Larangan Memutuskan Hubungan Silaturrahmi

Dalam pergaulan kita seharian, kita tidak akan terlepas daripada melakukan perbuatan-perbuatan yang boleh mengguris atau menghiris hati dan perasaan orang lain sama ada secara sedar ataupun tidak. Perkara ini boleh terjadi kepada sesiapa sahaja baik hubungan antara ibu bapa dan anak, hubungan antara adik beradik, sahabat handai, kawan sepejabat, jiran tetangga dan masyarakat.

Lazimnya perkara ini berlaku adalah berpunca daripada berlakunya sesuatu pertengkaran atau pergeseran, sifat sombong, merasakan dirinya sahaja yang betul, berselisih pendapat tentang hal-hal yang remeh, tidak menghormati dan menghargai perasaan orang lain dan sebagainya.  Sekiranya perkara ini tidak ditangani dengan baik, maka akan berlakulah keretakkan dan kerosakkan hubungan silaturrahmi sesama kita di mana ianya amat dibenci sama sekali oleh Islam.

Saudara,

Islam amat melarang keras umatnya memutuskan hubungan silaturrahmi. Rasulullah s.a.w sendiri telah memberi amaran kepada manusia tentang sifat-sifat tercela ini. Ia sebagaimana sabdanya yang bermaksud:

Jangan saling membenci, jangan berhasad dengki, jangan membelakangi kepentingan saudara-saudara kamu, dan jangan memutuskan silaturrahmi, tetapi jadilah hamba Allah yang bersaudara. Tidak halal bagi seseorang Muslim memulaukan saudaranya lebih daripada tiga hari.

(Muttafaqun ‘alaih)

Lihatlah bagaimana sejarah Rasulullah s.a.w dan para sahabat suatu ketika dahulu. Mereka telah menunujukkan contoh yang terbaik dalam sejarah umat manusia di mana mereka dapat disatukan atas dasar akidah walaupun datang daripada pelbagai suku kaum dan latar belakang yang berbeza. Subhanallah, begitu hebatnya hubungan silatirrahmi yang dibina antara mereka.

Oleh itu, marilah bersama kita menjaga hubungan silaturrahmi sesama kita dengan baik, elakkan daripada permusuhan dan persengketaan, contohilah Rasul s.a.w dan sahabat di dalam menjalinkan hubungan silaturrahmi sesama mereka. Mudah-mudahan kita menjadi insan yang disayangi oleh Allah SWT disebabkan menjaga hubungan silaturrahmi yang mulia ini, InsyaAllah

Hikmah Bersabar Sebagai Mukmin

Pengertian Sabar

Sabar secara bahasa atau etimologis berasal dari Bahasa Arab, yaitu shabr yang berarti menahan diri, mengendalikan diri. Sedangkan secara istilah atau terminologis sabar ialah sikap menahan atau mengendalikan diri terhadap suatu kejadian tanpa dikuasai oleh hawa nafsu sebagai wujud beriman kepada Allah Swt.

Sabar merupakan sikap yang terpuji karena berkaitan dengan keimanan seseorang, terutama dalam menjalankan perintah agama Islam. Sabar juga termasuk perisai atau penolong seorang mukmin karena tidak setiap orang mampu berbuat sabar terhadap suatu cobaan atau ujian tertentu.

Banyak pemikiran bahwa sabar hanya cukup berdiam saja atau pasrah terhadap suatu hal dengan anggapan Allah akan memberikan yang terbaik.  Tidak cukup dengan itu, apabila seseorang bersabar secara mental, namun dalam hatinya ada keinginan untuk membalas suatu perbuatan yang dilarang maka bukan termasuk dalam kategori sabar. Tetapi lebih kepada perasaan dendam.

Sebagaimana telah diberitahukan dalam firman Allah surat Al-Baqarah ayat 153 yang artinya: ”Wahai orang-orang nan beriman! Mohonlah pertolongan (kepada Allah) dengan sabar dan shalat. Sungguh, Allah beserta orang-orang nan sabar”.

Dari ayat tersebut, dapat diambil pelajaran bahwa Allah akan menolong hamba-Nya nan mau bersabar dan shalat, dan menjalankan perintah-perintah Allah. 

Kesabaran ialah sifat nan harus dipupuk secara terus menerus dan harus mengalami berbagai ujian serta cobaan. Tujuannya, agar sifat sabar memperoleh keutamaannya. Karena, sabar itu sendiri memerlukan sikap ikhlas atau rida terhadap ketentuan Allah.

