Top Major Differences Between iOS and Android App

Digital applications have revolutionized our lives since the past decade by constantly evolving to meet our changing needs and simplify the chores of our careers and personal lives. Technological advancements have led to the development of a wide range of applications across different fields and sectors that have improved the reach and accessibility of people to digital and direct services. The world of applications, in the current global scenario, is split into two major types based on the key operating system they are designed to work with - iOS and Android phones. iOS applications are developed for Apple company devices such as iPhones, Apple laptops, iPads etc. while android applications are designed to work with devices based on android operating systems. Various software companies offer iOS application development services and Android application development services to companies and enterprises looking forward to digitizing their services and products. There are differences in the design and development of these two types of applications making them unique.

Development Language

Ease of development and the presence of adequate development tools to aid the process of application development are key factors that can help differentiate between iOS and Android applications. iPhone app development is usually done using Swift, the proprietary language for the application development while android applications are developed in various languages like Java, Kotlin etc. Swift is easier to work with for application development when compared to Java and the arrival of Kotlin as a replacement for Java in android programming is expected to bring a turnaround as it has been reported to be more intuitive and easier to master than Java.

Application Development Environment

Application development environments can be platforms that compile various computing resources required for interface or application development through the various stages involved in the process of development such as testing, deployment, maintenance, integration etc. Android applications are designed using the Android Studio introduced by Google while iOS application development is on Xcode. Both developing platforms have their pros and cons and developer preferences vary based on the nature of applications they develop. Android studio is equipped with an advanced code editor and designer for layouts while X code is easier to set up with a good source editor.

Design Principles for Applications

iOS application development and Android UI/UX design can be characteristically differentiated based on the basic principles involved in their development. Both Android and iOS have developed a clear framework of guidelines to standardize application development for both operating systems. The differences between applications for these operating systems can be delineated in features like navigation, menu bars, screen resolution of the applications etc. that influence user familiarity and comfort. These variations in design principles often motivate users to keep using the applications on the same operating systems as they grow comfortable and accustomed to working with them.

This results in an inherent addition in complexity in the development of android applications as they have to cater to a wider range of screen resolutions, devices making application development and testing before deployment quite cumbersome. iOS application development services develop the applications only for apple products which narrows down the number and nature of devices they have to optimize the applications for, reducing the amount of time and resources expended by developers.

Monetary Differences

Apple products have attracted a loyal customer base with their interesting array of features, customization and the brand value attached to these products. Apple users are generally found to be economically superior to android users and have been reported to generate more revenue than android users, despite having a comparatively lesser number of users. The App Store for iOS applications currently generate more revenue when compared to Android’s play store with Android catching up fast behind it as more and more people are buying android devices and utilizing its applications.

The cost of development of the applications depends more on its complexity and the amount of time required to build it rather than the design platform. iOS and android application development services charge their customers based on various factors that determine the number of resources and time required to build the application.

Conclusion

Advancements in technology and software systems have led to the development of cross-platform functional applications that can work in both iOS and Android systems. They reduce the amount of time and costs incurred in separate development of the applications but also compromise on the flexibility and features when compared to native applications. A proper understanding of both platforms of application development is essential before venturing into an application development or procuring services for the same.