I’ve recently upgraded from a Samsung Galaxy S2 to an iPhone 5s. These two phones aren’t directly comparable; the iPhone is a much newer version, equivalent to the S4 in real terms.

I have noticed a few major differences though.

The iPhone feels more substantial, and the actual device is nicer to hold. The screen is quite noticeably smaller though, and I find myself missing the larger functional area of the Samsung. The iPhone has a few annoying design flaws too. I find myself accidentally hitting buttons that have been placed on the touch screen in the wrong position. This never happened with the Galaxy.

There is also the difference between iOS and Android, with Android being an open source platform. For some, this is a deal breaker, but for other users this makes no difference whatsoever.

I still haven’t decided which I prefer. There are more similarities than differences, so it is hard to say definitively that one is better than the other. Next time my contract is up though, I’ll have a hard time choosing. There is another major difference – the Galaxy is cheaper. For some, the choice is clear. For now, I’m hanging on to my S2 as a backup phone. Are you loyal to one brand in particular? I’d like to know your thoughts.