Dengan dibarengi sikap ikhlas dan rida, maka kesabaran akan banyak mendatangkan berbagai hikmah nan agung. Hikmah-hikmah itu dapat dirasakan secara konkret di global ini, ada juga nan baru dirasakan di akhirat kelak.

Hikmah Sabar

1. Hikmah sabar bagi pribadi

Dalam berinteraksi dengan sesama, kita dihadapkan dengan banyak sekali karakter orang nan berbeda-beda. Di antara mereka, tentunya ada nan memiliki karakter keras, temperamental, pemarah, dan lain-lain.

Dalam berteman dengan orang-orang nan memiliki karakter seperti itu, ajaran Islam memerintahkan buat berlaku sabar. Karena dengan kesabaran itulah, kita dapat menghindari adanya percekcokan, perkelahian, dan kemungkaran-kemungkaran lainnya nan dapat terjadi.

Banyak kejadian kerusuhan, tawuran pelajar, perang antarwarga nan dipicu oleh masalah sepele. Misalnya saja sebab tak terima, tak dapat bersabar, ketika diejek temannya atau hal lainnya.

Dengan sifat sabar nan dimiliki, maka teman kita atau orang-orang di sekitar kita akan senang. Akhirnya, kita dapat berteman secara luas tanpa harus takut dimusuhi orang lain.

2. Hikmah Sabar dalam Keluarga

Sebuah keluarga nan serasi atau keluarga sakinah tentu saja merupakan dambaan setiap pasangan suami-istri. Keluarga nan sakinah juga harus dibangun dengan penuh kesabaran. Tanpa kesabaran, rasanya mustahil sebuah keluarga sakinah dapat terwujud.

Di masyarakat kita dapat dijumpai sangat banyak keluarga nan hancur, sebab kedua pasangan suami-istri tak mampu bersabar. Misalnya saja tak mampu bersabar dengan kehidupan perekonomiannya atau tak mampu bersabar dengan kondisi fisik pasangannya.

Bahkan sampai pernah ada kasus, sebab tak bersabar dengan kondisi ekonomi keluarganya, sang ibu tega membunuh anak-anaknya dengan racun, lantas si ibu sendiri melakukan bunuh diri.

Sebuah keluarga nan dipenuhi kesabaran, akan menciptakan rasa penuh afeksi di antara anggota keluarganya. Dan, dengan adanya afeksi inilah, maka keluarga sakinah akan dapat terbangun dengan baik. Itulah salah satu hikmah kesabaran.

3. Hikmah Sabar bagi Masyarakat

Di zaman sekarang ini, banyak sekali tantangan, ujian dan cobaanya. Hal itu menuntut seorang muslim buat selalu monoton bersabar. Bersabar di sini, bukan berarti hanya diam melihat fenomena di masyarakat. Namun sabar ialah bergerak. Bergerak dalam rangka amar makruf nahi munkar.

Sebagaimana perintah Allah dalam Alqur’an surat al-‘Asr ayat 1-3: “Demi masa. Sungguh, manusia dalam kerugian. Kecuali orang-orang nan beriman dan mengerjakan kebajikan serta saling menasihati buat kebenaran dan saling menasihati buat kesabaran”.

Dari ayat tersebut, dapat diambil pemahaman bahwa suatu masyakat akan mengalami kerusakan, apabila masyarakatnya tak saling menasihati buat penegakan anggaran di masyarakat.

Dari keterangan tersebut, maka salah satu hikmah kesabaran nan besar khasiatnya ialah dapat mewujudkan kehidupan nan tenteram di tengah-tengah masyarakat.

Hikmah Sabar dalam Islam

Agama Islam nan diturunkan oleh Allah melalui rasul-Nya, Muhammad Saw., memuat banyak ajaran nan sangat agung. Sabar termasuk ajaran Islam nan harus dimiliki oleh setiap mukmin.

Setelah diterangkan hikmah-hikmah sabar bagi sesama manusia, kemudian hikmah lainnya ialah dalam rangka kita menjalankan perintah agama. Hikmah-himah itu antara lain sebagai berikut.

1. Hikmah Sabar Terhadap Ujian atau Cobaan

Dalam menghadapi cobaan atau ujian dari Allah, kita diperintahkan buat bersabar dan rida. Dengan bekal keridaan itu, maka kita dapat mengharapkan pertolongan dari Allah.

