iOS vs Android App Development Process: Complete Overview
Choosing between Android vs iOS app development can be a tricky job given the difference in development and maintenance approaches. The two systems are not only different on the development level but also in the design and marketing sphere.
We talked to the top Android and iOS developers, and this post will discuss the differences between iOS and Android app development in detail.
Differences in the Development Approach
The major differences between Android and iOS app development are the technical ones. Both the platforms use different programming languages, testing approaches, and so many more. The most common differences between iOS and Android app development in terms of technicality are as follows:
Programming languages:
According to the experts, iOS and Android use different technology stacks for developing mobile apps. The programming language used for developing iOS apps is called Swift, although Objective-C is also used. Whereas, Android app development requires Java or Kotlin for programming.
Now, which one is faster and requires less learning curve? According to the providers of the top iOS app development services in India, building an iOS app is easier since the language used for developing iOS apps – Swift offers high readability, unlike Java, thereby, consuming less time in learning the language and faster coding. But, as Kotlin develops more, the tables can turn soon enough. Kotlin is deemed to be the next big thing in Android app development as it is being considered for replacing Java as the standard programming language. This is because Kotlin is more interactive, modern, and easy to read.
Development environment:
Another key difference in iOS vs Android app development is the use of the different types of integrated development environment or IDE for developing iOS vs Android apps.
According to the top Android app development service providers in India, Android developers use Android Studio for developing apps. Android Studio is a proprietary tool developed by Google and sports an expansive range of available features. This IDE offers cross-platform support, high readability, a vast array of development and debugging features.
According to the iOS app development experts, iOS developers use the proprietary XCode tool for developing apps. XCode is developed by Apple and offers a wide range of bug fixing tools, compatible with all types of iOS devices, and is easy to understand.
Now, which IDE is better? It does not matter since both IDEs have their pros and cons. Android Studio helps in quickly generating multiple versions of your app for different Android devices. It also provides a flexible Gradle-based build. XCode also has a good source editor and assistant editor.
Developers have their habits and likings and this compels them to be biased around IDEs. Android app developers fancy Android Studio because it sports an advanced code editor and layout designer, but it sometimes eats away a lot of memory.
On the other hand, iOS app developers prefer XCode because it is easy to set up. But, sometimes gets laggy while developing complex projects. But, you will rarely see developers adept in both iOS and Android app development. Therefore, there is no need to fuss over the aforementioned IDEs because you already have selected your platform.
Design differences:
Both Android and iOS app development share the same founding principles of software design, but since touch and stylus don’t offer 100% accuracy in clicking, the smallest clickable areas for iOS and Android are 44px and 48px respectively.
The major difference between iOS and Android design philosophies rests in the organization of navigation and architecture. Android apps are built using partition – a coding team breaks down the app into fragments and activities. Each activity is the same as one app screen – in the case of multiple screens, a developer has to manage multiple activities.
Fragments constitute each activity. These fragments are parts of a user interface often used for navigating between activities, entering a value, or opening a new screen.
On the other hand, iOS app architecture rests on the view controllers. Page view, tab, split view controllers, and so many more constitute the world of view controllers. And a view controller is capable of controlling a whole screen or some of its parts. Controllers can be managed in different ways – by writing them in code or organizing images in a storyboard in the form of an XML file. In this way, there are fewer chances of error, and the pace of development increases.
Development complexity:
Since there are so many different types of Android devices – with different screen sizes and resolutions, development complexity is higher in the case of Android app development. On the other hand, iOS devices are limited in screen sizes, density, and the version of the operating system, therefore, there is less range of screen dimensions to develop for. Thus, development complexity is higher in Android app development when compared to iOS app development.
Apart from adjusting the graphics to suit the whole array of different Android devices, a developer needs to test the app on different device simulators to make sure the app is displayed accurately across all devices. This results in both testing and development requiring innumerable reviews and iterations, making the process of Android app development resource and time-consuming.
Now, that we have discussed the differences in the development approach of Android vs iOS app development, let’s talk about the differences in app design.
Differences in App Design Approach:
In the case of iOS vs Android app development in India, the design guideline systems are determined by the look and feel of the apps. While designing for Android, adhering to Material Design is your best bet, whereas, adhering to the Human Interface Guidelines is your best bet for iOS app design.
In the case of iOS app design, the content of the app is put on top of the design. Thereby, resulting in clarity and the wide usage of white space. Shadows and gradients are the most common tools used for designing the user interface. The app design must convey a sense of depth and a multi-layered approach is appreciated.
On the other hand, Android designs are inspired by real-world objects. Thereby, resulting in color and motion becoming the defining factors. Android designs are made by a broader toolkit – light, motions, color changes, etc.
Differences in the Navigation Bar Placement:
The placement position of the navigation bar is a notable difference in Android vs iOS app development. The navigation bar is placed at the center for iOS devices, while, the Android devices have the navigation bar at the left side of the screen. Most of the time, the navigation bar is used for writing the name of the screen.
But, you cannot determine each approach to be superior in terms of user experience.
Differences in Widget Support:
Android devices support widgets on their home screens, the only exception being the lock screen. Whereas, iOS devices do not fully support widgets since the trend of widgets is fairly new to iOS devices. An iOS user can only access the widgets from the Notification Center.
In terms of widget support, Android devices have a clear advantage over iOS devices. This makes widgets more useful on Android devices than iOS devices.
Differences in Device Fragmentation:
We already talked about the problems faced by Android developers due to device fragmentation when it comes to testing and development. That is why designers are advised not to craft detailed app interfaces because they will become extremely slow on low-end Android devices. The vast number of different screen dimensions makes the process of setting proportions and optimization of layout elements more tedious and time-consuming as well.
Due to the fact of device fragmentation, designing for Android apps is a painful affair. That is the reason behind the elevated cost of Android app interface design and the time taken is more when compared to iOS app interface design.
Conclusion:
It is never easy to choose between iOS and Android app development, but maybe this blog will help you in making the right choice.
To say in a nutshell, if you are limited in budget and want to reach a global audience, then you should go for Android app development. In case you are not bootstrapped in budget and want to reach specific niche audience segments, you should go for iOS app development.
Developing an app on your own can be a challenging process, but if you want Android app development, then taking the help of the best Android app developer is your best bet going forward.
But, if you are looking for iOS app development, going for assistance from the top iOS app developer is your preferred choice