I've been an Apple user all my life, This is why I switched to Android

Ever since the 1st generation iPhone was released in 2007, I have been an Apple die-hard for the best part of my entire life.

I've always stayed blindly loyal to the iPhone. I was living and breathing the entire Apple ecosystem with an iPhone, Macbook, AirPods and Apple TV.

The most fitting shift from Apple would be to its direct competitor Samsung to get your first taste of Android, but I made the switch to an LG Velvet smartphone.

My first impression was how much sleeker and thinner the model was compared to the iPhone 10X. After picking up and using the Velvet for five minutes, my iPhone already started to feel too clunky and heavy.

Interacting with the home screen took some getting used to. After years of staring at the Apple-designed apps like Messages and Photos, Android's versions seemed strange and unfamiliar.

Apple's interface has always been user-friendly but after a few days of using Android I was happily interacting with it as if I'd been an Android user for years.

But as I perused the settings on Android, I found it was much more customisable than any Apple iPhone I've had before.

I quickly started to miss the Face ID on my iPhone, but the fingerprint sensor on the Velvet was easy to use.

After putting my SIM card into the Velvet, I also started to think about a reason I stayed with the Apple stable for so long: iMessage.

Messaging friends and family, it took minutes for people to start asking why I had the green bubble, instead of the standard blue iMessage bubble.

Aesthetic-wise, I've found the LG screen far more beautiful with curved edges and less bulky borders like the iPhones often have.

When it came to operating my apps, I found typing on Messages, WhatsApp, Messenger and Gmail to be awkward without the same keyboard and autocorrect function Apple.

But I did quickly notice Google Assistant is a far superior AI than Siri. Google Assistant makes using apps such as calendar and maps a much nicer experience.

I've always experienced major issues with Apple Maps – but Android's Google Maps is more user-friendly and with less GPS problems. I also especially love the seamless syncing of my Google passwords across apps, making it exceptionally less stressful to sign into platforms when setting up a new device.

I did realise a lot of retailers prefer to stock Apple products and accessories, making it difficult to find cases for my lesser-known LG Velvet Android smartphone.

"The flexibility and freedom of an Android interface makes returning to the iPhone seem like being trapped in an Apple-walled prison"

All in all, making the switch to Android has been a pleasant and enjoyable adjustment.

Even though iPhones get better with every generation, I can happily say I will not be going back.