Got my BB Passport to replace the latest iPhone and I couldn't be happier. Ironic really... going from Apple to BB. It was between the BB Passport and the latest Samsung S7 for me.

Another thing to learn: Charge your Samsung phone in the oven or other fireproof compartment. That news is perfectly timed for your article.

Switch to Android and get ready for Malware Viruses automatically installing apps which wont go even after format, low quality device and apps that cant even use accelerometer properly till now , fake apps populating the whole Playstore. and get an OS which is at least 7 generations behind iOS & 10 generations Less Secure.

Security is more if an issue now you can use your device to pay for stuff, potentially allowing third parties access to your bank details through Android is a big put off for me. Also, and this is great timing for this article, Samsung S7s are catching fire and are being recalled.

I suppose these Applefans need to say something or the other. Smartphone requires just a little bit of smarts on the part of users too. So that rules out all the Applefans. I have been using Android phones from the time of gingerbread 2.3. Never had ANY malware on any of devices, ever. Talking about smart my iPad mini 2 can't even recognise the fact that it is connected to the internet. It can't even access the web page of the router. The stupid Safari thing insists on "searching" the url I have typed in, in stead of actually treating it like web address that I want to access. A keyboard without navigation keys? Can't install freeware Google keyboard in India ? How lame is that ? Well, why am I even pointing these out? It may just be too much for the "fanboys" to even understand.
BTW I do own an iPad Mini 2 for which I have one single use. Video chat on Facetime with my 9 and 11 year old granddaughters on their iPods, half way across the globe.

I have never had a security issue with Android. It is more likely than with Apple, being open source, BUT, they are few and far between. Also, they offer up fixes for them fairly quickly once vulnerabilities are found. Samsung phones are nice, for about a year, then they slow to a crawl, because they can't handle updates meant for newer hardware. This is definitely an Apple problem too, but you're essentially forced to update your phone, which will eventually brick it. Androids will just stop getting updates, and you can soldier along if the phone is in good shape. I would like to throw out there that Windows 10 mobile is much better than the old WM versions. I think if they offer a little more customization, once the Universal Windows Platform app thing catches on to close the app gap a bit, they can be a true contender. I have a Lumia 640 that I "tinker" with, and it's a very good device for costing $40. Even when I run beta software, it works very well, with only a few little issues. Fingers crossed for a Surface Phone!

Apple is the only manufacturer — from toothpaste to cars to computing devices — to which I maintain a brand preference. It began many years ago when I got fed up with Windows but continued to this day because of Apple's relentless attention to design and quality of manufacturing. They are the market leader for a very good reason. When another manufacturer demonstrably surpasses Apple for a prolonged period, I may consider their products; but certainly not yet.

Sorry to say but I gone exactly in an opposite direction. Started with the HTC HD2 (excellent phone and excellent OS), then Samsung Note, changed to Sony Z Ultra until I fed up with the frequent Android updates and with each slowly coming updates plenty of problems came as well. Problems such as first you could store apps on the micro USB mem card, then you suddenly couldn't, then you could again, but the app updates had to be done manually, etc... etc... (and you never knew about these 'secret' changes until you got them...). The only good thing I enjoyed in Android was the superior keyboard. But finally Apple having both lower and upper case letters this difference is negated. Sure, Apple OS has some getting to use features as opposed to Android or to the Windows file management system, but it is a robust OS and as others said before, in case of a mishap the updates are quick and simple. I will never go back to Android which is really not one OS but as many as Android phone makers are, and none of them care about their users as much as Apple does...

Tried the first gen iPhone and hated it (why do Apple always think they know better?), had Android (Samsung) phones ever since and never regretted it (current one is a Note 4), though I think I'll go a Nexus next time to make sure I get timely updates..

"Closed systems mean greater security, since hackers have fewer access points to distribute malware."
Really? I cannot express how ignorant I find such a statement to be. Your argument about "fewer access points" is made without support or explanation. Personally, I find it to be irrational. I will not tell you that open source, ergo the Android OS, is more secure than the closed source iOS. I personally believe that is likely the case; however, as pointed out by others is very difficult to demonstrate.
Your statement winds up as a pander to Apple and its closed source iOS.