Let’s begin with a very fundamental question – Android or iOS, which one should I go for? There’s always a debate as to which one is better. After all, as someone who has probably been using either of the OS for some time (or years), you would probably side with your device’s OS, which is understandable as you’ve put your hard-earned money.
But, what if you wish to make that transition from Android to iOS or vice versa? Read this comparison between Android 16 and iOS 18.2. We have already covered a comprehensive blog where we compared Android 15 Vs Android 14. But, if your mind and heart are dangling between iOS and Android, this post should be an interesting and informative read.
Android 16 vs ios 18.2: The Two New OS Versions For Smart Phone’s
Release Date
Android 16 (Codenamed Baklava)
The first developer preview was released on November 19, 2024, whereas the second preview was released on December 18, 2024. It is expected to reach the beta stage in January 2025. As for the final release date, it is expected to finally release in the second quarter of 2025. This means you can expect to hit the devices sometime before the end of June.
iOS 18.2
iOS 18 was announced at WWDC 2024 and was made publicly available in September 2024. The latest release iOS 18.2 launched on December 11, 2024, and the latest preview i.e. iOS 18.3 beta was released on December 16. 2024. In fact, we’ve discussed how you can use one of its key features, Image Playground.
Features
Android 16
Android 16 is yet to make a stable release, something that you can infer from the section above. But, so far, here are some of the key features that have caught the attention of users as well as enthusiasts –
- Audio Sharing
Audio Sharing has been introduced in Connection Preferences. The feature allows users to share music on multiple devices using Bluetooth. The feature uses Auracast to broadcast audio and is available on Pixel devices as we have discussed in the later sections.
- Custom DND Profiles
In Android 15, the DND profiles restricted you to the options that were already there. With Android 16, you can choose from a myriad of options. You can control everything from dark themes, to greyscale mode, to always-on display, and wallpaper dimming. You can even create your Priority Mode. In this, you can allow only specific notifications to pass through based on your preferences.
- Notification Cooldown
Available in the Settings menu, this feature reduces the volume of notifications from the same especially if they arrive in a short span of time. More specifically, the first notification from an app will trigger an alert but subsequent notifications from the same app will gradually decrease in volume.
- Embedded Photo Picker
With the release of Android 16 Developer Preview 1, developers can embed photo pickers right into their apps. With Android 16 Developer Preview 2, Google is adding new APIs to enable searching from cloud media providers in the Android photo picker.
- Desktop Windowing
You will be able to operate multiple apps simultaneously, and also resize windows. Google has also incorporated a taskbar for active and pinned applications that you will be able to see at the bottom of the display. You will also be able to see a new header bar that will house window controls.
- Health Connect Data
With Android 16, a new Activity Intensity metric has been added to Android’s Health Connect. This comes in addition to the Health Record features that were introduced in Android 16 Preview 1. In this you can share vaccines, lab results, and other reports even from any third-party apps.
iOS 18.2
We already gave you a glimpse of features in iOS 18.2 Beta 3. While you will find most of the features mentioned in this link, but still, let’s quickly go through the various features that you can expect if you switch to an iPhone with iOS 18.2 (stable release) –
- Share the AirTag Location With A Trusted Friend Or Even An Airline
The option is available in “Find My”. You can create a link of the lost item and share it with a trusted person. By clicking on this link the person will be able to get the location of the lost item. The link can also be opened on a non-Apple device.
- Lock Auto Exposure And Auto Focus
On iPhone 16 models backed with iOS 18.2, you can lock auto exposure and auto focus. All you have to do is apply a light pressure on the camera button of your Apple smartphone.
- iPhone Mirroring With Hotspot
Unlike before when iPhone Mirroring didn’t work when you connected an iPhone to Mac, iOS 18 removes this restraint. You can now use iPhone Mirroring even while you have shared your iPhone’s hotspot with your Mac.
- Track Download Progress in Safari
With iOS 18.2 you can track Safari downloads right from your iPhone’s lock screen.
- Categorize Emails in the Mail
iOS 18.2 gives built-in categorization in the Mail app. The Mail categories effectively organize all incoming emails into sections. This helps in easier navigation.
- Test Hearing
iOS 18.2 brings a useful feature to AirPods Pro 2. If you suspect hearing loss, you can assess your ability to hear various sound frequencies. Even though the feature might not be available worldwide, it is being rolled out slowly.
Device Availability
Android 16
Android 16 OTAs (Over The Air) and downloads are available for the following Pixel devices –
- Pixel 6 and 6 Pro
- Pixel 6a
- Pixel 7 and 7 Pro
- Pixel 7a
- Pixel Fold
- Pixel Tablet
- Pixel 8 and 8 Pro
- Pixel 8a
- Pixel 9, 9a, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold
iOS 18.2
- iPhone XR
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2nd generation)
Which One Will You Choose – iOS 18.2 or Android 16?
While it may still be too early to ask, we would still like to know which one would you choose – Android 16, or iOS 18.2? Do share your opinions in the comments section below. For more such content, keep reading Tweak Library.
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