Android features I envy as an iPhone user

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Assistant, Siri, and Core OS UX

  • Many iOS users feel Siri is stagnant and unreliable compared to Google Assistant; anecdotes include basic queries failing and HomePods becoming “useless.”
  • Spotlight search and macOS autocorrect are described as poor; third‑party tools like Raycast/Alfred and Gboard are suggested workarounds.
  • Some expect the next iOS to bring LLM‑based Siri, but there’s skepticism about how Apple will handle the unpredictability of LLMs.

Notifications, Calls, and Everyday Friction

  • Android’s ability to disable future notifications (or just marketing ones) directly from a notification is widely praised; iOS is seen as more all‑or‑nothing, though some note per‑notification controls exist.
  • Android’s spam call/text detection and ability to mark numbers as spam are seen as substantially better.
  • Separate volumes for different audio streams and alarms, richer alarm management (e.g., cancel upcoming alarms from notifications), and simple persistent Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth toggles are recurring Android advantages.

Text Entry, Selection, and Parental Control

  • Opinions on text manipulation vary: some say Android is better (arrow keys, “smart text selection” for emails/addresses), others find both platforms bad.
  • Android is viewed as stronger for parental controls via Family Link; iOS’s equivalent is called unreliable.

Browsers, Ad Blocking, and Web Engines

  • Android users emphasize Firefox with uBlock Origin and other extensions as essential; they describe iOS Safari extensions/ad blockers as weaker, though some are satisfied with tools like 1Blocker, Wipr, or AdGuard.
  • The role of WebKit‑only on iOS is debated. Some argue alternative engines matter for innovation and sync (e.g., Gecko/Firefox), others claim many “can’t be done on iOS” claims are false, citing iOS browsers that implement extension ecosystems.

Customization, Power Features, and Rooting

  • Samsung/Android features highlighted: per‑app volume, split screen, DeX desktop mode, heavy UI customization (launchers, Good Lock), and Linux/Termux.
  • Root is still valued by some for full local backups, system‑level ad blocking, radio automation, filesystem access, and fixing or bypassing app/OS limitations. Others say they no longer need it.

Hardware, Storage, and Ecosystem

  • MicroSD and headphone jacks remain important for some, mainly for large local media libraries, ROMs, and resilience to flaky networks or cloud lock‑in.
  • iPhone + Mac integration and hardware quality are strong pulls toward iOS; Samsung + Windows/DeX is the Android counterpoint.

Meta: Article Quality and Language

  • Several commenters find the article shallow or technically incorrect, especially on what iOS “can’t” do; others defend it as a useful counterpoint amid DMA/DOJ debates.
  • A side thread debates the author’s non‑native English, balancing expectations of clarity against accusations of unnecessary harshness.