Just bought an iphone 12 a few years ago. Won't give that up. Probably will upgrade to a newer android brand next time, but not because of the privacy issues.
I honestly hate Apple's locked down ecosystem and have bought Android consistently for the last 7+ years. I've considered getting an iPhone as my next phone because of privacy concerns. I'm leaning more towards not carrying a phone or carrying one with a removed sim though as the cell providers still sell my location data.
I just got an iPhone 12 a couple months ago because “Hey it’s definitely more private than google”, better control of app permissions, and nice hardware.
Seems unclear what the alternative is now. The Linux phones I’ve looked at have a lot of catching up to do.
IMO, the times I've tried Android it always ended up being a mistake to use something other than the Nexus and now Pixel. Android and privacy is whole other situation though.
I really struggled with my most recent phone purchasing decision but ended up sticking with iOS because, despite how much I love the customizability of Android, I feel like the stance Apple has taken on privacy over the last few years is something I want to support.
I understand that for them it may just be a business decision and differentiator, but it is one that is important enough to me to keep me on their platform.
That's it. I'm switching to iOS. Android is like child's play when it comes to privacy compared to the features introduced just in this version of iOS. I'm sure I'll hate the lack of customizability but at least the privacy features are solid.
Nope. I was android user for 13 years. Just bored of switching between multiple android phones and bought iPhone. Not that I particularly like it, but I appreciate some effort on Apple’s part for privacy and security.
The folks who choose iPhone in part because of a perception of relative privacy and respect for the user (like myself) will think twice.
My two concerns are that Android as an ecosystem is almost certainly still worse, and that the vast majority of users will not care.
I’m tempted to jailbreak my devices going forward, although I guess the folks at Apple would say that makes me a pedophile.
Edit: seeking recommendations for Android phones with strong performance and reasonable privacy protections. Ideally one that can be used without a Google account.
I've been an Android user since my first smartphone, but Apple's privacy and human-hand-sized phones really had me considering an iPhone for my next purchase. I ended up with a Pixel anyway, since I can't use iTunes and I like having a filesystem and using Firefox, but it was a near thing.
Used Android since like the original HTC phone in my early teens, owned probably 6-7 android phones in my life (majority Google since the good old Nexus days). My first iPhone was the 12 and as of now, I think my kids first phone will be an iPhone. The walled garden is annoying and monopolistic but an iPhone just works. 2 years later, my iPhone is still going strong and I don’t even want to change my phone for the near future. They’re just built better and supported better. My family relentlessly complain about the Pixel 6 heat issues and plans on “upgrading” a year later.
I switched to iPhone recently. I like it. My phone will get security updates for more than the very few years my pixel got. Everything is very well integrated in the software, and very easy to use. I don’t need 5 chat apps. There are more cool cases. The camera is better. It’s easier to share things, like location and photos and etc, with my wife and family. They don’t seem to change the ui too much since it’s basically the same as when I had a work iPhone years ago. I trust Apple more than Google and can easily turn off any cloud stuff without issue. I’m pretty happy.
I've used Android for the past decade, but I'm very strongly considering switching to iPhone because of Apple's pro-privacy moves in iOS over the past year (and also because they are the only manufacturer to make a phone that fits the human hand).
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