Janae Spooner

With the onset of new phone releases, the age-old debate rears its head once again: Apple or Android? In today’s climate, it seems Samsung users are far and few between. Is there a reason for this, or just the general trend? 

A general poll of the population shows a severe slant, with up to 70 percent voting for Apple. A few students were interviewed for a bit more insight. Laniya Clarke, a student of Delaware State University commented: “I’m definitely a diehard Apple fan… I’m planning on getting [the iPhone 13]. ” Such loyalty might make one wonder: “What’s so good about the new Apple products?”

Available alongside the iPhone 13 mini is the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, these phones are the successors to the equivalent iPhone 12 iterations. Other than a slight increase in thickness, the aesthetic designs are nearly identical. Fortunately, Apple has included some new bells and whistles for consumers to enjoy. At a glance, the new iPhone has an improved camera, a smaller notch, faster reaction speed, and more fancy upgrades.

An in-depth look shows the features available upon purchasing any of the iPhone 13 models. The new models boast screens that are 28 percent brighter and with higher resolution according to Apple themselves.  A major upgrade is Apple’s development of a much longer battery life, which has been the entire brand’s weak spot for ages. While still not the strongest in the market (Android could do better) they can now sustain a whole day of battery with the screen on at the very least.

More improvements from the older 12 models include improvement on the rear camera; cinematic mode has been added to the standard feature options, allowing users to easily and quickly change focus from subject to subject. Additionally, a new A15 bionic chipset gives 13s significantly more horsepower than even the competition, brags the Apple website. The list goes on.

It seems the new Apple releases are nothing to sneeze at, perhaps explaining the obvious bias most college students seem to have. Or does it? Buyer beware, it seems Apple has some nasty rumours following it that may or not be true. Kayla Florian has experienced firsthand the rumour that Apple slows its older models down at the event of a new release. “When I had my other phone, I think the 10, it would shut off and freeze and so I was forced to get a new phone,” said Florian. 

Perhaps the newest Samsung release will be what it takes to change even a cultist’s mind? Samsung has recently released its own innovative powerhouse. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 has improved on and brought back the classic aesthetic of the clamshell flip phone. But even when this model was mentioned, Apple fan Latrice Harris holds strong, saying: “I’d rather have an iPhone, I [get a new iPhone] about every two years.” But is this the most educated decision? A deep dive into the stats of the new Samsung model may reveal the answer to this question. See a short review of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 here

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 totally turns the tables on what was expected of new phones. The most obvious of innovations being the foldable screen with a hinge, allowing users to open and close their phone when he or she is finished with it. The second in the line of Galaxy Z Flips, this phone has only improved on what its predecessor failed to achieve. The Samsung website lists specs including a miniature outside screen that can give a quick preview, a stronger aluminium frame, a better screen protector, and even an upgraded water resistance rating from its predecessors. And all for just under one grand.

So which is the superior phone? Is it better to follow the trend of popularity? Those questions are up to the reader to decide. Depending on what aspects hold the most importance, those are the ones that should be considered. Whichever you choose, be sure to weigh the pros and cons, and consider the facts.