Category Archives: Astrophotography

Where to find dark skies

The general advice for success in stargazing is to find a dark spot, away from city lights. Once you’ve found it, give your eyes a chance to get adapted, and then look all over the sky.

Places like Henry W. Coe State Park in the South Bay, Skyline Boulevard in Oakland and Mount Diablo in the East Bay, Mount Tamalpais and Point Reyes in Marin County, and Bodega Bay in Sonoma County in the North Bay have especially dark skies and optimal conditions for stargazing. On the peninsula, Pescadero and the Santa Cruz Mountains are good spots.

If you’re willing to drive a bit further, you can head out of the Bay Area to places like Pinnacles National Park, Death Valley, Yosemite or other national parks that usually have less light pollution. Or, refer to a dark sky map to find out where you’ll have the best view.

You can join a free telescope viewing at Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland. On the peninsula, there’s the Foothill College Observatory in Los Altos Hills, and in the North Bay you can go to the Robert Ferguson Observatory in Sonoma County, which regularly has telescope viewings available to the public.

Or you could join an astronomy club, like the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers.

“There are actually hundreds of clubs of astronomy enthusiasts around the country. And in the Bay Area, we have a very rich collection of astronomy clubs,” said Fraknoi.

You can find other fellow astronomy enthusiasts on NASA’s Night Sky Network, many of whom host star parties and astronomy events, including camping trips.

Tips for taking photos of stars and meteor showers

Shreenivasan Manievannan, a professional photographer and Bay Area resident, has been an advocate at the International Dark-Sky Association since 2014. He’s involved with public outreach activities that promote the protection of our dark skies. This includes sharing his love of astrophotography through photos and time-lapse videos of the amazing views of our cosmos and organizing workshops about the importance of our dark skies at public libraries.

For those interested in taking photos of the night sky, Manievannan says you should first understand which camera suits your need and what you are trying to capture. If you’re planning on shooting high-quality images and are ready to make the investment, Manievannan’s advice is to first look for a basic SLR or mirrorless camera with a good wide-angle lens, a camera that can take long exposure shots, like 15 to 30 seconds long.

If you’re not ready to make an investment but still want to take some good night shots, he says most camera phones these days can take decent photos of the night sky, and are equipped with night mode functions.

The second important tip, he says: Make sure you have a camera mount or a tripod. The mounts will help capture those really long exposures, something that can’t be done reliably by just holding it with your hands. Read a detailed guide for astrophotography for beginners from space.com.

In celebration of this spring’s International Astronomy Day, Skye Canyon’s eighth annual Skye & Stars stargazing event with the Las Vegas Astronomical Society (LVAS) is set for April 29 at Skye Canyon Park.

Gates open at 6 p.m. for picnicking, music, lawn games and food trucks with constellation viewing and celestial exploration beginning after dark at 8 to 10 p.m. This is a free, family-friendly event. As part of the Thrive@Skye event series, attendees will receive a special commemorative pin to add to their collection.

Donations for LVAS, a nonprofit organization of amateur astronomers formed to promote astronomy in Southern Nevada will be accepted during the event. For the purchase of a $5 raffle ticket, there will also be a drawing to win an AWB OneSkye Telescope with all proceeds going to LVAS.

Guests are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs and enjoy a picnic. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from local food trucks, including Taco Ave, Alpha Dawg, Flattops Burgers and Shakes and Happy Ending Chocolate, and Horsetrailer Hideout will serve beer and spirits.

Using telescopes, strategically arranged throughout the park, along with astrophotography and video cameras, LVAS volunteers will use a high-powered laser that can point directly to celestial events as they guide attendees on a tour of the desert sky.

A favorite event for Skye Canyon residents, this year once again features an in-person, guided tour through the night sky led by Keith Caceres, president of the Las Vegas Astronomical Society. Caceres and his team will position high-power telescopes throughout the park aimed at specific and noteworthy stars and constellations and will use a powerful, high-tech laser pointer to further showcase and point out interesting elements in the night sky.

