Click to Skip Ad
Closing in...

What two former Android users miss most after switching to iPhone 6s

Published Oct 13th, 2015 4:52PM EDT
Android Google Now Vs. iPhone 6s Siri

If you buy through a BGR link, we may earn an affiliate commission, helping support our expert product labs.

As we’ve seen in the past, there are good things and bad things about both iOS and Android. One of Google’s very best features is Google Now, its personal voice assistant that delivers capabilities Apple still has yet to match with Siri. Two former Android users who switched to iOS recently took to Reddit’s Apple fan page to vent their frustrations about how much they miss Google Now because Siri just hasn’t been getting the job done so far.

ON THE OTHER HAND: Google-funded study reveals Android security is a total disaster

“So far the switch [to iOS] has been pretty nice other than a few bugs,” wrote Redditor lontronix. “However, so far I have noticed the success rate for Siri has been terrible in comparison with Google now. While Google now worked a good 95% of the time, Siri has worked about 40% of the time. Will accuracy improve over time or is this just something I have to live with?”

Similarly, Reddit user xxxamazexxx (…sigh, that name…) found that Siri just wasn’t as good at understanding contextual questions and commands as Google Now was.

“I can’t say what are the limitations Apple is facing with Siri, but they need to up their game ASAP,” the user writes. “I find myself very wary of using Siri because there is a great chance she can’t pick up a slightly more challenge (sic) command and I don’t want to feel like a talking idiot. And while I’m at this, let me say that there is no way I would buy an Apple watch if this is what I am getting with their voice recognition.”

Of course, the key with Siri is that it gets better the more it knows you. Android users who are used to working with Google Now and then switch over to the iPhone can’t bring their long history of interacting with Google Now over with them, so they shouldn’t expect the same level of responsiveness.

It’s also the case that Google has traditionally been better at these kinds of services because it collects so much data on us and has a long history of coming up with clever ways to make use of it. If you find Google’s data collection tactics too invasive and switch to iOS, then you’ll likely have to put up with lesser performance from Siri, especially in the early going. While Apple’s stance on privacy is a great feature for many people, there are definitely trade offs when it comes to what it can offer you compared with Google Now.

Brad Reed
Brad Reed Staff Writer

Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.