App Development: Android vs. iOS

When you board a random subway, walk into a waiting room or watch people take a break, something strikes you immediately: (almost) everyone has a smartphone in their hand. But how did this become so normal? The mobile device continues to rise in popularity due to the use of applications. Not only the number of end-users keep growing persistently, but also the demand for apps that provide business solutions. According to a Survey from Statista, the number of mobile phone users at a global level is expected to pass the five billion by 2019:

When we are looking into the operating systems of these smartphones, there are clearly two players who dominate the market: Android (Google) and iOS (Apple) . Over the years, both have taken over features from each other in their mobile operating systems . However, there are dissimilarities between the two that clearly affect the development process of an application. In other words, the whole mobile app development process will vary according to the selected operating system. In this article, we’ll talk about the fundamental differences between creating apps for iOS and for Android.

Mobile Operating Systems – current popularity and market share

Before deciding on which operating system you want your application to be running on, it might be interesting to know the current market share and popularity of each. The current mobile market share of Android lies between 80 and (almost) 90 percent. iOS in comparison dominates the other 10 to 20 percent of the market which basically leaves an extremely low percentage to other operating systems.

When taking a closer look at a national level, the differences are noticeable. The market share of Android in Spain, for example, goes up to 86,1% and 13,6% for iOS. France, Italy, and Germany have similar numbers of market share. Unlike Great Britain, which is one of the countries in Europe where iOS has a higher market share of 37% and Android 62,7%.

In the US, one might expect the market share of iOS to be higher than Android but that’s not the case. Android is currently dominating it with a percentage of 59,1% followed by iOS with 39%. The following statistics should give you a deeper insight of the current global market share per smartphone type :

The two most popular smartphones, Samsung and Apple, are followed by the Chinese brands Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo. They all run and are based on Google’s operating system. Although Samsung is still the biggest provider of the Android operating system, Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo are also contributing to the market share of 77,4% in China.

Dissimilarities in programming between these two operating systems

Now that you know the differences in popularity and market share of both operating systems, it’s time to dive into the dissimilarities in development, starting with the programming language.

Programming language

Apps that are running on Android are programmed in Java , currently the most popular programming language in the world. While Java requires a lot of coding there is an alternative: Kotlin . This coding language is easier to read for developers and coding can be done in a more efficient way. Another popular programming language for Android apps, especially among more junior app developers, is C# . It is supported by helpful tools like Unity and Xamarin to create games and multi-platform applications.

Apple’s native mobile app development language Objective-C was one of the first programming languages and proved to be useful for creating apps on several devices. A more modern programming language is Swift which was launched in 2014 and created as a replacement for Objective-C. Thanks to its streamlined language and advanced error checking system , it’s easier and faster for developers to build apps.

Recent Posts

By David Collier September 3, 2025
Summer has officially wound down, and as we step into September, the clock already started ticking for 2026. For executives, boards, and senior leaders, this is your moment to pause and ask a critical question: Do we have a clear, actionable plan to guide our organization into the next fiscal and calendar year? If you haven’t started, you’re already behind. The Cost of Waiting Markets are moving faster, technological innovation is reshaping industries daily, and the competitive landscape is anything but forgiving. Thriving organizations are the ones that anticipate disruption, set direction early, and align resources to execute with discipline. When companies delay annual planning, three things typically happen: Teams get stuck in reactive mode instead of proactively driving strategy Investments drift without clear ROI measures. Leadership spends more time putting out preventable fires instead of building sustainable growth. Why the Work Starts in September Annual planning is not a “December activity.” By then, budgets are frozen, priorities are locked, and the opportunity for bold shifts passed long ago. September is when leaders should start shaping the Goals, Objectives, Strategies, and Tactics that define the Annual Operating Plan. Done right, this process brings: Clarity and focus – align executives, boards, and staff on what matters most. Scalability and efficiency – ensure processes and structures keep pace with growth. Confidence in change – provide the roadmap needed to navigate transformation with control and measurable success. Where Many Organizations Struggle Whether you’re a rapidly scaling startup, a mature enterprise, or a mid-market company juggling priorities, the challenges are often the same: No formal plan to guide business activity for the next 12–24 months. Difficulty prioritizing “the right things” amid competing demands. Frustration when large, complex initiatives underdeliver on expectations. Teams overworked but misaligned, with unclear visibility into progress. Practical Tips for Executives and Boards While every organization’s journey is unique, here are a few starting points: Start with the end in mind. What do you want 2026 to look like? Work backwards to define the steps. Bring in diverse perspectives. Boards, executives, and front-line leaders all see different parts of the business. Focus on agility, not just control. Build room for flexibility so your plan evolves as the market shifts. Don’t reinvent the wheel. Mature organizations often need fine-tuning, not reinvention—whereas growth-stage firms may need help building structure for the first time. How Amplify Helps At Amplify, we partner with leadership teams to design operating plans that are not just theoretical, but actionable. Our blend of strategy, operations, and transformation expertise allows us to meet organizations where they are—whether you’re defining your first framework or refining a well-established planning cycle. The question isn’t if you’ll need a 2026 plan. The question is how ready will you be when the new year arrives? If your organization hasn’t started, the best time to begin is today.
By Matt Trembicki March 26, 2025
Talent is the single biggest factor in whether a high-growth company thrives or stalls. As companies scale, the challenge shifts from just hiring quickly to hiring the right people who can grow with the business. At Amplify Resources Group, we’ve seen firsthand how hiring missteps can slow down even the most promising companies: Bad hires cost companies 30% of annual salary in lost productivity and rehiring costs. Hiring delays can set growth targets back 6-12 months. Companies that don’t hire for future needs end up in constant reactive mode , always playing catch-up. So, how do you build a scalable and future-proof talent strategy? Here’s our 4-step framework to help high-growth companies hire, develop, and retain the right people for sustainable success.
By Amplify March 24, 2025
Implement the ASTRA Framework: A mplify S trategic T argeted R esource A cquisition
Show More

