Would it be more convenient to use an iPhone over an Android phone in Japan?

Apologies if the question sounds silly. Long story short: I have 2 phones in this moment, 1 iPhone, 1 Pixel. I plan to sell one. I am not strongly opinionated in keeping one over the other, I’m in the midst of deciding.

Early next year though I’ll be moving to Japan. I was wondering if there are any useful or must-have apps or phone service in Japan that are only available on iOS. I noticed that iPhones seem to be more popular in Japan so I had been wondering if I should keep the iPhone as a matter of convenience or better app support, specifically to Japan.

Thanks!

PS – One is an iPhone 13 pro the other a Pixel 7, both purchased in Taiwan and unlocked – as far as I know there shouldn’t be band or compatibility issues, I mention this in case someone was going to bring it up

2 comments
  1. >I was wondering if there are any useful or must-have apps or phone service in Japan that are only available on iOS.

    As an Android user I have never have this problem.

    ​

    > I noticed that iPhones seem to be more popular in Japan so I had been wondering if I should keep the iPhone as a matter of convenience

    Since iPhone is much more popular, iPhone is more convenience, yes.

    > or better app support, specifically to Japan.

    Maybe. Generally there aren’t any problem, but when you do have one, non-domestic handset kinda get automatic “we don’t support that device” reply.

    Also all iPhone has mobile Felica support. Only domestic Android headset has Felica support. So you can’t use Mobile Suica, etc, on foreign Android model.

    If you have no preference between Android and iPhone, I’d keep the iPhone (saying this as an Android user).

  2. I haven’t yet run into anything here that an iphone could do that an Android couldn’t (via a quick apk install), but plenty of things an Android could do that an iphone couldn’t (eg. torrents, emulators, installing apps that “aren’t available in your region”, etc.)

Leave a Reply
You May Also Like