Dengan bersabar, kita juga akan mendapat balasan pahala dari Allah. Dan, ujian Allah kepada hamba-Nya, niscaya akan membawa kebaikan apabila mampu diterima dengan kesabaran.

Kesabaran dalam menghadapi cobaan, juga dapat menunjukkan kadar keimanan seseorang. Dengan keimanannya, maka Allah akan menurunkan pertolongannya buat membantu menyelesaikan musibah atau cobaan nan sedang dihadapi.

Hal ini sinkron janji Allah nan tercantum dalam Alqur’an: ”Wahai orang-orang nan beriman! Mohonlah pertolongan Allah dengan sabar dan sholat. Sungguh Allah beserta orang-orang nan sabar” (Al-Baqarah ayat 153).

Sungguh besar hikmahnya apa nan implisit dalam ayat tersebut. Salah satu hikmah nan dapat diambil ialah Allah akan menolong dan akan mengabulkan do’a hamba-Nya nan mampu bersabar. Di saat mendapat ujian atau cobaan, Allah akan menolong apabila kita memohon dengan rida dan sabar.

2. Hikmah Sabar dalam Bertakwa kepada Allah

Takwa kepada Allah ialah menjalankan perintah dan menjauhi segala embargo Allah. Taat terhadap perintah Allah juga harus dilakukan dengan kesabaran. Demikian juga dalam ketaatan menjauhi embargo Allah, juga harus dengan kesabaran.

Untuk menggambarkan hal itu, seperti difirmankan oleh Allah dalam surat as-Shad ayat 44: “Kami dapati dia (Ayyub) seorang nan sabar. Dialah sebaik-baik hamba. Sungguh, dia sangat taat (kepada Allah)”.

Dari ayat tersebut, dapat diambil pelajaran bahwa sabar merupakan karakter para nabi. Para nabi ialah hamba-hamba Allah nan agung, para pakar surga. Jadi, sifat sabar termasuk sifatnya para pakar surga.

Sungguh besar keutamaan atau hikmah sabar dalam Islam sebab sifat sabar merupakan sifatnya pakar surga. Dan, sinkron janji-Nya, Allah akan selalu bersama-sama orang nan sabar.

Windows 10 S

    

You want a new PC or laptop and by now you've probably made up your mind as to whether it should be a Windows, Mac (or even Linux) device. Go for Windows and your choice is more complicated as there's Windows 10 S, Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro.

Let's narrow things down a bit and remove Windows 10 S from the equation. This is a new version of the OS that is aimed at students and teachers, though you may find it on some 'regular' laptops, such as the Surface Laptop from Microsoft.

The key difference between 10 S and regular Windows 10 is that you are limited to installing apps from the built-in Windows Store. Everything else is exactly the same. If you need to install third-party apps on your laptop you will have to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro, which is offered as a free upgrade on the Surface Laptop until 31 December 2017.

At least in this respect, choosing between Windows 10 S and Pro shouldn't be too difficult - if you need anything you're missing you can simply upgrade. But an advantage of sticking to 10 S will be its improved security, since apps are only downloaded from the curated Windows Store, and then run in a safe container on the laptop. 

So that's Windows 10 S taken care of.

What are the main differences between Windows 10 Home and Pro?

There are many things both Windows 10 and Windows 10 Pro can do, but just a few features that are supported only by Pro. To simplify things we've listed only the Windows 10 Pro features that aren't also in Windows 10 Home in the table below. 

	Windows 10 Home	Windows 10 Pro
Create and join a domain (work network)	No	Yes
BitLocker	No	Yes
Group policy management	No	Yes
Remote Desktop	No	Yes
Hyper-V	No	Yes
Assigned Access	No	Yes
Enterprise Mode Internet Explorer	No	Yes
Windows Store for Business	No	Yes
Trusted Boot	No	Yes
Windows Update for Business	No	Yes
Max supported RAM	128GB	2TB

If most of these features are meaningless to you, that's no surprise: most people don't need the extra features in Windows 10 Pro. It's really designed for businesses.

Price

Price is one of the other main differences, although you can now buy both versions cheaper than the official Microsoft prices - £119.99/$119.99 for Home, and £219.99/$199.99 for Pro.

