I've been a Samsung user for years — here's the one reason I switched to iPhone

By Elliot Mulley-Goodbarne
published

I'd been a long advocate for Android before this year

An iPhone side by side with a Google Pixel phone
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

The iPhone and Samsung Galaxy device families represent the pinnacle of smartphone innovation. Both offer top-of-the-line displays, camera systems, performance and connectivity options. 

The debate between iPhone vs. Samsung users is endless, with strong opinions on both sides. However, after using Samsung devices for years, I recently made the switch to iPhone. 

I previously used a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G, finished in the stunning Mystic Bronze color. With its massive 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, multi-lens rear camera system, and S Pen stylus, it was a productivity and media powerhouse. 

I also invested in a Galaxy Tab S6 tablet and Galaxy Buds Live earbuds to further integrate into the Samsung ecosystem. So why would I switch? Here's my experience.

The turning point

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

(Image credit: Future)

The tipping point came when I needed a new laptop, and wanting a reliable machine that could cope with almost anything I threw at it, I opted for a MacBook Pro 13-inch. 

From there the interoperability between iOS and MacOS became an attractive selling point for me. Being able to seamlessly transfer passwords, unlocking them with my face, and take calls whether they came to my iPhone or MacBook was a game-changer and is a key way that my life is made easier. 

Of course there are things like Link to Windows that would have allowed me to access calls and texts if I went for a Windows laptop, and that may well have done the job. But when trying to take calls from an Android the experience isn't as smooth as it is on iPhone. 

Meanwhile, a browser like Chrome has the ability to share passwords across devices I've logged in on. But those passwords are not shared throughout the device, whereas I am able to pull up passwords within applications and quickly log on now that I use Safari.

These are the little things that feel like constant clashes between my phone and my laptop, and frankly switching to an iPhone paves the way for a much smoother cross-device experience.

Is there really any difference anyway?

These seem like minor things but they become a major pull for iPhone when you consider how close the Samsung and Apple flagships are. I went for an iPhone 14 Pro Max because I'm a big screen guy who likes taking photos. Incidentally the exact same reasons why I went for the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

Certainly there are some drawbacks; getting my headphones to switch between my iPhone and Galaxy Tab S6 isn't as smooth, and the constant iCloud storage reminders are grating. But with very little to chose between the devices, the way they interact with the accessories I have around me becomes a contributing factor. 

While the iPhone vs. Android debate rages on, switching to an iPhone made sense for my cross-device lifestyle and I don't regret my decision one bit. The seamless Apple ecosystem, in my experience, is unmatched. 

But this is just the start of my iPhone journey (I'm only about a month in) and I'll be reporting back soon with what I like (and what I don't) about switching from Android to iPhone. Have you made the switch in either direction? Drop us a line in the comments. 

More from Tom's Guide

Elliot Mulley-Goodbarne
Elliot Mulley-Goodbarne
Phones Writer

Elliot MulleyGoodbarne is a Staff Writer at Tom’s Guide covering news, reviews, buying guides with wit and charm. He has had a keen interest in mobile, tablets, laptops, and everything in between since his first phone, the Samsung U600. Starting at Mobile News, Elliot has been writing about mobile and the business of technology since 2016, and has edited four trade magazines in that time, attending award shows for three of them. He has attended a range of industry events including 5G launches, device announcements, and trade events, where he developed a nose for picking up on trends, interviewing executives, and networking with the tech community. In his spare time, Elliot can usually be found watching, playing, or attending sporting events. With season tickets to West Ham United and Surrey County Cricket Club he often spends weekends in winter in a foul mood and evenings in the summer with a smile on his face. Outside of sport Elliot enjoys cooking, pubs next to rivers, and chilling out with a G&T, Whiskey, or Port after a solid week of excellence.

