Sometimes I question myself if I should switch back to an Android phone. This time it is because of the Liquid Glass redesign and probably just wanting to try something new, shiny and different.
Current iPhone lineup
iPhone 17
The standard iPhone is the best deal of an iPhone we have seen in a long time. It has everything the normal consumer needs (apart from maybe the ultrawide camera in specific scenarios). The design is simple but I really don’t like the pill camera array on the back.
iPhone Air
In my opinion it just looks like jewelry. Yes it is really high quality and the design is beautiful. (apart from the plateau in the top part) Also I want more battery so that I can 100% use it as a two day phone and not a thinner phone. And the display size is also too big. 6 inch would be perfect 6.3 inch is acceptable but everything above is a handful and a pain to use one handed.
iPhone Pro (MAX)
This year is the first year where the Pro version does not get the elegant style, but more of a rugged/utilitarian style. I don’t hate it but I also don’t love it. The Orange is cursed though. It’s the phone for everyone who wants to game a lot (vapor chamber cooling) and who want’s to shoot a lot of images/videos in the highest possible quality.
iPhone 16e
I really like the minimalistic design, especially the back side with just one camera. There are just two features missing to make it a viable choice for me. Firstly a ProMotion display and secondly the Dynamic Island.
Phones of interest
Vivo X300 Pro
I have tried this phone in the store before and it feels really nice, especially the camera. Compared to my current iPhone the camera zoom is incredible. Sadly the global variant of the phone has “just” around 5000mAh of battery instead of the 7000mAh +.
OnePlus 15
This phone has so much power, a great battery, smooth animations but a worse camera than the predecessor. Questionable choices were made but because of OxygenOS and the battery performance it would still be a good choice.
Oppo Find X9 Pro
This phone seems like a mix between the aforementioned two phones. Great camera and great battery. ColorOS is also very close to OxygenOS, just with a bit more customization. So overall this phone would be the go-to choice for most people. Sadly I think the design with this phone and also the design of the OnePlus 15 is quite weak.
Google Pixel 10 Pro
Why the 10 Pro - not gonna lie, just because of the Moonstone color. Also the GrapheneOS should soon be officially supported as well meaning I could switch to that if I wanted to. Probably smarter to wait for the Pixel 10 A when considering the price.
What keeps me on the iPhone?
Apps
There are some specific apps that are only available on iOS and not on Android. Those are not Apple first party apps but apps by indie developers or small studios developing only for iOS and maybe extending to Android in the future if they have success on the iPhone.
Travel
This is a small edge case but if you want to travel to Japan and use your phone for the SUICA prepaid cards, it is only possible with iPhones since they have the ability to support the FeliCa NFC standard globally.