Has Google Surpassed Apple in Interface Design?

The war of who is better is always on between Apple and Google. In this competition, the two leading technology brands are competing with each other and crossing each other’s roads many a times. Although, the competition is persistent over different aspects but this blog will narrow down to the aspect of interface design. If Apple has challenged the Android 4.4 interface with the clean and simple software interface of iOS 8 then Google is coming up with upcoming Android L to challenge Apple iOS 8. 

There is still time for the launch of Android L smartphones, but the Android L interface is available on the current version of Android Wear in Motorola 360 watch. As Apple has also entered into the smartwatch market with Apple watch, there wonderful opportunity to compare the Apple Watch featuring the iOS8 interface, and Google Wear featuring the Android L interface. Both the smartwatches from Apple and Google are running on the latest OS of the respective brands, so there can be a clear and side-by-side comparison of the latest interface design of the two leading rivals.

Side-By-Side Comparison 

1.       Home Screen

The image in the left side is the “home screen” of Apple watch. It has a launcher made up of circular app icons. User can do zooming in and zooming out with the “Digital Crown” dial and open the desired app. But if you look on the right side image, the Android Wear actually doesn’t have a home screen. In fact its watch face is more a part of the UI. The app launcher remains hidden in the settings, located at lower right side, instead of front and center. This gives a clear interface to the watch as can be seen above. 

2.       Contacts

With ‘Contacts’ interface also, once again Android Wear proves to be more simple. Again it doesn’t have an app for this. You simply need to use your voice. Just tell the name of the person you want to contact. Whereas, the Apple Watch displays a standard list of four contacts at a time with photo and name. You can scroll through the list of contacts with touch. It’s true that in Android wear you sometimes feel the need of a real contact list. But otherwise in terms of interface it is quicker and simpler.

3.       Weather App 

If you look at the weather app of Apple, you will see that the screen packs a ton of info. There is a clock-like dial that shows the weather forecast for the next 10 hours. Furthermore, the screen is also crowded with current temperature, location, and the time. This makes the screen look bit crowded, with its black colored background. On the other side, Android wear has a white colored screen that shows the temperature, location, wind speed, and humidity. 

Maps

 If you are looking for direction over the Map app of Apple, you will be provided with a top-down view. Reading the streets name also gets difficult. In Android Wear you just need to swipe horizontally through the steps to get the directions. Even if the half of the screen is occupied by an image, yet the Android wear map app is easily understandable. 

If you love light-colored simple interface, then from the above comparison, you can say that Google Android L has surpassed Apple iOS 8 in interface design. But if you are fond of dark colors, love to have icons on your screen then you will still love the Apple interface.