At the time of writing you can buy Windows 10 Home from Amazon for £89/$89, while Windows 10 Pro isn't much more expensive: it costs £95/$110 from Amazon.

Just watch out for very cheap offers as you may be emailed merely an activation key which may or may not work. It's best to stick to the official retail versions - there are no upgrade versions as with previous versions of Windows.

Windows 10 Pro features explained

So what are those extra features in Windows 10 Pro and - more importantly - do you need them if you're considering upgrading or installing Windows on a PC or laptop that will be used at home?

BitLocker

BitLocker is encryption software which allows security conscious users to fully secure their drives from potential hackers. In Windows 10 Pro Microsoft has made some fine adjustments to the service. 

‘With BitLocker,’ explained Joe Belfiore, the Corporate Vice President of Microsoft’s Operating Systems Group, ‘the end user  faces an all or nothing decision for the entire drive to be encrypted, and it doesn’t provide for very much flexibility in the way files move around. We’re solving those problems.’ 

The new iteration of BitLocker allows users to encrypt individual files and keep them alongside unencrypted ones.  Plus they can now be used in the same way on USB sticks, improving the way in which files can be shared between those with the proper clearance to read them.

Remote Desktop Connection

Both Windows 10 Home and Pro can start Remote Desktop Connection sessions, but only PCs running Windows 10 Pro can be remotely controlled. Windows 10 Home machines can only be assisted remotely, and this is mainly for an expert to show a home user how to change settings, for example.

Windows Update for Business

In Windows 10 Pro you get the option to defer updates, but this option doesn't really exist in Home. Microsoft forces patches and updates to Home machines automatically. You can stop them for a few hours, but that's it, even in the latest Creators Update.

The ability to defer is designed to prevent buggy updates from affecting business PCs, and updates can be put off for several months.

Hyper-V

Virtualisation is another benefit of Windows 10 Pro, although few will want to use it. It's like having a built-in VirtualBox, although you'll still have to install Hyper-V on Windows 10 Pro manually. You'll also need to have a CPU which supports virtualisation.

Windows 10 Pro for Workstations

It's worth noting that Microsoft has announced this new version of Pro which is made specifically for more powerful PCs. It will arrive with the Fall Creators Update.

Built for 'high-end' machines, the firm promises 'unique support for server grade PC hardware and is designed to meet demanding needs of mission critical and compute intensive workloads'.

Features include a resilient file system, persistent memory, faster file sharing and expanded hardware support.

Domain and other business features

Group Policy Management and access to the Windows 10 Business Store are other features reserved for WIndows 10 Pro. Microsoft also lists the ability to join Azure Active Directory, with a single sign-on to cloud hosted apps.

Only Windows 10 Pro support joining (or creating) a domain, which allows PCs to be added to a corporate network. With Windows 10 Home, you can't do this and you're pushed to use a Microsoft account rather than a local user account. This means any laptop or PC you want to use at work and access files on servers will almost certainly need to be running Windows 10 Pro.

Assigned Access lets a sysadmin restrict a Windows tablet to run only a certain app (a very specific benefit which will apply to only a few).

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Some features were removed compared to previous versions of Windows. We've outlined the worst Windows 10 sacrifices in our separate guide. 

Which features do they have in common?

All versions of Windows 10 come with Cortana, Microsoft’s virtual assistant, that can make calendar entries, take dictation, open applications and local files, search the web, and give directions, all from voice commands on your PC.

Cortana is now available for Android and iPhones, alongside the full integration it enjoys on Windows Phone. You can read here how to use Cortana in Windows 10.

The Microsoft Edge browser is also available on both versions. This break from Internet Explorer is an interesting one, and Edge certainly has enough features to make it a worthy adversary to Chrome, Firefox, and Opera, although it still falls behind on add-ons.

It offers a stripped-down Reading Mode to declutter articles online, an Instapaper/Pocket style Reading List for saving articles you don’t have time to read there and then, plus the ability to annotate and share web pages. For more information check out our how to use Edge browser in Windows 10 guide.

As Windows continues its voyage into a touch-compatible future, Microsoft has made some significant adjustments to the user interface on both Home and Pro. Gone is the overbearing and oft confusing Windows 8 touch-first layout, replaced instead with a modern take on the Windows 7 desktop.

This doesn’t mean touch has been left behind; instead Windows can now detect the type of hardware you are using and offer the appropriate interface. This feature is called Continuum and should make the new Windows far more attractive to the majority of users, most of whom don’t own a touchscreen laptop or Windows tablet.

