The iPhone has long ranked among the best smartphones in the world, thanks to its powerful performance, minimalist design, and impressive cameras. Still, there are persistent issues - both hardware and software related - that frustrate even Apple’s most devoted users.

Here are five key shortcomings of the iPhone experience that could eventually push more users to consider Android alternatives.

1. Telephoto camera is still underwhelming

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iPhone 17 Pro Max. Photo: Future

Apple’s cameras are widely praised, but its telephoto lens continues to lag behind top competitors.

The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max offer optical zoom of 4x and, in some previous models, up to 5x. On paper, this is comparable to premium Android models like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra or Google Pixel 10 Pro XL.

However, the real problem lies in digital zoom - Apple simply can’t compete.

Android rivals, especially Google, are leveraging advanced AI to reconstruct zoomed-in images with remarkable quality. As a result, users get highly usable photos even at zoom levels far beyond the optical range - something iPhones struggle with.

Samsung, for instance, offers dual optical zooms (3x and 5x) on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which users appreciate. Apple, meanwhile, markets "optical-quality zoom" across various focal lengths - but this is more of a vague marketing term than a true optical advantage.

2. Charging speed is disappointingly slow

When comparing Apple, Samsung, and Google, their fast-charging capabilities are roughly in the same league. But against Chinese brands like OnePlus or Xiaomi, the iPhone is clearly behind.

Apple claims the iPhone 17 Pro Max can reach 50% charge in 20 minutes when using a 40W or higher charger.

That effectively caps the device’s charging power at around 40W - far below the 120W offered by the OnePlus 15 or the 100W of the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max.

The disparity grows even wider with wireless charging. While Xiaomi and OnePlus support wireless charging up to 50W, the iPhone maxes out at 30W.

In today’s fast-paced world, slow charging is a major disadvantage for Apple.

3. Can’t tap the middle of a word to fix typos

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Can’t tap the middle of a word when editing on iPhone. Photo: Future

It’s a small but persistent annoyance: you can’t tap directly in the middle of a word to move the cursor for quick typo corrections.

On iPhone, tapping a word only places the cursor at the beginning or end. To adjust it precisely in the middle, you must either press and drag the cursor manually or long-press the spacebar to turn the keyboard into a virtual trackpad.

These methods are either unintuitive or slower than simply tapping where you want.

Apple may argue that tapping the middle of a word isn’t always precise. But on Android, this interaction usually works just fine.

Even if the tap isn’t perfect, users still have the usual methods to adjust the cursor. So why not offer the option? Adding this feature wouldn’t break anything - it would just make life easier.

4. Battery size is smaller than most rivals

Not only does the iPhone charge slowly, its battery capacity is generally smaller than most Android phones.

Apple has gradually improved battery life, and the eSIM-only version of the iPhone 17 Pro Max actually edges out the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Still, its 5,088 mAh battery falls short of the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s 5,200 mAh, and is completely outmatched by the massive 7,500 mAh battery in the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max.

This gap suggests that Apple still has room to improve. While Android brands are pushing boundaries, Apple’s conservative approach leaves the iPhone less competitive in battery endurance.

5. Siri remains a frustrating limitation

Siri has long lagged behind Google Assistant in terms of intelligence and responsiveness. Some users even prefer Amazon’s Alexa.

In recent years, this gap has widened further with the rise of powerful AI assistants like Gemini and ChatGPT.

Apple has yet to fully enter the AI race, and Siri has become increasingly lackluster. Yes, you can link a ChatGPT account to Siri for better responses, but the experience is far from seamless.

There is hope on the horizon. Siri is rumored to get a major AI upgrade by March or April next year, possibly based on Gemini.

Additionally, the iOS 26.2 beta shows Apple may soon allow users to change their default voice assistant - though it’s being tested in Japan first.

But for now, those seeking the best AI experience still prefer Android.

While the iPhone remains a top-tier smartphone, these limitations prevent the experience from being truly complete.

Hai Phong