The Unexpected Benefits of Having Two Phones

Green bubbles. Blue bubbles. Why not both?

As a former diehard Android user, I understand why many people use Apple.  Their products are very customer-centric, but are slow to roll out new features.  Despite green being my favorite color, the blue text message is aesthetically more pleasing in their messaging app than the green one.

However, Android has a lot to offer in its own right.

When I signed up for a new phone plan with my wife, we took advantage of the “buy two, get the third free” offer.  I had been debating whether to get a separate phone line for my business, and thought this would be a perfect opportunity to get an iPhone.

Despite being an avid MacBook Pro user for over a decade, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the iPhone.  I have always enjoyed the built-in stylus of a Samsung Galaxy Note.  However, there was uncertainty in 2021 about whether the Note would continue at the time before it was merged with the S-Series as the Ultra.

I figured the Note’s retirement was an opportunity to explore the iPhone.

Is iPhone Necessarily Better Than Android?

As I became more familiar with the iPhone, Samsung announced the S22 Ultra as the successor to the Note series.  It seemed like the perfect time to ensure I had the best of both worlds for a true comparison.

After three years of playing with the two, I noticed their strengths and weaknesses respectively.

The Android ecosystem is known for introducing features ahead of others.  Localized AI, the Swype keyboard, 108 MP cameras, and 1 TB of storage are among the breakthroughs experienced first on Android phones.

Additionally, Samsung's S-Pen is still a favorite feature of my S22 Ultra. I can use it to pull out my phone, handwrite a note, or sketch a drawing without distractions, and then put it away for later analysis.

In contrast, Apple is known for getting it right. In the past decade, I've seen Apple transition from being a technology pioneer to a perfectionist. They regularly delay implementing many Android features that Apple users crave.

But when they implement them, they feel solid… smooth…, and just right. It's as if they teased us with these features and then surprised us.

Now that I've used both phones for about three years, I feel that it's easy to determine whether one is necessarily better than the other.  Is one better than the other?

.

.

No, not at all. Both are great in their own ways.

Both phones function as top-tier devices and provide access to all the major apps expected of them. They feature great cameras and complementary accessories, such as wireless headphones, watches, and tablets that can be paired with them.  Additionally, all these devices operate within their own ecosystems to communicate with one another.

The only question is: if you had to choose one, which would you pick? Personally, I couldn’t.  I lean towards having both for the different reasons mentioned above, so it really comes down to preference.

The Actual Benefits of Two Phone Ecosystems

It may seem odd to have two phones in separate ecosystems. After all, both Android and iOS offer synergistic benefits when pairing their mobile devices with their own watches, tablets, earbuds, and desktops.

However, each ecosystem is designed with a specific audience in mind. Having both ecosystems expands the possibilities available on both devices.

Here are some benefits I've noticed from enjoying the best of both worlds:

My Complaints Dwindled Significantly

Having options is great. If one phone cannot do something, I pull out the other to see what it can do.

For example, I prefer the iPhone's color composition, but I record videos on Samsung because the audio isn’t skewed. I trust Siri to take notes for me on the fly, but I use my Samsung S-Pen when sketches are more appropriate.

Both phones are excellent in their own ways when their strengths are highlighted. There is much more overlap than I anticipated, which is to be expected given their price tags.

I Never Worry About Battery Life

Having two devices handy means that I do not need to rely solely on one of them. This is great for long days when I might need to get my steps in but also flesh out a project on my mobile device.

I’ve had both devices since early 2022, and their battery lives are rolling strong.  They only need an hour of charging to get back up to full speed.

Since I usually evenly divide what I do between these devices, their use is cut in half.  This prolongs both of them when compared to users with a single phone.

I Could Unplug From Business When Needed

Having two phones with separate numbers enabled me to separate business and personal endeavors. On days I take off, I could use one phone that my family has access to and be at peace.

Naturally, I started on Android, so the S22 Ultra is my personal phone.

Additionally, I use my Android to sketch ideas initially and refine them on Apple. Whether I’m writing, drawing, or making music notation, the Android is my go-to device for personal creative endeavors that bring new life.

Of course, both devices have a Do Not Disturb feature that disables notifications, but further separating them as a business rather than personal eliminates an aspect that cannot be entirely removed from a device.

Temptation.

After all, checking for messages that go to one phone from another device isn’t possible without workarounds.

Both Phones Provided Perspective

Having both iOS and Android has given me a new perspective on things. Although I was a hardcore Android user thanks to the Samsung Galaxy Note series, I’ve always enjoyed the seamlessness of Apple products. 

I no longer complain about how one device lets me down. I simply pull out the other and see if I can solve the problem. Each device has strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, both devices seem to get the updates needed to address any issues.

Most people won’t need two devices, but for those who do, they will see how both devices can complement each other.