iOS 11 vs. Android Oreo: 5 Features Where Apple Took the Lead

iOS 11 vs. Android Oreo: 5 Features Where Apple Took the Lead

Published: February 18, 2018

It has been a few months since Apple rolled out iOS 11 for iPhone and iPad devices. The adoption rate for this latest version is impressive, already running on 65 percent of devices according to recent figures.

Apple has also launched several maintenance updates, with the upcoming iOS 11.3 beta focusing heavily on battery health and processor performance. But how does this operating system stand against Google’s competitor, Android 8.1 Oreo?

While the gap is closing, iOS 11 introduced several features that gave it a distinct upper hand at the time. Here are 5 things iPhones could do that Android phones couldn't.

1. Native Spam Message Filtering

One of the most practical features introduced in iOS 11 was the ability to filter unwanted SMS spam. Apple integrated Machine Learning directly into the OS, giving the Messages app the ability to detect and filter potential junk messages automatically—a feature that was highly requested by users to keep their inboxes clean.

2. Native Screen Recording

With iOS 11, Apple finally brought native screen recording to the Control Center.

  • Users can record their display along with external voice input.
  • It is possible to edit the footage to create GIFs instantly.

While some manufacturers like Samsung had implemented their own custom versions, stock Android still lacked a built-in, universal screen recorder in version 8.1.

3. Seamless Message Sync (iCloud)

The updated Messages app in iOS 11 introduced full iCloud support. This ensures that all your conversations are perfectly synchronized across every Apple device you own—whether it’s an iPhone, iPad, or Mac—as long as they share the same Apple ID. In comparison, Google’s Android Messages app struggled to offer the same level of seamless multi-device integration at the time.

4. Peer-to-Peer Payments in Messages

Apple integrated the ability to send and receive money directly within the Messages app using Apple Pay Cash.

  • Users can transfer funds via a simple text message.
  • Received money allows for instant transfer straight to a bank account.

At the time of this update, Android did not offer a native, OS-level equivalent for peer-to-peer payments within its default messaging app.

5. System-Wide Drag-and-Drop

iOS 11 revolutionized productivity on mobile, particularly for the iPad, by introducing Drag-and-Drop support. Users can easily move images, text, and URLs between apps by simply dragging them across the screen. This feature leverages the redesigned app switcher panel, making multitasking significantly more fluid than on competing platforms.

💡 Editor's Note (2026 Update):
This post is an archive analysis from 2018. The mobile landscape has changed significantly since then! Android has since added almost all of these features, including native screen recording (Android 11), robust spam protection (Messages by Google), and Nearby Share.

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