I've been an Android person my whole life, still have a Samsung S23 and hope to get at least another year out of it. This is despite my family all being iPhone users.
But I've been learning more about the de-Google movement and am legitimately concerned about how Google uses our data. Now, Apple isn't the best, but I've heard it's better than Google in this regard.
I feel like people used to like Android since it was more 'open'---open to more customization of your home screens (like before iPhones had widgets) or even full custom launchers, ability to sideload apps, and just felt like your phone could really be 'yours' in a way iPhone felt restrictive and forced you to do things their way, not your way.
But the more I use my phone and the more I see my wife's iPhone, they kinda are becoming the same---Google is taking away some of its flexibility and iPhone is getting more of those customizable features. Am I wrong in seeing this trend? I admit- Androids can still have alternate keyboards, you get to decide if you want 3 buttons or gestures (I've always found the buttons to be much more intuitive), and you get to decide which company's UI to lock yourself into, but the differences are so small at this point, that are they even worth caring about?
So, I get why someone would buy an Android in 2026 if they wanted something cheaper. But of the flagships, the Samsung S26 is $900 and the iPhone 17 is $800. So what am I missing?