A welcome addition to Windows 10 is a fully integrated version of Virtual Desktops. This feature has been around in past iterations of Windows, but always required additional software to get it going. Now you'll be able to create different workspaces on your PC very easily thanks to a new Task View option. You can also drag and drop open applications onto different desktops, making the whole process smooth, fast, and simple. To learn more about this helpful feature read our guide to using virtual desktops in Windows 10.  

The other main upgrade to Windows that can be found of both Home and Pro is universal apps. This idea is a simple one, in which any universal app you buy from the Windows Store will work on any of your devices, be they PC, tablet, phone, or even the Xbox One.  

Conclusion

Windows 10 Home will suffice for the vast majority of users who just want to browse the web, do a little work, and manage their media files. The benefits of the Pro version focus on security and compatibility, but of course the value of these features will come down to whether you actually intend to use them or not, and most home users won't.

Android vs iOS

If you’re buying a new smartphone today, chances are very good that it will run Google’s Android or Apple’s iOS mobile operating systems. These two platforms accounted for more than 99 percent of all new smartphones shipped over the last year, and that rose to 99.7 percent in 2017, according to IDC. Microsoft has thrown in the towel with Windows Phone, BlackBerry makes Android devices now, and there are very few other options worth considering.

The good news is that both smartphone operating systems are excellent. They have far more in common than divides them, but there are some important differences that you’ll want to consider. We’re going to pit Android vs. iOS in several categories here and pick a winner for each one. Ultimately, the best platform for you depends on you. Pick the things that matter most to you, count the wins in those categories, and you have a recommendation.

Affordability

Apple has always been at the top end of the market in terms of pricing. The iPhone X is taking things to a whole new level with a starting price of $1,000. The iPhone 8 Plus starts from $800 and the iPhone 8 from $700. If you don’t want to spend that much, then you can go for the two-year-old iPhone 6S at $450 or the diminutive iPhone SE at $350. That’s as cheap as it gets unless you delve into the second-hand market.

For sheer scale and variety, nothing competes with Android. You can spend a lot if you want to, for example, Google’s new Pixel 2 phones and Samsung’s Galaxy Note line match Apple’s iPhone pricing, but there’s also a huge choice of low-cost handsets from a wide variety of different manufacturers and the platform has been deliberately optimized to run on low-end hardware. The fact that Android also leads the field in free apps makes it the natural choice for the budget-conscious.

Winner: Android

Apps

Simon Hill / Digital Trends

Let’s start with a look at the numbers. This is roughly how many apps you’ll find in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store:

• Android apps: 2.8 million
• iOS apps: 2.2 million

Truthfully, numbers aren’t the best metric because most of us only use a handful of apps and the most popular ones are available on both platforms. Traditionally, iOS has been a more lucrative platform for developers, so there has been a tendency for new apps to appear there first, but that is changing as Android’s market share continues to grow. In the U.S., iOS still leads the way, but developers elsewhere are increasingly targeting Android first.

The Play Store still has a higher percentage of free apps than the App Store. But the best mobile games still land on iOS first and they don’t always come to Android. Ultimately, quality beats quantity and so this is a narrow win for iOS.

Winner: iOS

App Store

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

It’s difficult to organize millions of apps and games and neither Google’s Play Store or Apple’s App Store does it perfectly. Overall, we think Apple’s redesigned App Store in iOS 11 provides a better browsing experience on your phone and does a better job with curated recommendations. The Play Store is easier to search and you can queue and install apps from the web browser on your PC or laptop.

We like the fact that you can buy apps using your fingerprint via TouchID on iPhones, but you can set up the same thing for the Play Store on Android phones with fingerprint sensors. The Play Store wins points for having a no quibble refund policy within 2 hours of purchase. There are some questionable apps in both stores, but Apple is generally stricter about blocking certain types of apps. That can be a good thing for overall quality, but it’s a bad thing if you’re into something like game emulators for classic consoles. The App Store edges the win for usability and curated content.

Winner: iOS

Alternative app stores and sideloading

It’s relatively easy to sideload apps on Android. Tick a box in the settings, download an APK and you’re set. There are also a lot of alternative Android app stores beyond the Play Store, but sideloading can open you up to the risk of malware. Apple is opposed to third-party app stores. If you want a wider choice of apps and easy sideloading then your choice is obvious.

