Whether you use an Android or an iPhone device, chances are you’ve experienced the frustration of trying to text from an Android to an iOS system. When you text an iPhone while using an Android system, text messages will appear green and group chats can be difficult to formulate. You also lose several key Android features when texting an iOS system, including lower-quality video and photo sharing.
If you live outside of the United States, you most likely use an Android system. However, many Americans choose to use the iPhone with the iOS operating system. With Android and iOS being two of the largest and most popular operating systems, it’s hard to understand why they’re so incompatible. This incompatibility has led to frustrations with the public, outlined in this Secure Data Recovery survey. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between Android and iOS systems, common issues with texting between these operating systems, and why Apple and Android remain incompatible.
Differences between Android and iOS systems
While both Android and iOS systems provide their respective users with the ability to text, these systems each have distinct differences. These differences customize your individual experience, but often play a role when it comes to compatibility between operating systems.
One major difference is in the way each company designed the software to be used. Android was developed by Google and is designed for any kind of mobile phone or touchscreen device. Whether you use the Samsung Galaxy S or the OnePlus Nord, you’re using the Android system. Since it’s also a completely free technology, Android is the most used operating system for cell phones. Compare this to Apple, which developed the iOS system specifically for Apple’s mobile phone, the iPhone. This means that the software cannot be used by other mobile phone manufacturers, like Samsung.
Choosing between an Android or iOS system means you’ll also choose between the Google Play Store or Apple Store. The Google Play Store gives Android users access to millions of apps that can be downloaded to their smartphones. This platform is open, meaning that some apps could possess malware or have a lower quality compared to some of the larger app developers. Using an Apple operating system means you’ll have access to the Apple Store. Apple has very strict rules when it comes to allowing developers to post their apps on the Apple Store, making sure that all apps can be downloaded are high quality and secure.
Both Android and iOS differ when it comes to overall operating system security. Since Android is an open-source system, it tends to be more susceptible to hackers and other types of malware. However, Google has worked in recent years to develop tools like Google Play Protect and tighter security updates. Apple has a closed system, meaning that you’re safer from potential data breaches and hackers. Like Google, they frequently publish updates to continue to enhance security. Apple also encrypts text messages from end to end, providing you with greater privacy while texting.
Issues with Texting from Android to iOS systems
| Difference | % Frustrated |
|---|---|
| Poor or low quality of videos/photos | 58.95% |
| Text messages sent for quick reactions (e.g., "Loved an image" as text) | 50.25% |
| Group text messages delivered individually, not in the group chat | 48.01% |
| Receiving a "Replied to:" text instead of threaded under the original message | 46.32% |
| Text message deliverability issues | 45.87% |
| Difference in emojis | 39.31% |
| Green vs. blue text bubbles | 38.62% |
| Lack of read receipts | 34.79% |
| Lack of typing indicators | 32.55% |
| Lack of live location tracking | 29.37% |
Both Apple and iOS have their individual advantages, but those features that attract users in the first place can be significantly impacted when texting from one system to another. This incompatibility often leaves users of both systems frustrated as popular aspects of Apple and iOS stop working.
One significant issue that you may run into when texting from an Android to an iOS system is that the video and photo sharing quality is often lower. Users complain of blurry videos and photos not downloading to the device properly. The number of photos or videos you can share at one time also decreases, meaning you’ll have to try multiple times to send more than 10 photos.
Texting between systems can also cause issues with the creation of group chats. When you add someone with an Android to an Apple-only group chat, some popular Apple features are lost. This means you can no longer name the group chat, some users may get kicked out of the group chat randomly, and the video or photo sharing quality is even worse.
Individual texting with only one number is also impacted when an Android user tries to communicate with an iPhone user. iPhone users, who usually see blue text messages, will now receive green ones. Popular features from Apple will also stop working, such as “liking” a message or using read receipts, which allows you to see when someone has viewed your text message.
Why Apple and Android are Incompatible
The incompatibility between Apple and Android systems has long been a source of annoyance for both sets of users. Android users don’t encounter issues when communicating with someone who also has an Android, just like iOS users don’t have problems when texting devices that are within the Apple ecosystem. If you can easily text someone within the same system, then you should also be able to communicate with those outside of the Apple or Android operating system. Or so you would think.
The issue of incompatibility lies within Apple’s software. When an iPhone receives a text message, the iOS system will automatically convert that message into either an SMS or MMS message. However, when an iPhone texts another iPhone, those messages are created with RCS, or Rich Communication Services. With RCS, you can enjoy features like read receipts and high-quality image sharing.
Android has already updated its technology to include RCS, so you’d think texting between the systems would be easy. However, since iOS systems still use the outdated SMS and MMS messages for iPhone-to-non-iPhone communication, issues will instantly arise.
If Apple would just update its messaging technology, then these communication issues would be solved. However, Apple continues to refuse to update its software, despite public pushback from Android on social media. The U.S. Department of Justice has even gone so far as to sue Apple, claiming that its messaging technology gives it too much power over the smartphone market and violates antitrust laws.
For now, the ball is in Apple’s court. If Apple decides to update its messaging system, then most of these issues will go away. Until then, if you’re texting between an Android and an iOS system, you’ll just have to fight through those problems.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the choice to use either the Android or iOS systems is a personal one. You have to prioritize features like security or app download access when making the choice of which operating system to use. Unfortunately, some of these features are lost when texting between the Android and iOS systems. Hopefully, with some encouragement from the public and even the U.S. government, Apple will finally update its software and allow users from both platforms to text in peace.
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