How Android And iOS App Development Differ?

Mobile application developers may sometimes be confused between choosing Android or iOS app development. Both operating systems have different development and maintenance approaches. When building an app, you must choose which device to make the application for. Most times, your whole app concept will be determined by the device it is meant for. The app development process may look similar, but they are pretty different. In this article, we will discuss the ways how iOS and Android app development differ.

Android Vs. iOS Application Store

The Play store and App store get a high number of applications to upload every day, and the numbers will keep increasing. According to Statista, there are approximately 3.5 million applications available on the Google Play Store and 1.6 million applications on Apple’s App Store.

When publishing your app on the App Store, it passes through a strict process, unlike Google’s Play Store. Apple requires every app in its store to meet stringent rules, and every app must meet the standards set by Apple for approval. You can keep this in mind when developing an application.

On the other hand, Google does not have many rules in place, hence the visibility of fraudulent apps in its store. However, every app has ratings that make it easy to spot fake or fraudulent applications.

5 Key Ways How Android And iOS App Development Differ

5 Key Ways How Android And iOS App Development Differ 1

Technical differences are what sets Android and iOS development apart, and they use different programming languages, coding environments, and much more. The main differences in iOS and Android app development are the following:

  • Programming language
  • User interface
  • Development environment
  • Development difficulty
  • Cost and return of development

Programming Language

Android applications are developed using Java and Kotlin, while iOS applications are built with Swift. An important difference between the two programming languages is that iOS app development with Swift requires writing less code. Because of this, iOS apps are faster than Android apps.

As good as Swift sounds, it is platform-limited. On the other hand, we can use Java for server work and web development, and Java is typically good for making cross-platform applications.

User Interface

The design difference is an important feature of iOS development. iOS development has different design principles from Android and is made for a low variation of screen sizes and resolutions. Meanwhile, Android developers must adapt their device and screen size design.

There are differences in the device interfaces, which affect the user engagement and onboarding process on the app. You can spot the difference between an Android user interface and that of an iOS. But, you don’t need to have an iPhone to do so. You can easily download one of the best iOS emulators out there on your Android device and witness the sleekness of an iOS user interface.

When developing an iOS or Android application, developers must pay attention to the following differences:

  • Navigation bar
  • Menu
  • Pop-up notifications
  • Back button

Navigation is important in creating a sense of flow and seamless application use. The navigation of an app is a prominent factor for a greater conversion rate and should be taken seriously when building an application.

Development Environment

Android developers use Android Studio, a proprietary tool introduced by technology giant Google in 2013. The Android Studio integrated development environment provides cross-platform support, many development and debugging features, and many others.

In contrast to Android development, iOS developers rely on the XCode tool. Apple supports the app development tool, and it provides a variety of bug-fixing tools. XCode also supports the full range of iOS devices and is easy to use.

Development Complexity

When it comes to app development difficulty, Android comes last. iOS development is less complex and easy to get around. Apple releases a limited range of devices which makes developing apps easy because it offers a small range of screen sizes to account for. Android development is not like that. There are so many screen styles based on the screen size, density, and operating system version.

In Android development, the developer will have to use different device simulators during testing to be sure the app works well on different screen sizes. This makes the development complex and time-consuming. Due to code complexity and screen size differences, Android app developers spend up to 30 percent longer building an app.

Costs and Returns

This is the most credible deciding factor in deciding the future of your app. When launching your app, you should consider the cost and return for the app. You can do that by talking to a specialist for consultation.

Keep in mind that three main factors affect the cost and return of an app. They are:

  • Development costs
  • Market share
  • App monetization

The above factors will determine the overall cost and return for an application, and it is always important to evaluate these before building your app.

Should I Learn Android Or iOS Development?

You can learn iOS development if your target audience is Apple users. But, if you want to target different customers, go for Android development.

Before making an iOS app, you must be familiar with the Swift programming language, and the code is precise to read for beginner programmers. However, Swift is only for Apple products, and Android apps can be made using Java and Kotlin.

Conclusion

Android and iOS app development both are differ with their benefits and disadvantages. Android Studio helps to generate multiple versions of your app for different devices, while Xcode, on the other hand, has a reputed source editor and assistant editor.

If you want something easy without too much complexity, then iOS development is right for you. You should know your strengths and needs before choosing which to go for.

It isn’t easy to find developers specializing in both Android and iOS development. Once you choose your preferred platform for mobile application development, stick to it and grow in it.

Also Read: IOS App Development Vs Android App Development