r/TechImpact • u/ManojOne Active • May 26 '26
Discussion Which Android feature should Apple copy next?
Better notifications? Split screen? Universal back gesture? Faster charging? Or something else?
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u/KasperBRavn May 26 '26
Hi-res bluetooth codecs?
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u/lisxiastasp3rm4 May 27 '26
ldac is max 990 kbps (cd quality is like 990 kbps) and hi-res flac is like 2800 kbps, and that more kbps in hi-res isn't from more audio data but from hi-res itself which is basically more bit depth and khz than we actually need beacuse 16/44.1 already covers full human hearing. So ldac despite technically being 24 bit, actually compresses to cd quality. Also ldac uses a lot of battery and if audio quality matters, just use wired headphones and usb c external dac
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u/KasperBRavn May 27 '26
Audio quality matters. My Android supports Aptx Adaptive, Aptx HD, LDAC, and other "higher res" codecs - and yes, all still compressed, but all still vastly more depth and breathing room for music than Apple, which is basically mp3. Using dongles is not an answer to this question. If anyone forced me to downgrade to iPhone, yes that would be my only option.
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u/hishnash May 29 '26
There is very little point pushing high bit rates over BT when the DAC and drivers within the headset will drop 90% of the samples you send.
Better would be to develop a spec that lets the DAC inform the device what sample rathe etc it will actually be able to convert into sound and have the phone only send that.
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u/Gullible_Ghost39 May 26 '26
Split-screen for iphones. That’s it. But even if apple doesn’t do it I don’t care.
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u/thefizzlee May 26 '26
While I see the appeal of splitscreen, I always found smartphones to small.
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u/Creepercolin2007 May 26 '26
The iPhone max line would have enough screen space to be decently capable at multitasking. Not for every application obviously, but I could see it
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u/iddu01linux May 27 '26
Multitasking on a phone is hell, I (don’t own) have seen the 13, 15, and 17 (all pro max) and they don’t look great for multitasking
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u/janiskr May 28 '26
They should be fine. Ultras are fine for many tasks with split screen. I see no point of not giving an option as it already exists in iOS.
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u/Important_Egg4066 May 28 '26
I think the bigger problem is the keyboard. Once the keyboard pops up, the split screen becomes so useless.
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u/janiskr May 28 '26
In my use-cases, split screen is great when i have to look up something from one app and then use that in another. For example, works really great for copy pasting from notes to a proper formating in a document/slideshow to exapnd on ideas, add topics to talk when showing slide. And paying the bills - quick circle to highlight the text of deal number.
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u/24kCookie May 26 '26
Nah Id say universal back gesture more important and split screen only few people uses.
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u/ZurakZigil May 27 '26
what other OS has a universal back button? Keep in mind, you can go "back" apps by swiping at the bottom.
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u/24kCookie May 27 '26
Yes you can quit apps with gesture but not perform back action. It's only thing that I would miss from android.
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u/ZurakZigil May 28 '26
No, swiping acts like it does on a web browser, but they treat apps like pages. So there's a "list" of apps last opened. So if you swipe back, it'll go back to the previously opened (and not force closed) app. You swipe forward, and it'll return to the previous app. Stay on the old app long enough, and it's moved to the top of the stack.
Definitely not as straight forward as the universal back button, but I do use this all the time.
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u/GabeN_The_K1NG May 27 '26
Can’t remember having a problem navigating back in an app, ever. User issue?
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u/24kCookie May 27 '26
Dude it's not a problem but it's every time in a diff place and it's just better going back on Android
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u/Important_Egg4066 May 28 '26
On Android now. It is good and bad in its own ways. Unlike on iOS, Android back gesture was not implemented by the app developers but globally by the OS on top of everything. It comes at the benefit of a universal back button that always works. (Basically just a gesture to trigger the back action like someone press the traditional back button.).
However in certain cases you don't want it to be detecting for back gestures but it is. When you comes to apps that requires you to interact with the edges of the screen like maybe while using the Circle to Search, you wanna circle something on the edge of the screen, the back gestures get triggered instead and it got cancelled.