Some highlights of the sky tour will include: the moon, planet Venus and prominent constellations and stars visible in the sky on that night, including Orion, Ursa Major (The Big Bear, containing The Big Dipper) and Ursa Minor (The Little Bear, containing The North Star and Little Dipper.)

Las Vegas Astronomical Society is a nonprofit organization of amateur astronomers that was formed to promote astronomy in Southern Nevada for the sole purpose of educating and sharing their passion with those who have an interest in astronomy. They hold regular meetings and observation gatherings and offer educational opportunities and services to schools and youth science programs, service agencies and other organizations. For more information, visit lvastronomy.com.

Skye Canyon is a 1,000-acre master-planned community in northwest Las Vegas located on U.S. Highway 95 at Skye Canyon Park Drive. Offering entry-level, move-up and luxury neighborhoods for individuals, couples, families and active adults who share a passion for outdoor activities, wellness and immersive living. Skye Canyon includes unique amenities like Skye Canyon Park that features Skye Center, the community’s social hub with an open-air bistro and indoor and outdoor fireplaces, and Skye Fitness, a state-of-the-art workout facility and outdoor junior Olympic-size swimming pool that is exclusive for residents.

Among the many other amenities offered are designated bike lanes, an extensive network of hiking and walking trails and shopping at Skye Canyon Marketplace. Other commercial offerings such as office space and gaming will be added as the community grows. Skye Canyon ranks among the top-selling master-planned communities in the country based on new home sales. For more information visit skyecanyon.com or connect with Skye Canyon on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and on Pinterest.

© James Abbott
Night for day astrophotography is a great way to challenge your creativity.

Astrophotography is well-known for being difficult, but equally rewarding when you experience perfect conditions. For traditional astrophotography, several variables come into play; you need to find one of the best locations for astrophotography and skywatching, so a clear sky in a dark sky area with no moon would be ideal, and for the Milky Way it needs to be the right time of year for your location.

Moonlight is a serious problem that renders many nights unsuitable for this type of photography, but there is another approach that embraces the moon and is best shot when the moon is full. What’s more, it can hugely increase the number of times you can go out shooting every month.

Night for day is a surreal astrophotography technique where you use similar settings to traditional astrophotography, but you don’t need a star tracker. However, by shooting under a full, first, or third quarter moon, you can take advantage of the moonlight illuminating the landscape. A full moon and the four days around it are the best times, but you can extend the shooting period for increased chances of perfect conditions.

The result is cold but clear light on the landscape and a bright blue sky with stars visible. In some situations, it’s purely the latter that gives away that the photo was taken at night rather than in daylight. All the planning and the best astrophotography cameras to use are the same as any other type of astrophotography, but with night for day you have to think in a completely different way.

So, if you’ve already given our beginners guide to astrophotography a read through and are ready for your next challenge, then night for day astrophotography might just be for you. 

To find your way around the night sky with ease, our best astronomy books will have you exploring the cosmos and finding your way around the universe in no time. And if you want to take your stargazing kit to the next level, you might be interested in our guides to the best binoculars for stargazing and the best telescopes too.

Check the moon phase

Being aware of the moon phase, alongside when the moon will rise, set, and its direction of travel are just as important for this type of astrophotography as it is for shooting the Milky Way. Where you’d typically want no moon in the sky for shooting traditional astrophotography, when shooting night for day a full moon is preferable because it illuminates the ground incredibly well.

A full moon means you can shoot at lower ISO levels when using a fast wide-angle prime lens. At a minimum you can, however, shoot under a first- or third-quarter moon where half of the moon is illuminated. In this kind of situation, you’ll need to use an ISO setting that’s roughly 1-1.5 stops higher than under a full moon. For example, under a full moon ISO 800 is often enough with an f/1.8 aperture, while under a first- or third-quarter moon this would need to be ISO 1600 – ISO 2000. 

