumia 800 No Equaliser Bluetooth transfer is worst Cant see the details of a photo Cant transfer pdf file from computer to Mobile File Syncing is worst
Nipper_adam said: So your some what of a geek so which platform do you prefer so far as what its meant for communication and streaming the web o and Im talking about wp75 to 78 vs any android os id prefer gingerbread cuz I dont have a lot of money
Matt Egan said: This isnt much help but it really is a subjective decision Personally the apps and media available to Android would swing it for me but WP8 users love their Windows Phones My advice would be to try a Lumia before you make your decision Theyre both great phones
Rujkul said: i am damn confused between lumia 920 and sony xperia zi love playin games watching movies and clicking pictures i dont hav any problem as far as budget is concerned which one should i buy
Matt Egan said: Is scandalous
Matt Egan said: Its possible I wasnt clear - the point is that Microsoft says it will update all WP8 devices The way it treated its WP7 early adopters OS scandalous
Itstherealshawn said: lol one big mistake in this article you claimandroiddontupdate and you would be correct some what there is cyanogenmod etc However you said windows does update you are very wrong when they want to force another sale they stop updating ask windows 7 users They will never update windows 7 to windows 8 andconvenientlyforMicrosofta bunch of viruses will all the sudden come out But you can update Android to a newer one with a little know how Further more Ubuntu will soon be in this market with android drivers and they are way more feature rich than windows and as always linuxes andriod ubuntu are way safer
Frankwatson12368 said: Android is the best Samsung GT-5302
J4l said: After checking your notificationmay be a message after reading that we also need do some tapping around to change the tracksin case of no headset
Ex-Android User said: Brandon is rightUr android phone may be faster but after getting an OS upgradeits not the same storyThe phone starts lagging and android OS got many bugsAndroid phones got better specs when we look into hardware section but windows phone doest need such a monster configuration since it will work smoothly with the hardware specs it haveI already used two android phonesLg p500 and Xperia RayAfter upgrading Ray to ICSit was horribleThe phone occasionly freezes and even my phones battery starts draining out quicklyPeople who interested in playing all kinda 3D games and all i would recommend Android phonesBut for a normal user Windows phones are even betterSpeaking about the entry version phonesit shows how beautifully Windows OS is optimizedThat means they actually care about all range of customers instead of supporting flagship phones usersSpeaking about millions of apps whose gonna use everythingfor a basic user the required apps are availableAndroid OS need to be optimized very wellMy frnd got a Note 2 and after upgrading to Jellybean he already got 3-4 stability updates for the OSThats not something fairThe developers should test the OS and then only they should release thoseWindows phones are not designed for everyone but for each one
craigor304 said: Really what it boils down to with an android phone is proper use I own an lg optimus l3 Granted its a low end 384mb of ram 800mhz single core small low res screen but if you stop unused applications and manage your storage it is a smooth operating quick little smartphone Gingerbread is very lightweight and the hardware carries it well all i have found are just a few apps that are unsupported windows phones are ok if you want ease of use but you just can not do as much with them and thats what a smartphone is all about android is a true experience of its own and very hard to compare iphonewell lets not go there lol