Apple and Android are two of the most popular platforms for developing native apps. However, the application development scenario is not the same for both platforms. In this article, we will briefly compare the development process of both platforms. We will also see which one provides a better opportunity for app developers.
Android Mobile App Development
Pros of Android app development:
- Flexibility: The availability of versatile tools makes the development process flexible, especially for app developers who are not well-versed with Java. The platform also allows you to install apps on the phone through various sources other than Google Play Store.
- Ease of use: You can develop several different types of apps such as games, entertainment, and education, etc., using Android SDK without having prior knowledge about the Java programming language.
- Open source: Android has a large community of developers with a regular update to source codes, which in turn contributes towards the development of the platform.
- Design: Customizing the theme and look & feel is a key feature of the Android app development process.
Cons of Android app development:
- Lacks a secure platform: Due to its open-source nature, Google’s mobile operating system has often been criticized for being insecure as compared to Apple iOS. For example, the recent spate of security threats involving malware affects more than 95 percent of devices with Android OS. The malware issues are mainly due to third-party sources which provide apps that are not verified by Google Play Store.
- App market share: A majority of smartphone users (58%) worldwide own an Apple device as compared to only 18% having an Android device; hence, it becomes cumbersome for developers who want to target a wide customer base using their apps.
- Performance issues: Android is known to show performance lags when large memory files or data files are involved in an app. This becomes a problem while trying to create high-performance apps like video games and image processing ones that require more memory space and power capabilities.
- More maintenance: Last but not least, Android apps require more time and effort to be maintained as compared to Apple iOS apps. That’s because Google has the same OS for all devices, whereas Apple has its own unique framework for every device, which minimizes the efforts needed for app developers.
Apple Mobile App Development
Pros of Apple app development:
- Security: The closed source nature of Apple’s mobile operating system allows the company to control the development process for apps, which in turn helps minimize security breaches. Also, all apps are checked thoroughly before being included in the App Store, thereby providing a secure platform for users.
- Fast performance: One can create high-performing iOS applications using Xcode due to its streamlined design and better processing capabilities.
- Pre-defined templates: Apple has already defined templates for several types of applications ranging from utilities to games via Swift language; hence, developers can easily customize them to meet their specific requirements by modifying a few codes only.
Cons of Apple App Development:
- App market share: The majority of smartphone users (58%) worldwide own an Android device as compared to only 18% having an Apple device; hence, it becomes cumbersome for developers who want to target a wide customer base using their apps.
- High cost: One has to pay $99/year to use developer tools and $25/year to maintain membership along with several other charges involved in the development process such as software licensing etc., which makes Apple development more pricey than Android development.
- Low memory space: Apps designed for iOS give lower priority to memory management practices due to its closed source nature (that is not possible on open-source mobile operating systems where all things are visible) which results in lags and slow performance issues when larger files and data are involved.