To check the moon phase for today and the rest of the month visit ‘What is the moon phase today?’

Use the 500 rule as a guide

The 500 rule is a rough guideline that you can use to calculate the longest shutter speed/exposure time you can shoot with to capture pinpoint stars rather than teardrop shape stars or star trails. Calculating the longest shutter speed that you can shoot with requires a simple calculation:

500 / (sensor crop factor x focal length of the lens being used) = maximum shutter speed

Here’s the calculation using a 20mm lens with a full-frame camera, an APS-C sensor, and a Micro Four Thirds (MFT) camera:

• Full-frame (1x): 500 / 20 = 25 seconds
• APS-C (1.5x): 500 / 30 = 16 seconds
• MFT (2.0x): 500 / 40 = 12 seconds

Shooting steps

1. Compose your shot

Once on location, position yourself with the moon to the side of the subject or behind you so it’s not visible in the shot. The position of the moon can be checked using apps including PhotoPills. If the moon is behind you, make sure you’re not capturing a shadow of the camera and tripod. Shoot in Raw because this will provide the flexibility and latitude required during image processing. Compose your image using the Live View and use the Virtual Horizon to make sure the camera is level.

2. Focus on the stars

With Live View active, zoom into one of the brightest stars in the sky. Set your lens to manual focus and rotate the focus ring until the star is at its sharpest (where it will appear at its smallest with sharp edges). If your camera has focus peaking, turn this feature on and set it to High/Red – this will show a red outline around the star when it’s in focus. You can now begin shooting, but you will need to refocus every time you move the camera, including changing composition by adjusting the tripod head.

3. Camera settings

Shoot in manual mode with aperture set to the maximum setting i.e. f/1.8 or f/1.4. Set ISO to 1600 with a shutter speed of 10 seconds. If shooting under a full moon, you will likely be able to reduce both of these settings, but if shooting under a first- or third-quarter moon, this will be close to correct although you may need to increase ISO to 2000 and/or shutter speed to 15 seconds. Take test shots to assess exposure, and use either a shutter remote or the camera self-timer to avoid camera shake.

Editing tips

1. Process images as normal

Night for day photos can benefit from some of the techniques used for processing ‘standard’ astrophotography images, such as using Luminosity Masks in photo editing apps (like Lightroom or Photoshop) to increase the brightness of just the stars – having one of the best laptops for photo editing will help too. 

Since these images are generally well-lit by moonlight, normal landscape photography editing is all that’s required otherwise. White Balance is extremely important because if it’s not correct the image as a whole will exhibit a color cast.

2. Avoid Luminance Noise Reduction

When shooting at high ISO settings, Noise Reduction in Lightroom is a great way to reduce Color and Luminance noise in most situations. For astrophotography, Color Noise Reduction is fine and can often be set to a lower level than Lightroom’s default amount of 25. Luminance Noise Reduction should be avoided because although this will smooth grain in blue skies (blue is the noisiest RGB channel), dimmer stars will be lost and detail takes on a waxy appearance at high levels.

3. Export images as 16-bit TIFFs

After processing your Raw file in Lightroom or other Raw processing software, export the image as a 16-bit TIFF. Files of this bit depth have more colors so problems like banding in the sky can be avoided and tasks such as cloning are more effective. Once all editing is complete in Photoshop, if you would like to keep all of your Layers intact go to Image>Mode>8 Bits/Channel to downsize the bit depth to 8-bit and reduce the file size. Alternatively, if you don’t need the Layers, save as a JPEG.

And that’s it. Congratulations, you’ve learned everything you need to know to get started with night for day astrophotography.

© Provided by Bangor WABI-TV
Tim Cushman captures breathtaking images of the cosmos from a full-fledged observatory in his backyard.

WINTER HARBOR, Maine (WABI) – If you’re looking for all that mother nature has to offer in Downeast Maine, Winter Harbor is as good a place as any.

For Tim Cushman, it turns out Winter Harbor is also a decent place to see nature that is truly out of this world.

