Welp, I bought an iPhone again

TL;DR

A Verge writer tested multiple Android phones after tiring of his iPhone 16 but ended up buying an iPhone 17.
Android OS beats iOS in notifications, customization, Gemini assistant, and spam filtering, with Pixel 10 Pro as standout hardware.
Superior iOS App Store apps, many unavailable or weaker on Android, outweighed Android's OS advantages for daily use.

The story at a glance

David Pierce, a former phone reviewer now mostly on iPhone, spent months testing Android devices like the Motorola Razr Ultra, Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Unihertz Titan 2, Fairphone 6, and Pixel 10 Pro to find a replacement for his iPhone 16. He preferred Android's operating system features but found the Google Play Store lacking compared to Apple's App Store. The piece came out as he wrapped up winter testing and bought a green iPhone 17, highlighting phones as primarily app-driven machines.[[1]](https://www.theverge.com/tech/899602/best-phone-android-ios-app-store)[[2]](https://www.theverge.com/tech/899602/best-phone-android-ios-app-store?view_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpZCI6IkpKUk05aEQ3ZHYiLCJwIjoiL3RlY2gvODk5NjAyL2Jlc3QtcGhvbmUtYW5kcm9pZC1pb3MtYXBwLXN0b3JlIiwiZXhwIjoxNzc2MDMzMDU5LCJpYXQiOjE3NzU2MDEwNTl9.c8VIrq4Kl5DbAbr8ujYsehwxWVKN7dvXMV7yYkqADu0)

Key points

Motorola Razr Ultra: Great flip phone hardware and outer screen for quick queries, but buggy software with poor app adaptation and constant permission prompts.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Useful big inner screen for video, but too bulky, hard to open, with battery/camera trade-offs at $2,000 price.
Unihertz Titan 2: Physical keyboard handy for symbols but slow typing and enormous size; smaller Elite version coming later.
Fairphone 6: Standout "Moments" slider locks phone to minimal apps like Phone, Messages, Maps for distraction-free use, but poor US Verizon support.
Google Pixel 10 Pro: Best Android phone tested, with excellent camera, dual biometrics, clean software; author calls it favorite ever.
Android OS edges iOS: better Gemini vs Siri, notification handling, fewer spam calls, homescreen/app tray customization, keyboard autocorrect.
iOS App Store dominates: daily apps like Puzzmo, NotePlan, Mimestream, Unread missing or web-only on Android; cross-platform ones better on iOS; niche indies like Acme Weather, Current, Quiche iOS-exclusive; Android wins on Beeper, Tasker automation.[[1]](https://www.theverge.com/tech/899602/best-phone-android-ios-app-store)

Details and context

Pierce notes switching phones takes a week due to eSIM transfers (easy Android-to-Android, hellish iPhone-to-Android via Verizon), app reinstalls, and personalization quirks across makers.

He praises Fairphone's Moments as ideal "two phones in one" but rules it out for US carriers; Pixel lacks full Gemini automation still.

App gap stems from Android's fragmented ecosystem, developers favoring Apple gear, and iPhone users spending more; Android allows deeper integrations iOS blocks.

Key quotes

"Android is a better operating system than iOS."[[1]](https://www.theverge.com/tech/899602/best-phone-android-ios-app-store)

"The App Store absolutely wipes the floor with the Play Store."[[1]](https://www.theverge.com/tech/899602/best-phone-android-ios-app-store)

Why it matters

Apps define phone value more than hardware or OS polish, locking users into ecosystems despite better alternatives elsewhere.

iPhone loyalists stay put due to app quality; Android seekers face daily frustrations unless they need specific freedoms like Tasker.

Watch if Play Store attracts more indies or iOS opens up, though author's switch suggests apps rule for now.