Winner: Android

Battery life and charging

Simon Hill/Digital Trends

As one of the biggest bugbears for smartphone owners, battery life is a huge factor. It’s difficult to compare the two platforms because there’s no common hardware. We could say iOS is optimized to squeeze the most out of the battery per mAh rating, but you can buy an Android device with a much bigger battery that will easily outlast the iPhone.

Both Android and iOS allow you to see your battery usage at a glance, broken down by app, but only Android shows an estimate of how much battery life you have left. They both offer power saving modes that can extend your battery life by limiting performance, connectivity, and other power-sapping features, but precisely how it works is generally more customizable on Android.

For a long time, Android had an advantage in the charging department, because many Android phones offered fast charging capabilities and wireless charging. However, Apple’s iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and iPhone X all offer wireless charging and fast charging. It’s worth noting you have to buy the fast charging adapter separately, whereas it’s usually provided in the box with an Android phone.

This category is far from clear cut, but comparing similarly priced Android phones with iPhones, they tend to have longer battery life, so Android gets the win.

Winner: Android

Updates

Apple’s iOS offers consistent and timely software updates and security patches. If you want the same experience on Android, then you must buy one of Google’s Pixel phones. This is how iOS version share breaks down according to Mixpanel research:

• iOS 11: 49.18 percent
• iOS 10: 39.03 percent
• Older: 11.79 percent

Just under 50 percent of all iOS devices are now running the latest version. By contrast, only 0.2 percent of Android devices are running the latest Android 8.0 Oreo. This is how Android breaks down according to the official Android Developer website:

• Android 8.0 Oreo: 0.2 percent
• Android 7.1 Nougat: 2 percent
• Android 7.0 Nougat: 15.8 percent
• Android 6.0 Marshmallow: 32 percent
• Android 5.1 Lollipop: 21 percent
• Android 5.0 Lollipop: 6.7 percent
• Android 4.4 KitKat: 14.5 percent
• Older: 7.8 percent

If you want the latest features, bug fixes, and security updates, then you should choose iOS.

Winner: iOS

Customizability

Simon Hill/Digital Trends

This has always been one of Android’s main strengths. It’s very easy to theme your phone, you can set up the layout you want on your home screen, add widgets and shortcuts, and even change your entire user interface with launchers.

You can set backgrounds in iOS and there’s limited support for widgets, but you don’t have anything like the same level of freedom. Android also allows you to set up third-party apps as your default options for many things that are still locked down in iOS. If you enjoy tinkering, or you want a truly unique, personalized look for your home screen, then Android is the platform for you.

Winner: Android

Accessibility

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The perception that Android is more complicated than iOS prevails, but there’s no need to dive into customization options if you don’t want to. Both platforms offer a good range of accessibility features.

If you’re looking for a device for an elderly relative, or a technophobe then you’ll find some specialist offerings on Android, but they tend to scale down what’s possible. Manufacturers like Samsung also include options like “Easy mode” which make the interface bigger and simplify the whole experience, or you can opt for a third-party app to do the same. There are lots of good apps aimed at the elderly on Android and iOS.

Ultimately, iOS is simpler and easier to use in some important ways. It’s uniform across all iOS devices, whereas Android is slightly different on devices from different manufacturers. We also think iOS is less cluttered and more streamlined than most Android phones, although Google’s stock Android is every bit as elegant and accessible.

Winner: iOS

Calls and messaging

Basic calling and messaging functionality is good on both platforms, but it can be confusing on Android. Google appeared to be folding everything into Hangouts, which allows messages, SMS, video chat, group chat, and more via Wi-Fi or your data network, but then it somewhat confusingly released Allo and Duo. There’s also Android Messages, which used to be called Google Messenger, and it’s the default texting app. To make matters worse, you’ll find many manufacturers like to offer their own alternatives. Many Android phones come with their own messaging and dialer apps in addition to Google’s messaging apps, or they eliminate the Google apps.

FaceTime and iMessage come pre-installed on every iPhone and iPad, so it’s remarkably easy to connect with your friends and family. While iMessage is very easy to use, it works best when communicating with other iPhone users. You’ll find third-party app integration, fun stickers, GIFs, and much more in iMessage. We give iOS the win for its consistency and ease of use.