“The sky for this location is a Bortle 3,” Cushman said. “So it’s considered a dark sky. So you don’t have a lot of lights from cities polluting the sky. So I can shoot without a filter, which is good.”

Cushman’s astrophotography hobby started with a small telescope just two years ago.

“Once you get started you fall into a deep, ‘well okay, well I gotta get this, I gotta get that.’”

Now, he captures breathtaking images of the cosmos from a full-fledged observatory in his backyard. And runs the entire operation from his phone.

“I use programs that’ll give you different images that are available for this location. Because what I try to do is shoot straight above. That way you go through less atmosphere and it’ll show me my best galaxies to shoot, or my best nebulas,” he said.

What sets an astrophotographer like Cushman apart from the rest of us is the regular look he gets at what’s far beyond the naked eye, and a better understanding of how vast the universe is compared to the humble planet where his telescope sits.

“All the stars that you see when you look up in the sky from this galaxy, from the Milky Way galaxy. A lot of those images you see are from different galaxies so they’re millions and millions of light years away. It’s hard to grasp because people, they don’t realize how far that actually is. We’re unbelievably small,” he said.

© Chris Vaughan Starry Night
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What goes up, must come down. Or in the case of the moon, what goes around will go around again, and again, and again. Today, the moon reaches its third-quarter phase — the fourth of the year — in the pre-dawn hours. 

Missed it? Don’t worry. The moon will appear half-lit tonight, too, rising at 3:36 a.m. EDT (0736 GMT) in New York City, which is technically tomorrow morning, and setting after the sun has risen, according to skywatching site In-the-Sky.org.

The third-quarter moon, also known as a last-quarter moon, is the third of the moon’s four phases, which change as the moon orbits the Earth. It’s the halfway point between the full moon, which occurred on April 6, and the new moon, which will occur on April 20. 

And there’s something particularly exciting happening during that new moon: A rare hybrid solar eclipse. A hybrid solar eclipse occurs when a single solar eclipse appears as both a total eclipse and an annular eclipse, depending upon your location.

Related: What is the moon phase today? Lunar phases 2023 Read more: Get ready for a rare hybrid solar eclipse on April 20 

This solar eclipse will be visible from Western Australia, East Timor, and part of Indonesia, but people around the world will be able to tune into livestreams to witness the spectacular event.

If you plan on watching or photographing the upcoming solar eclipse, be sure to take proper precautions — never look directly at the sun with the naked eye.

Following the exciting eclipse during the new moon, the moon will appear to grow larger over the following two weeks, reaching the next full moon on May 5. That moon is known as the Flower Moon, as it’s the time of year when many flowers are in bloom.

If you’re hankering for a closer look at the third-quarter moon, or any other spectacle in the night sky, take a peek at our guides to the best telescopes and best binoculars. And if you’re planning on photographing the moon, we also have guides to the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography. 

No idea where to begin with your lunar photography? Don’t worry — we have you covered with yet another guide; this one explains how to photograph the moon.

Follow Stefanie Waldek on Twitter @StefanieWaldek. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. 

Want to stay in a luxurious glass dome in the Wadi Rum Desert? Then Memories Aicha Luxury Camp should be at the top of your bucket list.

I visited Jordan by myself and spent 10 days exploring the country.

This is one of the most unique vacation destinations in the world.

There are dozens of surrounding camps and bubble domes, but none reach the standard of luxury and opulence that Memories Aicha does. It truly sets the bar for all other accommodation in the area.

Here’s what you need to know to plan your visit.

Where is Memories Aicha?

© Provided by Jen Ruiz

Memories Aicha Luxury Camp is located in the Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan.

Wadi Rum is a protected area. Only camps run by the local Bedouin people are allowed.

This is a favorite spot for Hollywood films, including Dune, Aladdin, Lawrence of Arabia, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. That’s because the landscape looks like it’s out of this world.

It’s often used as a substitute for Mars.