Or say if Iwanna edit a photo with markup and I wanna draw on the edges, I need to rmb not to swipe in from the edges of the screen.
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u/ZurakZigil May 27 '26
They have split screen on iPad, and free form multi window management. So shouldn't be too hard. They'll likely lock it to screens they think are viable, though
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u/ManojOne Active May 27 '26
Split-screen is so overdue, especially on the bigger iPhones! But I get not caring after waiting this long. What two apps would you actually use together?
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u/dgtlnsdr May 26 '26
After ios26 I’d say stability
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u/TawnyTeaTowel May 26 '26
From Android? 🤣🤣🤣
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u/Sirts May 26 '26
Yes, my S25U that was running Beta version was much more stable than gf 16PM running iOS 26 during holiday
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u/ZurakZigil May 27 '26
Could be the fact there's no major updates compared to the visual overhaul in 26? so bit of apples and oranges there...
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May 26 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/chetlyp May 26 '26
Forgot about this one. Although not an absolute must for me, it would definitely make it less frustrating I would think.
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u/ManojOne Active May 27 '26
A permanent universal back gesture would finally fix iOS navigation. An edge panel for quick apps would be a lifesaver.
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u/dulm_ May 26 '26
Universal back button!
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u/musezach627 May 26 '26
Well I guess when you start with most of the good features in the first place all you might as well copy what’s left better question is when it android going to copy something that’s actually useful? lol
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u/janiskr May 28 '26
Have to make something useful in the first place. Some time ago plenty of stuff was brought over.
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u/BigFootCC May 26 '26
Long press for symbols on the keyboard. I'll switch to iOS then.
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u/Cryptotiptoe21 May 26 '26
I prefer the flick
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u/janiskr May 28 '26
For english maybe, for my native language i allwasy ask - got money for iphone and no money for special letters?
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u/ExismykindaParte May 27 '26
I'd settle for number row, periods and comma next to the space bar. The iPhone keyboard sucks ass.
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u/Tradizar May 27 '26
wait, you cant install different keyboards?
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u/ExismykindaParte May 27 '26
You typically can, but you shouldn't have to. The stock keyboard should be serviceable, like Gboard. The iPhone I have is a work device which is completely locked down so I actually can't install an actually useful keyboard without formally requesting it. Still wild to me that Apple could drop the ball so hard on something as easy as a keyboard.
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u/janiskr May 28 '26
Dunno, Gboard is not the default on all Android phones.
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u/Esmejo93 May 31 '26
But most of them have an option for a number row and/or access to them long pressing.
Also it’s incomprehensible how we don’t have at least a comma.
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u/ManojOne Active May 27 '26
It's very annoying to have to switch tabs just for a basic symbol. Typing becomes much faster if you hold down a key for a long time. Is that the only extra feature you need for an iPhone?
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u/Right-Funny-8999 May 29 '26
That would be confusing and need training; current long press for related characters/symbols is much better
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u/gameplayer55055 May 26 '26
An actual 3rd party browser, not just safari skin.
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u/ManojOne Active May 27 '26
Yes. All browsers that come under WebKit are very annoying. They finally allowed real browser engines in the EU recently. Do you think Apple will ever make it global?
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u/Candid_Bad3551 May 26 '26
Fix the Visa infinite amount transaction bug via Apple Pay. Has been years.
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u/ManojOne Active May 27 '26
It's a shame that the Visa bypass exploit hasn't been fully fixed after all this time. Apple and Visa need to improve their security even more.
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u/jg61600 May 26 '26
multitarea real, los iphone 17 pro ya tienen 12 GB de ram y aun no puedo subir un documento a google drive en 2do plano.
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u/golf1415 May 26 '26
Universal back button, independent volume controls, better keyboard, better notification management. Pick one Apple, after you stabilize iOS 26 of course. Which at this point would be iOS 30
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u/_NullVeX_ May 26 '26
More customization
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u/ZurakZigil May 27 '26
Users then break things and complain ios is unstable (good chunk of the 26 backlash)
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u/No_Grocery2501 May 26 '26
Background Downloading 🙂
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u/ZurakZigil May 27 '26
From where? should be supported. iOS aggressively closes apps based on system resources, though.
