Anyone else thinking of switching back to apple?

[DarthAmberly]

Been with Samsung (and briefly google) since 2015 and the data privacy is becoming abysmal and now Apple is rating higher because they are more transparent and locked down. 

I'm currently only staying with Samsung for themes because I value aesthetic customization, but I'm sick of constantly being preyed on by companies who used to promise protection and system customization, then to only take it away. We can't even turn down a system update without a million (purposely annoying) pop-ups, with no way to disable it.

We now have Meta apps built into our phones that cannot be uninstalled. And Samsung now makes it impossible to download apps and systems not pre-approved by them and they pretend it's for malware safety. 

Androids were for people who cared about this stuff and now they are like the rest of them. 

Side question: anyone having luck with OnePlus? Or are they also making false promises of user control to then take it away? 

[CEParsons]

Nope. I knew when I bought the device that privacy is a trade-off for function.

Google can do Googly things because they harvest an incredible amount of data. This philosophical difference is one of the reasons that Apple is so absurdly far behind in the AI race.

[Mujibar]

Privacy with smartphones is an illusion. The fact that you're using a major mobile operating system, whether iOS or Android, guarantees that your privacy will be limited, at best. Take a look at the privacy policy, TOS, and EULA that everyone agrees to in order to use these devices. OnePlus and other OEMs are no different. The base Android OS is the same, regardless of which UI is layered on top of it.

I don't have a single Meta app on my factory unlocked phone. If there were any, they were uninstalled on day 1. If you have apps that you can't uninstall or disable, then you likely have a phone that's tied to a carrier. Carrier-installed apps are part of the hidden cost of subsidized phones.

[Pianodude58]

Never had Apple, never want Apple, never going to switch to Apple.

[CEParsons]

I lived in the walled garden for a decade. Big into the jailbreak scene, etc. There are certain areas where the iPhone is just more refined, and I understand why people love them.

The biggest difference, honestly, is that the iPhone is a fine communication device, but a Samsung phone is a computer in your pocket.

Especially with features like DeX, a Samsung flagship truly has the capacity to be a sole device for most users.

The Apple ecosystem is lauded because "my phone, tablet, and computer work seamlessly together." You know what's even better? How about a Z fold, where your phone, tablet, and computer couldn't possibly be more integrated because they are literally the same device.

[TipsyTrex]

It almost seems like you think this is new. This is how its always been. Android was never the privacy focused option.

[maird]

Not going to switch from my Samsung phones and tablets for now, I have a recent iPad that I bought for comparison and almost never use it because I don't like it.

With RF devices like phones why speak only about privacy on the platform. In the judgement made today against Google the complainants class members all say they turned off the tracking information being gathered and data was still being gathered. Have you considered if the telco has data on the number of phones linked to any cell tower, or the set of towers accessed perhaps even incorporating an ID for each individual phone based on the MEI. That is possible with any phone brand. On a positive point, non-user specific data from Google maps use has been used by Google to show cities how tuning the stop light timing for lights on consecutive intersections can be used to minimize vehicle stops. Seems an awfully positive monitoring of my maps usage to me. Google and Samsung without doubt want to make the "most from every customer" but Apple is no different in that respect, none of them are remotely close to utopian heroes that should be revered for their approach and since I don't like the iOS product I have I'm staying with Android and Samsung in particular for now.

[meself]

Not changing

[Robin621k]

If I thought it was nefarious I would get a flip phone. They want to sell you stuff, so what.