I agree that the hardware omissions are blatant copy from Apple as the way to have more markup and revenue from accessories, software services but I like to differ on the OS front.
Android's power user ecosystem couldn't be matched in iOS. Even without root, Tasker can automate every single aspect of the OS - Want to send and receive WhatsApp messages over email?[1], Want better accessibility e.g. Voice summary of news?[2], Want a butt triggered pomodoro timer?[3]. Termux runs a Linux container and it can run complete Linux distribution inside it with PRoot[4]. Best of all, Tasker & Termux can communicate with each other for endless possibilities.
Of course Google can mess it up with their policy/API changes for Playstore, but that's where 3rd party app stores like f-droid comes in and can ensure open-source apps like Termux can be published without hurdles. Not to mention the privacy focused apps on f-droid.
And if one doesn't want anything to do with Google, LineageOS has proven itself to be a viable replacement for stock android.
[1] https://abishekmuthian.com/send-and-receive-whatsapp-message...
[2] https://abishekmuthian.com/voice-summary-of-news/
[3] https://abishekmuthian.com/butt-pomodoro-a-butt-triggered-po...
[4] https://wiki.termux.com/wiki/PRoot
Android's power user ecosystem couldn't be matched in iOS. Even without root, Tasker can automate every single aspect of the OS - Want to send and receive WhatsApp messages over email?[1], Want better accessibility e.g. Voice summary of news?[2], Want a butt triggered pomodoro timer?[3]. Termux runs a Linux container and it can run complete Linux distribution inside it with PRoot[4]. Best of all, Tasker & Termux can communicate with each other for endless possibilities.
Of course Google can mess it up with their policy/API changes for Playstore, but that's where 3rd party app stores like f-droid comes in and can ensure open-source apps like Termux can be published without hurdles. Not to mention the privacy focused apps on f-droid.
And if one doesn't want anything to do with Google, LineageOS has proven itself to be a viable replacement for stock android.
[1] https://abishekmuthian.com/send-and-receive-whatsapp-message...
[2] https://abishekmuthian.com/voice-summary-of-news/
[3] https://abishekmuthian.com/butt-pomodoro-a-butt-triggered-po...
[4] https://wiki.termux.com/wiki/PRoot