This is one of the few remaining untouched places. There is no light pollution. You won’t find cell phone towers everywhere or buildings obstructing the view.

It looks much like it did thousands of years ago, and that’s part of the charm. Come here to escape the pace of a big city and destress.

How do you get from Petra to Memories Aicha?

© Provided by Jen Ruiz

Memories Aicha is about a 2-hour drive from Petra, the site of a World Wonder and Jordan’s most famous attraction.

Since Petra will require hiking, I recommend you do it first so you can relax in the domes after.

It is a straightforward car ride on highway roads. I had a private driver which allowed me to rest between stops and more easily navigate the region.

You can choose to rent a car, book a taxi, take a bus, or get a tour provider to transport you.

Note, you’ll have to go through a visitor’s center when you’re entering Wadi Rum and purchase a ticket for 5JD to enter the protected area. If you’re with a driver, you may have some difficulty and need to pay for them, too.

Memories Aicha sent someone to meet me at the visitor’s center upon arrival. They have their own transport van.

They can also arrange for you transport to/from Petra should you need assistance.

What activities can you do in the Wadi Rum desert?

© Provided by Jen Ruiz

A lot of people were curious how I spent my time in the desert.

You have options!

On-site, you can do a nearby hike up a mountain to get a view from above of the camp.

The owner is also a very talented photographer and provides free nighttime astrophotography to all guests who book through Booking.com.

This service was incredible because you could see the full range of stars, including the Milky Way Galaxy that looked like a cloud in the night sky.

Off-site, there are various activities with tour providers.

I went on a camel ride and desert jeep tour of the main attractions. My tour included making a fire and having tea at the end, it was lovely.

We also visited scenic overlooks and a natural bridge.

You can choose to do a sunset tour if you’re looking for epic pictures.

How much does Memories Aicha Luxury Camp cost?

© Provided by Jen Ruiz

Prices can range from $200-$600 a night depending on the type of room you pick, season, and demand.

There are luxury tents, and then there are panoramic luxury suites. I stayed in the most expensive suite and lucked out with pricing, only $200/night.

The suites are impeccably furnished, fit for royalty. The dome is made of glass, not plastic. It’s soundproof and sustainable.

From the fabrics to the chandelier, everything is high quality.

There are massive, custom made curtains that block out the light completely and open fully if you choose to look up at the stars at night.

During the day, your dome is covered with a reflective cover to deflect heat and keep it cool.

There is electricity in the tents and private bathrooms. Mine came complete with robe, slippers, and hair dryer.

There is also hot water and air conditioning, two of my favorite things.

There is also a kitchen and separate dining area. Dinner and breakfast are included in the price of the room and are buffet style.

I was pleasantly surprised by the offerings. They were varied and tasty, with the chefs serving you and making sure everything meets your needs.

Lunch is available with an a la carte menu.

The dining room is stunning, with a mountain serving as one of the walls and decorations like throw pillows, ornate metal lamps, and beautifully detailed artwork.

Does Memories Aicha have WiFi?

© Provided by Jen Ruiz

There is no WiFi or cell service. It’s just hard to get signal out there. Once a day, I drove out past a big mountain adjacent to the camp and caught a bar or two.

The camp can arrange all of your day trips and transportation for you, just let them know ahead of time.

You will need a converter. There are multiple outlets available and Jordan uses C, D, F, G and J plug types. Bring a universal converter to make sure you’re covered.

If you’re someone who needs entertainment, I recommend coming with something already downloaded on your phone or computer since streaming isn’t a possibility here.

I also recommend letting your friends and family know you may be off the grid for a bit so they don’t panic if they can’t reach you.

Bring a flashlight with you when you go, it’s crucial in order for you to get around after sunset since it’s pitch black.

Regarding attire, while you’re not around very many people I would still aim to be respectful of the local culture and cover your shoulders and knees.

There is no alcohol served on site.

Is Memories Aicha worth it?