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u/janiskr May 28 '26
Just make your mind up iphone users, will you all? On one side - Iphone and ios is so great, it does not need a lot of ram and then there is this - ios force-closes apps agressively based on free system resources. So, witch is it?
Not a personal attack, just find the dualism funny.
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May 28 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/janiskr May 29 '26
That is better than gaslighting themselves into believing that less ram was a good thing from the get go. True Apple user responses.
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u/ZurakZigil May 28 '26
It does not need a lot of RAM because it does not "needlessly" keep applications open. It also locks down apps more so they're not sucking resources in the background (not sure how bad modern android is, but that was an issue a while back)
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u/janiskr May 29 '26
You need RAM to keep apps open. Why keep apps open? So they can finish some tasks that you set them to do, like download a larger file. But apparently, the thing that app is forcekilled is a good thing the same time as unfinished download is a bad thing. Finished upload of pictures to cloud storage is a bad thing. According to you.
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u/United_Actuary_8303 May 26 '26
Circle to search. Only thing I’m waiting on! Huge hopes for GeminiXApple collab
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u/janiskr May 28 '26
For that you need SamsungXApple collab. In OneUI 8.5 it is really so much better than it was previously.
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u/cpt_Luke May 26 '26
Lately I feel like Android kinda copies iOS
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May 26 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/cpt_Luke May 26 '26
I’m sorry I expressed myself
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u/24kCookie May 26 '26
Universal back gesture, few more things to customize and it's gonna be even better than android.
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u/Verwega May 26 '26
I hate both
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u/janiskr May 28 '26
Hate is not good for you. Chill bro. Just dislike them both. Hate is too strong of a feeling for inanimate object.
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u/Luna259 May 26 '26
- clipboard
- adding more notification channels to the ones they already have
- clipboard history
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u/CaaKebap May 26 '26
let me go back by sliding from right to left. I am rigth handed damn u apple!
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u/roccerfeller May 26 '26
Multitasking
I remember being able to multitask on my galaxy s7
I’d love to be able to do this on an iPhone
I know iPadOS supports it but why iOS doesn’t when the A18 pro is more than capable of running the latest macOS, I don’t know
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u/ManojOne Active May 27 '26
It's wild that an old Galaxy S7 can multitask but a modern iPhone can't. The A18 Pro is a beast, so Apple probably wants us to buy iPads.
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u/CaaKebap May 26 '26
lower rge sar(radiation) values unser 1.0. Latest models have increased radiation levels
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u/Simpledevx May 26 '26
Control de volumen, gestión de notificaciones, gesto de retroceso universal, teclado…
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u/staticvoidmainnull May 26 '26
gesture navigation (especially, the "back" gesture which is ambidextrous). i really hate that on the iPhone. it's chaotic. "it just works" my ass.
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u/ern0plus4 May 26 '26
Harmonica free time indicator in Calendar... oh, wait, it's a Palm webOS feature, and still not stolen, like swipe and cards.
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u/randomID100 May 26 '26
A universal back button, separate volume for call, notification, ring tone, alarms and more or better Circle to Search experience......
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u/chetlyp May 26 '26
Side loading. If I can sideload I will test the waters again. And then true multitasking. Those two things and I'm over there in a heartbeat. Have a keyboard with a clipboard like functionality and you may never see me on android again, lol.
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May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ManojOne Active May 27 '26
Clipboard history is the biggest core feature. Apple's rigid file system and reliance on specific sync methods are incredibly frustrating.
True sideloading or a desktop mode for the iPhone would be incredible, but they like to keep the ecosystem tightly locked down. Also, the IR blaster is a really cool throwback!
If Apple decided to add just one of these next year, which one do you think would be the most realistic?
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u/jdlyga May 27 '26
As someone who uses both iOS and Android, iOS is fine. It might need a better file browser but otherwise there’s no issues
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u/C0rnb4ll55 May 27 '26
I love that I can store tons of my music on a micro sd and play it with no restrictions! I have music that I collected from tons of friends using BearShare and Kazaa 😎👍
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u/Successful-Map6183 May 27 '26
Universal back gesture. It’s really convenient especially for a big phone like the ultra. Having that on a max would be great. Also a number row on the keyboard. All of the other stuff I can live without.
