A new report from GreenSmartphones has found that Android users experience fewer usability issues than their iOS counterparts, suggesting that Android could be a more intuitive operating system. By analyzing search engine data, the report tracked the number of times users of both systems sought help with basic operations such as screen recording, screenshots and sharing geographic data.

Breaking the myth: Android and iOS in general transactions

The findings showed that iPhone users in the United States seek help with these essential functions approximately 358,000 times a month; this is 58% more than Android users. Specifically, the biggest disparity was seen in searches for “how to delete all content and settings”: iOS users searched six times more often than Android users.

The survey compared 12 common actions, and Android outperformed iOS in ten of those twelve areas, requiring fewer users to look at instructions. Android followed only iOS in taking screenshots and scanning QR codes where iOS seemed more intuitive to users.

On average, Android users make 226,000 core task searches per month, compared to 358,000 for iOS users with a 58.41% margin. This is despite the nearly equivalent size of the user base of both operating systems in the US.

As the age-old debate over Android’s advantages over iOS continues, while debates continue in favor of Android’s flexibility and customization, and iOS’ speed and long-term security, this study suggests Android could be easier on the average user.

The study was based on an analysis of Google search volume in the United States over the previous 12 months and used the same keyword format in both operating systems to maintain consistency.