Android is better than iOS in numerous ways, but day-to-day app interactions aren't one of them. My favorite phones of 2026, from the foldable Oppo Find N6 to the camera-focused Vivo X300 Ultra, all run Android, but I have trouble shifting to them full-time because my most-used apps work better on iOS. Google is acknowledging and fixing this problem with Android 17.

It is working on changes that might appeal to content creators and iPhone users who have been considering switching to Android.

Also: Android phone slow? I changed 2 developer settings for an instant speed boost

With Android 17, Google is adding more creator-focused features to help make the most of the industry-leading camera hardware available on Android phones. For those who want to switch, the company has also worked with Apple to overhaul its iOS-to-Android transfer process. Here's why Android 17 is one of the most exciting OS upgrades in recent years.

Instagram is one of my most-used apps on my iPhone. When I'm testing a new Android device, I realize that basic features aren't implemented the same way on both operating systems. For instance, I can select a 10-second-plus video on iPhone and edit the video duration within my Instagram Story. However, on Android, that duration is set to one minute, and it doesn't always work.

Other times, if I set a specific part of a song on my Scheduled Posts, the Android app changes it, and I see a different part being played after it goes live on my profile. The Android experience isn't reliable, and I have to double-check most of these things, whether I'm posting an Instagram Story or uploading a post.