© Provided by Jen Ruiz

Memories Aicha Luxury Camp is unlike any other place I’ve every stayed and I truly felt like I had the best experience possible in Wadi Rum.

I left here feeling really good, completely detoxed from the stressors of everyday life.

I would love to return with a romantic partner and recommend this to anyone celebrating an anniversary or honeymoon.

I met a woman during my stay who was celebrating a milestone birthday on her own — you can’t go wrong there either.

If you’re considering a trip to Jordan, a dome at Memories Aicha Luxury Camp should be the first thing you book.

Click here to book your stay.

Till next time, safe travels!

Liked this post? Pin it for later. 

© Provided by Jen Ruiz
A Review of Memories Aicha Luxury Camp

© Provided by Jen Ruiz
A Review of Memories Aicha Luxury Camp

© Provided by Jen Ruiz
A Review of Memories Aicha Luxury Camp

The post I Stayed at Memories Aicha Luxury Camp in Jordan and it Blew Me Away appeared first on Jen on a Jet Plane.

Funded by a $3M Department of Defense (DoD) National Defense Education Program (NDEP) award, we are developing and deploying on a national scale a follow-up curriculum to “Our Place In Space!”, or OPIS!, in which approx. 3,500 survey-level astronomy students are using our global network of “Skynet” robotic telescopes each year.

The goal of this new curriculum, called “Astrophotography of the Multi-Wavelength Universe!”, or MWU!, is to boost the number of these students who choose STEM majors. During Y1, our participating educators have developed MWU!’s (now renumbered) 2nd and 4th modules, and are in the process of developing its 3rd and 7th modules (out of 7).

Solid progress has also been made on the software front, (1) where we have developed new graphing/analysis/modeling interfaces in support of Modules 2 and 4, and in response to feedback from the participating educators; and (2) where we are in the process of developing and adding astrophotography capabilities to Afterglow Access (AgA), our student-level, web-based, image processing and analysis application, in support of Modules 1 – 3 and 5 – 7.

On the hardware front, development of our first four signal-processing units proceeds on schedule; these are key to Skynet’s integration of a global network of radio telescopes, capable of exploring the invisible universe. Preparations have also been made on the evaluation and accessibility fronts, for when the first MWU! modules are deployed in Spring 2023.

Next-Level, Robotic Telescope-Based Observing Experiences to Boost STEM Enrollments and Majors on a National Scale: Year 1 Report

Daniel E. Reichart, Joshua Haislip, Vladimir Kouprianov, Ruide Fu, Logan Selph, Shengjie Xu, John Torian, Jonathan Keohane, Daryl Janzen, David Moffett, Stanley Converse

Comments: 10 pages, 9 figures, ASP2022 Conference Proceedings, December 2022
Subjects: Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM); Physics Education (physics.ed-ph)
Cite as: arXiv:2304.02545 [astro-ph.IM] (or arXiv:2304.02545v1 [astro-ph.IM] for this version)
Submission history
From: Daniel Reichart
[v1] Wed, 5 Apr 2023 16:06:45 UTC (1,334 KB)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2304.02545

© Future
Android vs. iPhone

We love a good Android vs. iOS showdown at Laptop Mag, so we decided to stir the pot and ask five phone experts — phone-passionate folks you’ve seen across YouTube, TechRadar, Tom’s Guide, and more — to answer a question that’s been prodding my mind.

What is it that Android can do that iPhone can’t?

As someone who has an absurd number of apps open at any given time, my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, an Android device, lets me get rid of all of them all at once. My iPhone 14 Plus, on the other hand, forces me to swipe them off individually like I’m a card dealer at a casino. What’s up with that? I also love the fact that Android devices support the faster, zippier USB-C charging standard whereas the iPhone limits you to the bogged-down Lightning port. (But Apple is reportedly changing that soon, thanks to pressure from a new EU mandate. Woo-hoo!) 

