So what does it mean when we say Android and Apple iOS? It sounds a bit confusing, but we need to start at the role that these operating systems play in our day to day lives.
Android is an open-source operating system that runs on smartphones such as Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, Honor, Xiaomi to name a few. These devices are available from entry-level to professional-level smartphones giving options that are budget friendly such as the Samsung A06 to a more expensive Samsung S26. Each level of the smartphone comes with more features and technology than the one before.
The important thing to remember when it comes to using a smartphone running an Android operation system is that Android is a Google operating system and therefore everything from Google is by design and default embedded into these phones. For instance, if you are wanting to get an app onto your smartphone such as WhatsApp, you will need to go to the Google Play Store on your device and download the app from there. The Google Suite which includes Google Maps, Google Meet, Gmail, Chrome etc are the default applications and you will need to sign in with a Google account when starting to use an Android based smartphone.
Apple iOS as the name suggests, is an Apple product with an Apple operating system and an Apple ecosystem. This means that you can have multiple Apple devices such as the iPhone, iPad and any of the computers from MacBook to Mac mini and iMac, these all “talk” to each other as they are the same “language”.
As an example of this, one could have taken a photo or video on an iPhone and as soon as you are at home and on the same network as your MacBook (Laptop), the image and video is automatically transferred to the laptop where you can view it on a bigger screen etc. One can also use Airdrop exclusive to iPhones to transfer images, documents etc. from one Apple device to another.
This Apple ecosystem does however come with a price tag where Apple iPhones start at around R12 000 for a new phone. Apple devices by design have a more premium feel with “closed” Apple system and added security features with Apple iOS support ranging over a 5 to 7 year span.
Android smartphones on the other hand have an “open” Android system allowing one to customise the phone and change icons, default apps, keyboards etc and because the Android operating system runs on various phone manufacturers, the choices in which phone to use is endless.
Over the last year from June 2025 to June 2026, Android leads the mobile phone operating system with 73.36% share to the 23.62% of Apple in South Africa. However, in the USA, Apple has the larger share with 58.35% of the market to Android’s 41.62%. Africa as a continent is overwhelmingly dominated by Android with an 84.32% over Apple’s 15.63%
The pricing of Android phones in South Africa is generally broken down into three tiers. Budget phones ranging from R599 to R3 500. Mid-Range phones costing from R3 500 to R12 000. Premium phones starting at R15 000 to R45 000
For Apple phones there is no budget tier unless it is pre-owned. Pre-owned iPhones cost from R3 500 to R10 000. Mid-range phones cost R12 000 to R20 000. Premium phones are costing from R25 000 to R50 000.
Things to consider. Apple iPhones have a better resale value through platforms like Digicape and iStore while Android have a wider budget-tier and mid-range selection. Various Android phones have duel-SIM options allowing switching between networks and using different data bundles. iPhone repairs have standardised pricing through premium resellers where Android repairs differ drastically depending on the manufacturer and availability of spares.
Both Apple and Android phones have their advantages and disadvantages and ultimately, as the user of these devices, the choice lies in personal preference.