Winner: iOS

Email

The default email apps on Android and iOS are very easy to use and quick to set up. You can pull in multiple email accounts and view them in a single inbox if you desire. Android and iOS have a huge range of third-party email apps available as well. However, Gmail is a stronger default email app than iOS’ Mail. Since Gmail is the most popular email address system in the world, it makes sense that the Gmail app would be a winner. You can also add email addresses from different providers in Gmail with ease.

The only issue is that Android phones often offer alternative email apps made by the manufacturers, which may or may not be good.

Winner: Android

Maps

As the newer navigation system, Apple Maps did not have a great start, but it has improved significantly. Key features are similar, you can download maps for offline use, get accurate estimates based on current traffic conditions, and find turn-by-turn directions for driving or walking. You’ll also find public transit and ride-booking integration. They all work well and should get you where you’re going.

One thing that Google Maps offers that Apple Maps doesn’t is cycling directions. Overall, the scale and quality of Google Maps is unsurpassed. It has more points of interest and it is generally more detailed than Apple Maps, but the accuracy can vary from place to place. Given the choice we’d always pick Google Maps and, though you can get it on iOS, it’s better on Android because it’s the default navigation app.

Winner: Android

Camera

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

This is a difficult category to call. In the past, we’ve argued that Apple does the best job capturing lighting, coloring, and other details, but the latest Android smartphones are casting a lot of doubt on that assertion. Google’s Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL boast the best cameras we’ve used so far, but the iPhone 8 Plus comes close and we expect the iPhone X camera to be something special.

While most of the current crop of Android flagships sport good, or sometimes great, cameras, there’s a fair bit of variance and the camera quality of many mid-rangers doesn’t come close to the quality of iPhone cameras. As you’d expect, most budget Android phones have lower quality cameras.

The camera apps on both platforms are very good and very fast. For ease of use and best results without tweaking, the iOS camera app takes the cake. There’s more variation on Android simply because OEMs tend to add their own camera apps with lots of features, some good, some a bit gimmicky. We’re going to give this one to iOS, but with the caveat that the top Android phones, particularly the Pixel 2, offer the best smartphone camera experience around.

Winner: iOS

Photo backup

If you use the Photos app in Android, then you can automatically back up all your photos and videos. There’s no doubt that Google Photos is the best option because it offers unlimited free storage, provided you don’t mind the 16-megapixel limit for images and the 1080p resolution limit for video.

You can back up photos and videos at the original resolution with iCloud or Google Photos, but you only get 5GB of free space with iCloud, compared to 15GB with Google Drive. You can also back up unlimited photos and videos in full resolution with Google Photos if you own a Google-branded Pixel phone.

This category is complicated by the fact that the default on iOS is iCloud, but you can also use Google’s Photos on iOS. However, since most people go with the default option, we’re giving Android the win here.

Winner: Android

Cloud services

Apple is still lagging when it comes to cloud storage and automatic backups. Google Drive offers 15GB for free and has cross-platform support. You only get 5GB with iCloud, and it only works with Windows, Mac, and iOS.

If you need a lot of additional space, then Google Drive was the cheapest at $2 per month for 100GB ($24 for the year), but Apple dropped its prices to match. Apple charges $1 per month for 50GB. They both offer 1TB for $10 per month.

Android’s cloud storage is easier to use and more effective than iCloud, though you can use Google Drive on an iPhone, whereas iCloud is iOS only.

Winner: Android

Voice assistants

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

You can do many of the same things with Apple’s Siri as you can with Google Assistant, but Siri is more like a straightforward helper for setting calendar appointments, searching the web, or making calls. Google Assistant has an extra layer. It can pre-emptively offer useful suggestions, and it has a more conversational side that offers up entertaining games and contextual information based on what you’re doing. It’s smarter and more versatile than Siri.

Winner: Android

Security

Much has been made of the supposedly “toxic hell stew” that is Android, but the threat of malware is exaggerated. The truth is that most people will never encounter a problem because they don’t go outside the Play Store for apps. Specific manufacturers like Samsung have taken extra efforts to beef up security for the enterprise market. But the slovenly nature of updates on many Android devices can seriously delay important security patches.

Speedy updates are now more important than ever because security breaches are becoming more serious. Android is behind in the update world, unless you have a stock Android device, and so it’s less secure. Because millions of Android phones are still running software that’s years old they can be vulnerable to serious hacks like Heartbleed and Stagefright.