On top of that, as a crypto investor, Apple’s been cracking down on legitimate crypto apps, making it difficult for me to make iOS my daily driver. (For example, at one point, the Coinbase app was banned from the Apple App Store for an entire year!)

Still, I decided to ask some of my favorite phone experts — many of whom you’ve seen while traipsing through the tech side of YouTube and the world wide web — their thoughts on how Android devices differ from iPhones. 

What is it that Android can do that iPhone can’t? 

Check out our interviews with phone experts MrMobile, Matt Swider, Adam Ismail, JerryRigEverything, and our very own Sean Riley to determine what Android can deliver to users that iPhone can’t. Keep in mind that I told each of them that verbosity isn’t necessary here. They can be as wordy or brief as they’d like — as long as they answer the question succinctly.

MrMobile, YouTuber

MrMobile, whom we’ve done a feature about regarding his $6,000 MacBook Pro (so you can’t accuse him of being an Android shill), is a YouTuber with over 1 million subscribers known for having an affinity for foldables, particularly Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series.

That being said, it’s easy to predict MrMobile’s (also known as Michael Fisher) response to the question at large. What is it that Android devices can do that iPhones can’t? Bend in half!

“Foldables have introduced new features, broader utility, and frankly, more fun to a world of smartphones that long ago degenerated into a never-ending stream of stolid slabs. Thanks to my Galaxy Z Fold 4, I leave my laptop at home about 25% more often than before,” Fisher said. MrMobile added that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 can unfold into a 7.6-inch tablet, making it easier and more comfortable for him to get work done while he’s on the go. 

“And on nights and weekends when I want to take some easy selfies or group shots with friends (or just maximize my pocket space with a retro form factor) the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Oppo Find N2 are lovely little throwbacks. The iPhone is great for someone to whom a phone is just a utility, but for those of us who remember When Phones Were Fun, you can’t beat a foldable. And for that, you need to go Android,” Fisher concluded.

TLDR: Foldables, only featured among Android devices, are fun as heck while iPhones can’t bend for the life of them.

Adam Ismail, Jalopnik staff writer and former Tom’s Guide phone expert

Adam Ismail, former Tom’s Guide phone connoisseur and current Jalopnik staff writer, gave us a short walk through history, reminding us that there was a time in which Android far exceeded iPhone in its capabilities.

“For the longest time, on an iPhone, you couldn’t charge wirelessly, put widgets on your home screen, set default apps, or have an always-on display when your phone was locked. In the very early days, you couldn’t even copy and paste!” However, over the years, Apple has closed the gap to Android for the most part, but it’s worth mentioning that some of the aforementioned features were just recently added while Android had them for a long time (e.g., Widgets debuted with iOS 14 in 2020 while it’s been an Android staple for more than a decade.)

Still, Ismail added that there are a few things Apple doesn’t offer — and will likely never offer, including expandable storage and highly customizable home screens. Ismail admits that “theming” one’s iPhone home screen is much easier now than it was before, but still, Android phones give users more freedom to personalize every aspect of their device. “Honestly though, the only useful difference that really stands out to me these days is that you still can’t charge an iPhone over USB-C,” Ismail said. “There’s a good chance we’ll be able to cross that one off the list come autumn, though.”

TLDR: In recent years, Apple’s been catching up with Android, so the list of differentiators between Android and iOS has grown smaller, but there are still cool aspects of Android that iPhones cannot match, including customizability, expandable storage, and USB-C charging.

Matt Swider, Shortcut.com founder and former TechRadar US Editor-in-Chief

You may know Matt Swider as the “PS5 restock guy” who worked tirelessly to help passionate gamers secure a PlayStation 5 at a time when there was so much demand, but a dearth of supply. The former TechRadar US Editor-in-Chief is now at the helm of The Shortcut, a consumer-tech publication that keeps subscribers “in the know” on cool gadgetry.

Swider, who’s tested more than 1,000 phones, knows a thing or two about Android and iOS devices, so I decided to pick his brain and ask him what Android offers that iOS devices can’t.

