Recently, I decided that I wasn’t particularly interested in purchasing another Apple or Samsung phone, and I plan to switch to a handset from a different manufacturer. However, I’ve discovered that making such a transition comes with its own set of challenges—some of which may surprise you.
I’ve had an iPhone for as long as they have been around; in fact, I currently use an iPhone 15 Pro Max. I’ve also been closely connected with Samsung products, most recently through testing the Galaxy S25. In other words, I’m quite familiar with phones from both Apple and Samsung.
Other brands, however, remain somewhat of a mystery to me. While switching to an unfamiliar device shouldn’t be too difficult, I found myself wondering what obstacles I might encounter. After researching the transition, I’ve identified three major factors to consider when moving away from the two biggest names in smartphones.
The first thing to keep in mind is that leaving Apple or Samsung means losing access to each company’s respective ecosystems—the apps, accessories, and other connected devices.
The extent of the inconvenience largely depends on how invested you are in each company’s other products. If you own some of the best smartwatches or MacBooks, you’ll likely have to make some sacrifices.
This is especially significant with the iPhone. For instance, if you have an Apple Watch and decide to buy an Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, you’ll find that your smartwatch becomes much less functional, as it can only pair with Apple devices.
It’s not just device pairing that becomes problematic. Exiting the Apple or Samsung ecosystems can also impact your productivity.
For example, if you trade in your Samsung phone but keep your Galaxy Tab 10 Pro, you won’t be able to use app continuity between your tablet and your new phone. In other words, you won’t be able to open the same app you were using on the other device to quickly pick up where you left off.
Generally speaking, when you purchase an iPhone or one of Samsung’s flagship phones, you are getting the best silicon available. For the iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro, this includes the A18 Pro chipset (while the other iPhone 16 models feature their own version of the A18). All Galaxy S25 phones come equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip that is optimized for Samsung devices.
In contrast, consider the chipsets powering some of the other top smartphone contenders. While the Google Pixel series with its Tensor chip has many appealing features, it does not match the silicon performance of Apple’s and Samsung’s offerings.
As illustrated in the list, three different phones utilize the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, but the Galaxy S25 Ultra delivers the best average performance. This is due to the Samsung version of the Elite chip offering a peak CPU speed of 4.47 GHz, compared to the base version’s 4.32 GHz.
This is not a new development, as the Samsung Galaxy S24 series featured the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, which provided a 100 MHz increase in CPU and GPU clock speeds, leading to enhanced performance.
On the Apple side, it’s important to note that the A-series chip boasts some of the strongest single-core performance in any smartphone on the market. This means that the iPhone can quickly execute certain tasks that are not multi-threaded, such as many games and editing applications, making it one of the best devices for such content.
While this may be a minor concern for many users who won’t notice the split-second differences in performance, it is worth considering if you plan on running demanding apps and games, especially when evaluating phones beyond those offered by Apple and Samsung.
One of the biggest challenges when transitioning away from Apple or Samsung is the difficulty in obtaining support for your devices. This includes everything from software updates and security to device repairs.
When you own a Galaxy or an iPhone, getting necessary repairs is relatively straightforward. There are numerous authorized repair centers that provide official parts, in addition to stores that offer repair services. Furthermore, some repairs can even be done by yourself with relative ease.
In contrast, if you have a device like the OnePlus 13, you will likely need to send it back to OnePlus or rely on a third-party repair service. While third-party repairs can be a viable option, it’s important to note that if you prefer official support, this limitation may be a concern.
Another significant factor to consider with Apple devices is their security. Apple phones are among the most secure on the market, although Motorola is a strong competitor in this area. This high level of security is partly due to Apple’s practice of keeping most of its software proprietary. Therefore, when switching to an Android device, you should be vigilant about the potential for increased security threats.
Finally, both Apple and Samsung consistently provide updates for their devices compared to other brands. While this may be less relevant at the moment due to issues surrounding the release of One UI 7 and the gradual rollout of features for iOS 18, both Apple and Samsung manage to avoid the bloatware commonly found on devices like the Redmagic 9s Pro or OnePlus 12.
Additionally, Apple and Samsung typically offer longer software support than other manufacturers. For example, Apple provides approximately five years of support, sometimes longer, while Samsung has extended its support to seven years for flagship models and six years for its mid-range Galaxy A series. Google also offers seven years of support, but it is an exception among phone manufacturers. Switching from Samsung or Apple? These 3 Points Are Game-Changers