There’s two out there. Android and iOS and you are constantly wondering which platform to use to build your first mobile app.
Which of these platforms makes a good choice to build your first mobile app.
Well, here’s our take on what suits best to build your first mobile app: Android or iOS.
Ever since its release in 2008, Google’s Android OS (previously Android Inc before Google acquired it) has rocketed up the OS ladder to platform supremacy in a world where Apple’s iOS was dictating its terms in a monopoly of sorts. Android caught on quickly with newer advancements and versatile end-user interfaces that attracted the masses. Apple was a brand name that everyone valued.
Add to it the vast multitude of possibilities that iOS offered, a winning formula was produced which has never failed to excite ever since it came into existence. Android has also gained millions of trusted customers over the years and has presented an open challenge to the iOS platform. The battle for supremacy goes on till date with each platform trying to get the better of the other in different sections.
On the grounds of mobile app development, the discussion brings to focus, the question “On which platform should an app be released first?”.
The answer depends on a number of factors.
On each platform, statistics of the following are taken into consideration:
- The total number of users.
- The number of users on each app that are likely to perform in-app purchases (target audience).
- Revenue generated by the app.
- The number of users that respond to firmware/software updates.
- Application build time.
- Brand preference of the masses.
In the number of users department, clearly Android has overtaken the iOS since Android is available on cheaper devices as well. However, the second point decides the usability of the first. If the app is aimed at attracting purchases through it and is offering services that only well off people would spend on, then iOS is the way to go as iOS users are more likely to perform an in-app purchase rather than an Android user.
This conclusion is not concrete as there are Android users who prefer such apps as well. But on a larger scale of users, iOS users offer a larger probability of engagement.
Next in line is the revenue. iOS platform offers greater ROI (Return on Investment) and simply tends to be a greater first-time choice to build upon revenue to take a business further. Also, more iOS users tend to respond to firmware/version updates and hence app maintenance after release is less tedious on iOS.
Android users do update their devices (because of the attractive new features that Android never fails to deliver with each new version, that is more exciting than its predecessor), but in effect app developers on Android are left with the hassle of maintaining older versions to cater to the needs of the greater percentage of users who haven’t updated their device/app.
iOS apps are easy to code and define but Android apps require twice as much time in order to debug and execute its code. However, time lost in the building is gained in-app acceptance as Android apps are published faster. Above all, the brand preference of the masses needs to be considered as well.
Most of the developed countries present a greater opportunity for iOS apps to take root as they have more number of well-off app users who will contribute to the revenue. iOS apps have a pay for use revenue model than the ad-supported model of Android, which further strengthens this statement.
So, to Conclude
Both disciplines are very good first choice app release platforms, with iOS standing a little above Android in certain areas. But the lead could be short-lived with a newer tech coming in every day. Developers are advised to start with iOS if one is looking for a higher user participation in purchases pertaining to the app or to start with Android if the need is to connect with a wider target audience and engage with ad revenue. Either way a cross-platform app is an ultimate way to gain maximum results.