“Android phones lead by innovation and price – by a wide margin,” Swider said. “They’re the first out of the gate with modern foldables, modular phones, curved displays, big displays, always-on displays, NFC, swipe texting, and soon, rollable displays. You name the iPhone ‘innovation’ and Android devices have been doing it for years. Sorry, Apple, that’s real ‘courage.’”

Swider admits that flagship Android prices have skyrocketed recently, but notes that you get more bang for your buck compared to the iPhone — like double the storage space for the same price. “There are a bunch of mid-range Android options you just can’t find from Apple. Yes, Google needs to close the gap when it comes to iMessage and its Android-to-PC ecosystem (something Apple has perfected between iPhone and macOS), but Android is the only one taking chances on new hardware at a reasonable price, and that deserves just as many points on the board,” he said.

TLDR: Android phones are far more innovative compared to iPhone’s MO of gen-over-gen iterative updates. Any ‘new’ feature Apple has rolled out in recent years has likely already been done by Android. Plus, you get more value for your money with Android devices.

JerryRigEverything, YouTuber

You’ve probably seen JerryRigEverything, a YouTuber with a whopping 8 million subscribers, pry into the hardware guts of countless phones, including the OnePlus 11, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Google Pixel 7, and iPhone 14.

JerryRigEverything, also known as Zack Nelson, admitted that he hasn’t had an iPhone as a daily driver since the iPhone 4. Back then, he praised Android for being more accessible to consumers in terms of price, but added that he can no longer make that claim since flagship devices like the Samsung Galaxy S series are just as pricey as their iOS counterparts.

In the end, Nelson ended up concurring with Swider and Ismail, concluding that Android’s edge over iOS devices is that they’re always one step ahead of iPhones. “OLED screens, wireless charging, telephoto cameras all first debuted on Android phones,” Nelson said.

TLDR: The above is pretty brief and succinct. Don’t be lazy — read it in its entirety.

Sean Riley, Laptop Mag Assistant Managing Editor

Laptop Mag Assistant Managing Editor Sean Riley, and our resident phone expert who’s reviewed countless phones (e.g., OnePlus 10 Pro, the iPhone 13 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Asus ROG Phone 5, and more), says that one thing Android offers that iPhone doesn’t is control.

“While Apple has offered users a taste of freedom in recent years with the ability to change the home screen on iPhone or set a new default browser or email client, it still pales in comparison to what you can do on Android. On the customizability front, you have launchers on Android that completely reskin the look, feel, and even functionality of your phone in seconds. 

On a personal level, I enjoy astrophotography and Apple will not let you take longer than a 30-second exposure. On a Google Pixel 7 or a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, I can capture 5-10 minute exposures that obliterate the results I can get from an iPhone 14 Pro. And it has nothing to do with the hardware; it’s Apple exerting its control over the camera software. On both counts, this isn’t something that every user will care about, but if you like to have full control over your devices, there is no question that Android is the only choice for you.

Finally, Riley totally agrees with Swider: Value isn’t Apple’s forte. This is something that’s been on Riley’s mind after the following buying guides landed on Laptop Mag: 5 phones that are a better value than the iPhone 14 Pro Max and 5 phones that are a better value than the iPhone 14. 

“Apple has never offered bargain pricing on its phones, but the extra years of software support always balanced that out and changed the value equation. With Samsung, Google, and OnePlus now all offering 5 years of security updates and 3-4 major Android updates, the equation has changed again. That Android phone that cost potentially hundreds less than a comparable iPhone is giving you maybe 1-2 fewer years of software support, and unless you keep your phone for at least 5-6 years, that’s simply not relevant.”

TLDR: You can instantly revamp the look and feel of your Android phone in seconds. Plus, Android phones typically have less of an iron grip over its camera software, giving you more freedom to experiment with fun photography styles (e.g., astrophotography). Finally, with Android devices delivering more years of software updates, they offer more longevity and better value than ever before.