The perfect screen—as long as Apple decides what you can see.
There are two things people say about iOS:
It’s the “simplest” operating system.
It’s the “most closed” operating system.
And just like with a perfect relationship, you’ll either choose infinite control and the constant feeling of security—or the constant feeling of being in a relationship where you’re never truly in charge.
Why iOS is the operating system you secretly admire (and secretly hate)
1. Apple understands design – sometimes too well
Apple is the company that doesn’t just tell you how to use your phone, it also does it for you. Your screen is more minimalist than a plain cookie. Your home screen? No unnecessary icons. No buttons you don’t need. Just a smooth, clean surface that keeps you from getting lost.
And you? You can only gravitate towards the few icons Apple has chosen for you. Don’t get me wrong—that’s fantastic from an aesthetic point of view, but if you want something truly exotic on your home screen, you’ll have to trawl the App Store—and then feel like you’ve lived in an app store your whole life.
2. App Store Economy: Your Convenience Costs
The App Store is Apple’s gold standard. And the App Store works great—if you don’t want choice. The apps are always there, they work, they look good, but they’re also expensive. Every app download is like buying a handmade product from a specialty craft store—and you pay for every detail.
Apple doesn’t want you to stop buying. That’s why there are no “app bundles” and no real discounts. But hey, every time you buy a new app, you feel like a VIP.
3. iMessage: Your perpetually outdated SMS app
iMessage has seduced us all. Who wouldn’t want to be admitted to the exclusive club of the blue message bubble? It works seamlessly, no ads, no pop-ups – except for the small problem that Android users constantly remind us of reality with their green bubbles.
Still, who hasn’t seen the magical “read receipt” on iMessage and wondered if it’s too much to ask not to reply to a message? It almost feels like Apple is making us feel guilty if we ignore the “read” mark.
4. The control Apple gives you: You are a guest in your own device
One of the best parts of iOS is the user experience—and one of the worst parts of iOS is… also the user experience. Apple has tightened the handbrake when it comes to accessing the system. There are no “file managers,” no “open” settings, and you can’t install apps from unsafe sources without sending your device into the jungle of jailbreaking hell.
Want to set a simple wallpaper? Easy. Want to save a file outside of Apple’s apps? Have fun with that. The iPhone has built you a sleek user interface, but you can only get in if you give Apple the password.
Why iOS is so popular despite everything (and why you still like using it)
1. Reliability – it simply works
Yes, iOS is a system that tells you what to do. But it works—most of the time. iOS’s biggest selling point is that it’s reliable. No constant bug fixing, no need to test ten different versions—it just works.
2. Updates? Don’t worry!
Unlike Android, where you can never be sure whether the update will be late or never arrive, iOS gets a great software update every year that updates everything at once. Yes, you might wake up the next morning feeling like you’ve just reconfigured your entire device, but at least it works.
And when Apple adds “features,” they’re usually so well-thought-out that you’ll love them immediately. For example, MagSafe—it didn’t revolutionize anything, but suddenly you can’t live without it.
3. Apple Pay: Your wallet for the future
The best thing about iOS, though, is Apple Pay. It simply works. You hold your iPhone to a terminal, and voila, your coffee is paid for. No more searching for your wallet, no more cards that are always in the wrong compartment – Apple Pay has it all under control.
Conclusion: iOS remains the club where you feel comfortable (and which is sometimes a bit scary)
Ultimately, iOS is like a perfectly controlled environment that doesn’t give you any freedom, but instead organizes everything for you. Yes, you’re a guest on your own device, but who needs freedom when everything looks and works so beautifully?
iOS is Apple’s Apple: It’s beautiful, clean, and incredibly simple—but sometimes you get the feeling there’s a bit too much “intrusion.” But hey, that’s Apple—and people love it anyway.
OS – iOS – Tech