Recent Posts

By David Collier September 3, 2025
Summer has officially wound down, and as we step into September, the clock already started ticking for 2026. For executives, boards, and senior leaders, this is your moment to pause and ask a critical question: Do we have a clear, actionable plan to guide our organization into the next fiscal and calendar year? If you haven’t started, you’re already behind. The Cost of Waiting Markets are moving faster, technological innovation is reshaping industries daily, and the competitive landscape is anything but forgiving. Thriving organizations are the ones that anticipate disruption, set direction early, and align resources to execute with discipline. When companies delay annual planning, three things typically happen: Teams get stuck in reactive mode instead of proactively driving strategy Investments drift without clear ROI measures. Leadership spends more time putting out preventable fires instead of building sustainable growth. Why the Work Starts in September Annual planning is not a “December activity.” By then, budgets are frozen, priorities are locked, and the opportunity for bold shifts passed long ago. September is when leaders should start shaping the Goals, Objectives, Strategies, and Tactics that define the Annual Operating Plan. Done right, this process brings: Clarity and focus – align executives, boards, and staff on what matters most. Scalability and efficiency – ensure processes and structures keep pace with growth. Confidence in change – provide the roadmap needed to navigate transformation with control and measurable success. Where Many Organizations Struggle Whether you’re a rapidly scaling startup, a mature enterprise, or a mid-market company juggling priorities, the challenges are often the same: No formal plan to guide business activity for the next 12–24 months. Difficulty prioritizing “the right things” amid competing demands. Frustration when large, complex initiatives underdeliver on expectations. Teams overworked but misaligned, with unclear visibility into progress. Practical Tips for Executives and Boards While every organization’s journey is unique, here are a few starting points: Start with the end in mind. What do you want 2026 to look like? Work backwards to define the steps. Bring in diverse perspectives. Boards, executives, and front-line leaders all see different parts of the business. Focus on agility, not just control. Build room for flexibility so your plan evolves as the market shifts. Don’t reinvent the wheel. Mature organizations often need fine-tuning, not reinvention—whereas growth-stage firms may need help building structure for the first time. How Amplify Helps At Amplify, we partner with leadership teams to design operating plans that are not just theoretical, but actionable. Our blend of strategy, operations, and transformation expertise allows us to meet organizations where they are—whether you’re defining your first framework or refining a well-established planning cycle. The question isn’t if you’ll need a 2026 plan. The question is how ready will you be when the new year arrives? If your organization hasn’t started, the best time to begin is today.
By Matt Trembicki March 26, 2025
Talent is the single biggest factor in whether a high-growth company thrives or stalls. As companies scale, the challenge shifts from just hiring quickly to hiring the right people who can grow with the business. At Amplify Resources Group, we’ve seen firsthand how hiring missteps can slow down even the most promising companies: Bad hires cost companies 30% of annual salary in lost productivity and rehiring costs. Hiring delays can set growth targets back 6-12 months. Companies that don’t hire for future needs end up in constant reactive mode , always playing catch-up. So, how do you build a scalable and future-proof talent strategy? Here’s our 4-step framework to help high-growth companies hire, develop, and retain the right people for sustainable success.
By Amplify March 24, 2025
Implement the ASTRA Framework: A mplify S trategic T argeted R esource A cquisition
Show More