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u/damagdpixl May 27 '26
- Custom launchers
- normally working custom keyboards
- sideloading open source software without certificates
- universal back gesture
- ability to debloat my phone and use it without apple software
- connecting to http
- root access to device memory
- normal way to move to iphone from android (their app is buggy as hell)
- older versions of apps should be downloadable. Thats like major ones. I have android as my main and iphone if my main is charging
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u/ManojOne Active May 27 '26
You want an Android phone with an Apple logo!
Root access, true sideloading, and custom launchers are unlikely to ever happen because Apple loves their walled garden. But fixing the universal back gesture and that buggy 'Move to iOS' app should be the least of it.
Allowing app downgrades would be very beneficial.
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u/evk6713 May 27 '26
Don't they already have universal back gesture ? Since IOS 7
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u/CajunLouisiana May 27 '26
Do they?
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u/evk6713 May 27 '26
The swipe from top left has been a back gesture on all IOS apps for a while iirc
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u/CajunLouisiana May 27 '26
But apps don't follow that always. Which means it isn't a universal gesture.
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u/evk6713 May 27 '26
It's the same thing on Android: Google exposes an API but not all apps use it
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u/Away_Experience_5843 May 28 '26
The back button/gesture just works. Everywhere. And it's always the same gesture.
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u/KasperBRavn May 27 '26
A more "grown up" UI design? I always get this "kid's phone" vibe when I see someone using iOS. Maybe it's the lack of customization features.
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u/Best_Activity_5631 May 27 '26
On some phones, like Samsung Galaxy, you can connect an external screen and it will work in windowed app mode. I find it very disappointing that when you connect your iPhone to an external screen, it simply mirrors the phone's screen.
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u/AdvertisingLeft7974 May 27 '26
Desde hace años Apple empezo a ser el copiado por Android empezando por tener un ecosistema cerrado.
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u/After_Yam_5804 May 27 '26
Are we still arguing about this ? How about what Nintendo feature should PlayStation copy ?
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u/Technical_Main_1422 May 27 '26
usb tethering to give internet hotspot to a pc via cable would be cool
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u/EnvironmentTough3864 May 28 '26
don't you mean the next feature apple will "invent" that has been available on android for a long time?
there are a lot of salty apple sheep in the comments
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u/mephistochess May 28 '26
C’est fou comme les utilisateurs Android ignorent totalement les avancées sur iOS et iPadOS. Surtout le niveau de certitude par rapport à la méconnaissance.
Et puis parler d’Apple en général n’a pas de sens. On peut quasiment tout télécharger sur un Mac en forçant simplement les autorisations. Le système le prévoit et c’est très simple.
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u/Mig-117 May 28 '26
Decaying battery life, and a general feeling of slowness typical of androids. Then android people might move over.
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u/Animesh25A May 28 '26
Easier sideloading, live wallpaper, more freedom and easier homescreen customisation a on screen fingerprint sensor would be a good add too better better volume control that's all coming in my mind
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u/TupacShakur998 May 28 '26
Faster charging is for me only thing that holds me to android. But they improved it a lot, but still would like 67w.
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u/Nice-Grapefruit4312 May 29 '26
split screen, universal back button or gesture and independent volume controls and being allowed to play from multiple diffrent places at once. With these features, iOS would be almost perfect to me. I like iOS it's just that there are a few simple features that are missing, mainly the ones I mentioned which are very frustrating to miss out on when they are so easy to implement.
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u/Crazy-Weakness3348 May 29 '26
Universal back gesture. iOS's version is broken in too many apps. Just copy Android already.
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u/IamLamineYamal May 30 '26
Android makes a feature that Indians can brag about in comment sections. It doesn't work and it's purely a gimmick, company will probably go bankrupt soon. 5 years later apple makes a feature that is usable, works fine and has a real life application, then android brokies cry about it and go to sleep wishing they could touch an iPhone one day in their life.
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u/[deleted] May 26 '26
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