8 Comments Comment from the forums
  • derek880
    These why-I switched-to-iPhone-from-Android articles are becoming more and more disingenuous with each write-up. If you have been using the Chrome browser on ANY computer or phone, you've had the ability to hand off browsing sessions for quite some time, with almost any phone. I have a Samsung S22 Ultra phone and a Samsung Tab S7+ tablet, and I get notifications on my Samsung Tab S7+ whenever I get a new text message, phone call, or email. The ability to link it all is right there on the phone. Samsung has had this implemented for some time as well. I don't know whether this was just click-bait or what, but the author is describing parts of the Samsung environment that has been a standard part of it for some time now. It's not something new to the iPhone or that is only implemented by Apple users. I would rather that iPhone people say they really want an iPhone rather than waste time and space trying to constantly point out to us why an iPhone needs to be what we use. I use an iPhone for work, and to be honest there is very little difference from today's iPhone compared with an old iPhone 4. It's time to stop pretending that iPhones are innovative. They aren't. Nothing new has happened on that front in years outside of a new camera. There is very little if anything that my iPhone can do that my Samsung phone and tablet doesn't do as well or better. There is no "different level". There's been almost no innovation in years on the iPhone level, yet Samsung has phones with an S-Pen, that fold, and that flip. If I'm spending over $1000, I want to at least see something new instead of forcing myself to explain why my iPhone is "better".
    Reply
  • jpgaubier
    derek880 said:
    These why-I switched-to-iPhone-from-Android articles are becoming more and more disingenuous with each write-up. If you have been using the Chrome browser on ANY computer or phone, you've had the ability to hand off browsing sessions for quite some time, with almost any phone. I have a Samsung S22 Ultra phone and a Samsung Tab S7+ tablet, and I get notifications on my Samsung Tab S7+ whenever I get a new text message, phone call, or email. The ability to link it all is right there on the phone. Samsung has had this implemented for some time as well. I don't know whether this was just click-bait or what, but the author is describing parts of the Samsung environment that has been a standard part of it for some time now. It's not something new to the iPhone or that is only implemented by Apple users. I would rather that iPhone people say they really want an iPhone rather than waste time and space trying to constantly point out to us why an iPhone needs to be what we use. I use an iPhone for work, and to be honest there is very little difference from today's iPhone compared with an old iPhone 4. It's time to stop pretending that iPhones are innovative. They aren't. Nothing new has happened on that front in years outside of a new camera. There is very little if anything that my iPhone can do that my Samsung phone and tablet doesn't do as well or better. There is no "different level". There's been almost no innovation in years on the iPhone level, yet Samsung has phones with an S-Pen, that fold, and that flip. If I'm spending over $1000, I want to at least see something new instead of forcing myself to explain why my iPhone is "better".
    Agreed. Is Apple offering a bounty for these sorts of junk articles? I wouldn't be surprised. I wonder how much they pay and if it's worth degrading the site brand and author rep for it...
    Reply
  • jpgaubier
    The uncritical take on Apple's "ecosystem" (actually a monoculture) is disappointing. You want your tech choices limited to the whims and offerings of one company? A secretive, strange, closed off company at that? No thanks. Seamless experiences are available across all devices if you know what you're doing. See Windows Phone Link, for example. Open ecosystems are best.
    Reply
  • Bone Datt
    I concur. My Galaxy Note20 Ultra and Dell XPS 13 9300 connects seamlessly every time using link to windows. I send and receive text messages, notifications and I can answer calls on my laptop without needing to reach for my phone. Windows hello also allows me to log in to my laptop either via fingerprint or iris scanning. It's OK if the writer just wanted a different laptop, but to say there aren't seamless options or sustainable laptops other than those in the Apple ecosystem, was a bit disingenuous.
    Reply
  • cva992
    So it's an ecosystem issue? That could have summed up in 1 sentence.
    Reply
  • Abdulla77
    Samsung makes laptops .. it would’ve completed your ecosystem situation. The moment you bought the MacBook, that’s it. All bets are off. Then again, Samsung don’t sell their laptops as globally as their phone handsets.. unlike Apple. Point is, you can make a complete ecosystem with Samsung. Just need to try a bit harder in getting everything.
    Reply
  • cva992
    Abdulla77 said:
    Samsung makes laptops .. it would’ve completed your ecosystem situation. The moment you bought the MacBook, that’s it. All bets are off. Then again, Samsung don’t sell their laptops as globally as their phone handsets.. unlike Apple. Point is, you can make a complete ecosystem with Samsung. Just need to try a bit harder in getting everything.
    The fact is the Samsung is not locking anyone into an ecosystem. I don't see the need for them to try harder.
    Reply
  • Abdulla77
    True, they’re not forcing you into their own ecosystem. But just look at the benefits of having a Samsung smartphone together with Galaxy Book 3 Ultra. It’s everything you could do between a Mac and an iPhone plus way more.. it just makes sense really, without locking you in. You can see the types of benefits for having your Samsung phone with the laptop down the page here: https://www.samsung.com/uk/computers/galaxy-book/galaxy-book3-ultra-16-inch-i9-16gb-1tb-np960xfh-xa2uk/
    Reply