iOS vs Android: Platform Comparison for Game Development

The great debate of our time: which operating system is best for gaming? Truth is, both iOS and Android have advantages and limitations. 

Most gamers have an opinion on the topic, and many of those opinions are subjective. So, let’s dig into some data about iOS vs Android gaming supported by opinions of the developers. 

When it comes to the issue of iOS vs Android game development, it’s not enough just to consider user number statistics. As of July 2021, 70% of all mobile devices were running Android, and there were over one billion iPhone users. Android hit this benchmark in 2017. 

When comparing iOS and Android game development, it’s best to shed some light on other aspects: hardware, marketplace, principles of monetization, models performance, and users’ expectations. In the future of gaming, these factors will influence the process of game publishing and monetization.  

To publish successful online casino games, it’s important to understand the differences in business features and development processes. Innovecs recommends several strategies to gain this understanding:

• Comparing the opinions and experiences of developers
• Utilizing successful monetization models
• Learning about development challenges for the future

Simon Joslin, a developer at The Voxel Agents, stated that hardware matters. He emphasizes that “the iOS ecosystem has consistently excellent devices, a great operating system that users keep up to date, and an App Store where the consumer is willing to pay for a better experience.” Due to the relative homogeneity of Apple devices, publishers face fewer bugs and post-release fixes.

Joslin also noted that hardware consistency let him concentrate more on producing a perfect user experience rather than continuously fixing the bugs to make the game compatible with more devices. But not all developers feel the same. For example, Chris Murphy of Pub Games noted that iOS hardware was standardized, but the tech was quite rigid. This was frustrating for high-end game development. 

When deciding which marketplace to develop for, it’s wise to carefully compare the specific features of iOS and Android gaming and devices to aid in your decision-making.

Your in-game monetization and game publishing revenue will largely depend on your target audience and their expectations on iOS and Android platforms. While iPhone users are more likely to make payments and purchases, their registration rate is lower compared to Android users. Additionally, iOS users tend to spend more on clothing, cosmetics, and tech products than Android users. Apple’s hand-curated showcase also makes it easier to find and download titles, and users of iOS devices experience less adware due to the App Store entry fee for developers.

These factors can lead to certain titles being more profitable for iOS users, leaving the Android store lacking in these games. However, this presents an opportunity for Android developers to create and offer their own unique titles.

When it comes to mobile gaming, the competition between Android and iOS is a close one. In just a decade, mobile gaming has transformed from pixelated graphics to high-grade visuals, providing exceptional user experience. Both platforms offer a vast selection of casual games, slots, online casino software, and mid-core games, with their respective technologies constantly evolving.

While users have positive and negative experiences on both platforms, the game availability on the App Store and Google Play differs significantly. The App Store has over four million apps, with over a million games, while Google Play offers more than two million apps, with games accounting for over 20% of them. However, it’s worth noting that as of September 2022, Android controls almost 71% of the mobile OS market, while iOS accounts for around 28%.

Everything from storage capacity, GPU, battery life, and FPS (frames per second) benchmarks impact user experience. And just like a PC, processor size will affect graphics display and lag time.  

Android phones have several manufacturers and as such, differing specs and customizability that ranges across the board. Player needs are wide ranging as well, it often comes down to personal preference… a casual gamer won’t need as powerful of a processor as a hard-core gamer will. 

Gameplay can suffer from lags and slow responses, especially if the game code is heavy or there was a lack of testing before release. Available hardware is an important factor to consider when choosing a platform for your future game.

When it comes to game publishing, most developers look for a platform to start with, often due to budget constraints, especially for Android quality assurance (QA) due to the diverse range of devices on the market. As such, when investing in a new title, game development teams should research release requirements, monetization success, and user attraction for each platform.

We’ve covered some of the basic differences to consider when choosing a platform: 

• Users of the App Store are more willing to spend money for a better gaming experience; 
• iOS and Android hardware differs: iPhone FPS benchmarks offer clean video quality and is more attractive to users; 
• The development process often begins with one platform, after success many developers want to expand to another. Consider starting with cross-platform development;  
• GPU, processor, and battery capacity all make a difference (some developers note iOS devices are more consistent, while some of them state Apple tech is rigidly interfering with high-end game development). 

Comparing Android with iOS, developers face various tricky development issues. Each issue can be seen as a positive or negative factor for game development. For example, while the Apple ecosystem is more homogeneous, which means less work for game developers in iterating, bug fixing, and QA, the audience of iOS devices is not as vast as the Android one, leaving less space for product promotion.

If you are still uncertain about which platform, either iOS or Android, is the best choice for your gaming releases, do not hesitate to reach out for a consultation. Our super-talented team of artists and developers is here to assist you in bringing your outstanding ideas to fruition.