There are plenty of Android flavours that don't have Google apps, like https://lineage.microg.org/
In my limited experience so far, LineageOS works much better than it used to on my HTC Desire.
Battery life has been better than any of my iPhones (3G, 4S, 5S, 7 and XS) ever had.
That said, if I had to chose between a Google Android phone and an Apple phone, I'd still pick the Apple one. Luckily there are more choices these days.
That said, if I had to chose between a Google Android phone and an Apple phone, I'd still pick the Apple one. Luckily there are more choices these days.