Apple is already firmly entrenched in corporate America and has also worked on improved security for general consumers, most notably with Touch ID and the forthcoming FaceID in the iPhone X. The tight oversight that Apple has on apps and the ability to push updates out to more devices, more quickly, gives it a definite edge over Android. The company also encrypts data in iMessage and its other apps.

Apple prioritizes user privacy, so you can feel safe knowing your personal data is not stored or read by Apple. It is all encrypted, too. Meanwhile, Android encrypts some data, but your privacy is less protected. Google mines your data for information that it can use to sell better ads and market products to you. Your data is also stored and read to provide you with a better AI experience.

Google said it’s challenging to fully protect user privacy and still provide the AI services it offers, but some security experts and Apple argue that Google presents a false choice between privacy and AI. Apple even went to war with the FBI to guarantee your right to encryption. It’s hard to beat that kind of dedication.

There’s no denying that iOS is the most secure platform and the one that best protects user privacy. If you care about your privacy and security, go with an iPhone.

Winner: iOS

Rooting, bootloaders, and jailbreaking

We’ve looked at how to root your Android phone or tablet before. It’s not for everyone, but if you want root access and complete control over your device, then rooting is the way to get it. Rooting gives you access to more apps, the latest OS updates without waiting, new software skins to get the aesthetic you want, the chance to get rid of bloatware from carriers and manufacturers, potential tweaks to boost your device’s speed and battery life, and more.

Many Android OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) also offer a way to unlock the bootloader, which determines how the operating system loads up on your device. Apple is completely opposed to this kind of thing. Jailbreaking is an option for iOS, which lets you download and install apps from outside the App Store and bypass some other limitations.

Winner: Android

Cases and accessories

Native Union Dock

The average iPad or iPhone owner spends more money on more things than the average Android device owner, and Apple has built up a great ecosystem of peripherals for its phones and tablets. There are far more peripherals and cases aimed at the iPhone than any other device, but something like Samsung’s Galaxy S8 would be a close second.

On the other hand, Android devices have adopted the Micro USB or USB-C standard, whereas Apple insists on its proprietary Lightning cable, which means it’s much easier to find a charger if you’re not an iPhone owner. This often means you have to splash out on an overpriced Apple adapter. Peripheral manufacturers may still go after iOS as their main target, but it’s very rare to find something without Micro USB support.

Another mark against Apple here relates to its abandonment of the standard 3.5mm audio port, which started with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. You do get an adapter in the box, but it’s easily lost and the choice of headphones sporting 3.5mm audio jacks far exceeds those with Lightning connectors. Of course, now some Android phones are axing the headphone jack in favor of USB-C audio, so this may not be a difference for much longer.

It’s also important to note that Apple’s ecosystem of products all work together exceedingly well. The iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, and HomeKit products all work together in perfect harmony. MacOS, WatchOS, and iOS are all well connected, making it easy to have all Apple products on the same page.

Since Android phones are produced by many different manufacturers, product ecosystems vary. Samsung has a great ecosystem, for example, and Android phones have support from Home, Chromecast, and Android Wear. However, it’s not quite as seamless.

Overall, taking all available accessories into account, you have more choice with an iPhone, so iOS takes the win here, but with caveats.

Winner: iOS

Conclusion

Numerically speaking, Android wins 10 categories and iOS wins 8 categories, but iOS wins in some of the more important categories – we don’t think rooting or alternative app stores are as important for most people as accessibility or security, for example. It’s very difficult to compare the two. Because Apple controls the hardware and the software, you’ll find that iOS offers a more uniform experience across devices.

A straight comparison of the latest versions of Android and iOS wouldn’t be very representative of most people’s experience, because most Android devices aren’t running the latest version. The experience you get is further complicated by the fact that most Android smartphone manufacturers add their own user interface on top of Google’s stock Android. As a result, there’s quite a big difference between using Google’s Pixel 2, the Samsung Galaxy S8, and the LG G6, for example.

If you do decide to go with an Android device, make sure you do a little research and look at the version of Android it runs, the manufacturer skin on top, and the manufacturer’s record for software updates.

Ultimately, different categories will be important to different people, so you should pay attention to the ones that count for you and make your decision based on that. If security and privacy are an important factor, then the iPhone is the obvious choice. If battery life is top of your list and you want to be able to customize your phone, then choose Android. Both Android and iOS are mature, feature-packed platforms with far more similarities than differences, and we can heartily recommend either