Love hard-hitting gritty street fighting? Looking to buy a new smart phone? It's your lucky day, friend, as we have just the video for you. We pitch iOS and Android into no-holds-barred pummeling action on the filthy streets of South London.
Luke Westaway is the referee as Apple's iPhone and Android phones go toe to toe, explaining the differences and relative appeal of the different software. Where the iPhone's iOS is simple, easy to get to grips with and chock-full of high quality apps, Android is a little more geeky, customisable and flexible.
Incidentally, the world of smart phone OSes is so fast moving that since we filmed this piece, the situation has changed slightly. Flash will no longer be supported for mobile browsers, its maker Adobe has announced, which means mobile sites will eventually move to HTML5. Plenty of sites still use Flash today, however, so if you're used to them you still need an Android phone.
More importantly, Google has also launched Ice Cream Sandwich on its flagship phone, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. We absolutely loved it, as it tweaks all sorts of little things to make it better looking and easy to use. It doesn't change the core flexibility of Android, and we think Apple's restrictiveness does make it easier to understand for beginners, so while it's closer than ever, we think our conclusions in the video still stand.
Most Android manufacturers are committed to updating their high-end phones to Android 4.0 at some point in 2012. Keep an eye on CNET UK for all the very latest news on when your phone will be updated.
Which brawler are you backing? Don't flinch, take a look at the video and tell us what you think in the comments section below or over on our Facebook page. And then read how one of our writers is forsaking both of these smart-phone heavyweights for a completely different fighter altogether.
Android App 
RSS Feeds 
iPhone App 
Newsletters 
Comments 8
Add your comment
anonymous 7 December, 2011 13:17
I think ICS makes Android a lot easier to use. Obviously iOS will always be simpler, but is that really a good thing? At what point does being simple and easy to use start to become a negative trait? The UI is so basic and limited on IOS that when I used it after using my heavily modded and personalised Galaxy S2 for months, I felt like I had just gone from driving a really nice, tweaked manual car to a tricycle. Everyone can use a tricycle, but cars are vastly superior for just about everything once you spend a little time learning how to use it.
The end user experience of android varies massively on what phone you buy, too. If you buy a budget, low tier smartphone and expect it to run as smoothly as iOS then you are as stupid as someone who buys a £100 PC and expects to be able to run the latest games on it. On phones like the Galaxy S II and the Galaxy Nexus, the UI is as responsive as iOS.
Great things about Android that you missed out:
- Can install apps that aren't from the market
- Multiple app stores, no monopoly
This does remind me of the old linux vs windows arguments, though. Except Android requires nowhere near the same level of knowledge and linux distros to use. I guess Android is where windows and linux have met and have had some sort of bizarre offspring?
anonymous 7 December, 2011 15:38
I'm upgrading from a flip-phone to a Smartphone and am switching providers so I'm trying to get a phone for free with a two year contract. Right now I’m looking at Sprint since I get a discount for working for DISH. The two things I really want in my phone are hotspot capability and compatibility with DISH’s TV Everywhere app. The hotspot is more important to me so I can get the internet on my laptop but I think it would be awesome to get the DISH app too. I have never used the DISH app but have used DISH Online and would love to be able to watch shows on demand through my phone. The hotspot is more important because I use my laptop for school and need the internet to submit assignments. Either way it looks like I’m going with Android since they pretty much all have the hotspot and is listed as a compatible OS on the DISH website.
anonymous 7 December, 2011 17:55
iOS isn't more popular anymore. http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-11-15/tech/30400455_1_ios-iphone-smartphone-market
Apple's App Store does have more apps, but it's been around a lot longer.Android Market is still in its infancy compared. Plus most/more apps are free on Android.
Also, Flash is no longer going to be supported anyway. In short this review is uninformative, out of date and its blatantly wrong.
anonymous 8 December, 2011 00:08
WP7>Android>iOS...End of.
anonymous 8 December, 2011 00:36
What a load of bolocks
anonymous 8 December, 2011 20:34
Dumbest review ever. Android ftw. Im loving my galaxy s2, my bro got 1 an hour after I bought mine. My gf is jelous she has a iPhone lol.
anonymous 8 December, 2011 21:41
Can Luke Westaway ever get through a sentence mentioning Android without saying the word 'geeky' ? Come on Luke, Please. Mobile phone OS are ALL geeky.
anonymous 9 December, 2011 16:22
Oh what a surprise result from a CNET review .... yawn