According to report from IDC, 82.8% of the mobile devices are running on Android, while iOS powers 13.9% of the devices. It may seem that Android is far ahead of iOS, but the truth is that the Apple devices, which run on iOS, are favoured by the premium consumers, the ones who have the real paying power.
Ultimately it is the developers, the people who are in the business of creating applications, who understand all the nitty-gritty’s of the app space. Here is a Developer’s perspective on why the iOS is the preferred platform for the development of new apps:
More Revenue
iOS applications are hot commodities, they create around $ 8.1 million in value everyday. Most developers want to start with iOS and introduce the Android version at a later stage. Therefore from the perspective of sales, iTunes is offering much more value than Google Play.
A Better Experience
Apple is well-known for creating hardware and software that is exceedingly easy to use. The iOS development environment is exceedingly comfortable to use. It gives developers ample freedom of expression and provides rewarding and stress-free work experience.
People Around Them Are Using iOS
Apple devices are preferred by the tech-savvy population. As developers are a part of the tech-savvy group, it is easy for them to understand what their audience expects from their apps. They are in a better position of coming up with winning apps, when they work on iOS.
Less Fragmentation
From a developer’s perspective, Android’s flexibility is not necessarily a good thing. Android is available on a wide range of differently sized devices and this forces the developer to account for too many variables. This leads to wastage of their valuable time to solve.
Great Developer Tools
Even the best developer can’t accomplish unless he has access to proper adequate tools— in this context, the iOS SDK, with its advanced features, offers tremendous value. When you take into account the specific features like Interface Builder, Auto Layout or multiple ViewControllers, it becomes clear that Apple’s package is much better than Android’s.
Data Storage Architecture
The performance of an app is dependent on its data structure, which gives iOS a clear advantage over its primary competitor. Data management can be handled effectively with the native CoreData framework, which is backed by the relational SQLite database. This provides the developer with a quick way to manage complex data structures without taking away anything from the end users.
More Control Over Testing
Apple’s policy for apps that it offers on its iTunes store is very strict. Every app has to go through a rigorous beta testing process. Faced with a long list of formal requirements, beta testers for iOS are bound to do their job thoroughly. This is highly helpful for the developer and also for the entity for whom the app is being developed.
Dedicated Users On iOS
iOS has dominated the mobile app market before Android made its foray. The iOS users are fanatically loyal to their platform, with 89% of them remaining faithful throughout several new device releases. On the other hand, the Android users tend to be opportunity-driven and can migrate any other system during their next smartphone purchase. Only 55% of them buy Android-based phone again.