Android and iOS compared.
WHAT ANDROID IS
An open platform running on devices from many manufacturers, at every price point.
WHAT THAT MEANS FOR DEVELOPMENT
Enormous variation in screen size, processor, memory and operating system version.
WHAT iOS IS
A closed platform on Apple devices only.
WHAT THAT MEANS FOR DEVELOPMENT
Few device variations, and rapid adoption of new versions.
WHAT DEVELOPING FOR ANDROID REQUIRES
Any computer, and the platform's development environment.
WHAT DEVELOPING FOR iOS REQUIRES
Apple hardware, without exception, to build and submit.
WHY THAT MATTERS HERE
It is a real cost barrier, and it determines what many developers can build at all.
WHAT DISTRIBUTION DIFFERS IN
Android permits installation outside the store; iOS effectively does not.
WHAT REVIEW DIFFERS IN
Apple's review is stricter and slower; Google's is largely automated with human escalation.
WHAT THE MARKET LOOKS LIKE LOCALLY
Android dominates overwhelmingly, across a wide range of device capability.
WHAT THAT MEANS FOR PRIORITISATION
Android first, for most products serving this market.
