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Abstract

es. These staff will be specialists in these products, able to answer questions.According to Google, there is a Google concession in a Curry’s (general electrical retail store) in London.With Samsung, there is the Samsung KX store in London, a store in Leicester, and one in Manchester. The latter two are about 2 and 4 hours from me respectively.It shouldn’t be underestimated how important a physical store is to customers. If I have a problem with my Samsung device, I’m at the mercy of an oversees call centre. With Apple, I’m less than a 30 minute drive from three-dedicated stores to help me.Apple App Store<figure id="8a8b"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*lmmtX79dQnqAHpQ35dHrvw.png"><figcaption>App Store: Image: author</figcaption></figure>Now I know this will be quite controversial to many, and the Google Play Store is excellent in many ways, and of course has more apps than the Apple equivalent, but here’s the point: if you’re an Apple fan, using numerous exclusive Apple apps, then the Google Play Store is not an equivalent.I have a few apps that I use that do not feature on the Play Store, including:<ul><li>Things 3</li><li>Ulyses</li><li>LookUp</li><li>Apple Notes</li></ul>Yes there are alternative apps available, but not the exact ones, and if you’re a long time, happy user of these exclusive apps, you will simply not have access to them on Android.There are numerous other exclusive apps as well, such as Bear, Final Cut Pro, Omnifocus, Drafts, Fantastical, Agenda — we’re not talking poor quality utility apps we’re talking about powerful, well crafted apps that people use daily.My wife is an Android user, and has zero interest in swi

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tching to iPhone. She loves her Galaxy device (and I love that she loves it) but doesn’t use any exclusive apps, so to her there is no issue. If you’re like that, then it’s not a problem whatsoever, but to the users that are invested in any of the above apps, it becomes a deal breaker to switch. Just look at the recent furore over Beeper and iMessage.<figure id="125d"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*PPg3wKgadjXsOoaUx0gvJA.png"><figcaption>App Store: Image: author</figcaption></figure>Apple TVThis might sound a bit strange because Apple TV is available through the Play Store. But the point is, it’s an Apple made app that retains that umbilical-cord connection to Apple. If you use it, you remain an Apple customer and that is the point. There is a Google TV app that allows you to access shows from streaming services, but it isn’t an Apple TV equivalent.<figure id="342b"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*dFJtn7VPhtsKScjwO4tPeg.png"><figcaption>Image: author</figcaption></figure>A quick check on the Google TV app shows me that Ted Lasso, the Apple TV production, is not available to me on Android.EcosystemAll three of these products, that perhaps aren’t even considered true products, as they’re not devices, form part of the greater Apple Ecosystem, yet they form very much part of the Apple customer experience, even if subconsciously, and these make the bond between customer and supplier even stronger, and they remain unchallenged from Android.So when the curious fatigued iPhone user starts considering the risks to switching to Android, it can feel just too much and is perhaps one of the reasons people remain committed to their Apple devices.</article></body>

The Apple products that Android has no answer for

Context is important.

And it’s important that I add some context in relation to my perspective and biases.

I am an Apple fan.

But I’m also an Android and Windows fan. I spent over £3,000 on a Galaxy Book 3 Ultra Windows laptop this year, and over £1,200 on a Galaxy S23 Ultra, so when I write this, I write not as a one-sided fan boy, but as someone that uses and loves tech from more that one manufacturer.

But from my perspective, there are at least three non-core Apple products that Android doesn’t have an answer for, or at least, not one of enough equivalence to convince dyed in the wool Apple fans to make a permanent switch.

Apple Stores

Here in the UK, Apple operates 40 physical stores — more than in any other country in Europe. And in addition to that, Stormfront, the UK’s premium Apple reseller, operates 23. That’s at least 63 stores dedicated to Apple products. I have three Apple stores less than 20 miles from my house, another at 26 miles, and a Stormfront store in under 5 miles. That’s five Apple stores less than an hour door-to-door.

That physical store presence creates an environment where I can see, touch, and experience Apple products in their glory — from people that know about and love the products. I can seek help from them, and mingle with devotees that flock to the stores. These staff will be specialists in these products, able to answer questions.

According to Google, there is a Google concession in a Curry’s (general electrical retail store) in London.

With Samsung, there is the Samsung KX store in London, a store in Leicester, and one in Manchester. The latter two are about 2 and 4 hours from me respectively.

It shouldn’t be underestimated how important a physical store is to customers. If I have a problem with my Samsung device, I’m at the mercy of an oversees call centre. With Apple, I’m less than a 30 minute drive from three-dedicated stores to help me.

Apple App Store

Now I know this will be quite controversial to many, and the Google Play Store is excellent in many ways, and of course has more apps than the Apple equivalent, but here’s the point: if you’re an Apple fan, using numerous exclusive Apple apps, then the Google Play Store is not an equivalent.

I have a few apps that I use that do not feature on the Play Store, including:

Things 3
Ulyses
LookUp
Apple Notes

Yes there are alternative apps available, but not the exact ones, and if you’re a long time, happy user of these exclusive apps, you will simply not have access to them on Android.

There are numerous other exclusive apps as well, such as Bear, Final Cut Pro, Omnifocus, Drafts, Fantastical, Agenda — we’re not talking poor quality utility apps we’re talking about powerful, well crafted apps that people use daily.

My wife is an Android user, and has zero interest in switching to iPhone. She loves her Galaxy device (and I love that she loves it) but doesn’t use any exclusive apps, so to her there is no issue. If you’re like that, then it’s not a problem whatsoever, but to the users that are invested in any of the above apps, it becomes a deal breaker to switch. Just look at the recent furore over Beeper and iMessage.

Apple TV

This might sound a bit strange because Apple TV is available through the Play Store. But the point is, it’s an Apple made app that retains that umbilical-cord connection to Apple. If you use it, you remain an Apple customer and that is the point. There is a Google TV app that allows you to access shows from streaming services, but it isn’t an Apple TV equivalent.

A quick check on the Google TV app shows me that Ted Lasso, the Apple TV production, is not available to me on Android.

Ecosystem

All three of these products, that perhaps aren’t even considered true products, as they’re not devices, form part of the greater Apple Ecosystem, yet they form very much part of the Apple customer experience, even if subconsciously, and these make the bond between customer and supplier even stronger, and they remain unchallenged from Android.

So when the curious fatigued iPhone user starts considering the risks to switching to Android, it can feel just too much and is perhaps one of the reasons people remain committed to their Apple devices.