I'm a loyal iPhone user, but after switching to Android for 2 weeks I found 3 things Google does better than Apple

Many Android devices, including those made by Google and Samsung, can show the time, date, and notifications on their screen even when the display is turned off. That makes it easy to see information at a glance without having to reach for your smartphone.

The iPhone's screen automatically lights up when you lift it, but it's not quite as useful as being able to just quickly pivot my gaze to see if I have any unread notifications. Since I still have to reach for my iPhone to check whether I have a new message or see the time, the temptation to dive into other apps and distractions still exists.

Swipe to the left of the home screen on a Pixel phone, and you'll see the Discover page, a collection of news articles and updates tailored to fit your interests. During my time using the Pixel, I was pleasantly suprised at how accurate and specific Google's choices were.

The feed included a mix of everything from technology news about the companies and products I follow the most, to updates on my favorite video games and movies, to local news about my neighborhood. Of course, you can tell Google what kinds of updates you'd like to see in Discover, which helps it surface more accurate results.

Plus, the company has the benefit of leveraging the data stored in your Google account to help it pick personalized content.

Because of all of this, I found myself adding Google's Discover feed to the list of apps and services I check first thing when reaching for my phone in the morning.

Google's Discover is also available on the iPhone and other Android devices through the company's main search app. But having it built into the operating system on the Pixel puts it front and center, making it much more useful.

The iPhone has a somewhat comparable offering — when swiping to the left of the home screen you'll find a customizable stream of widgets that includes your next calendar appointment, suggested apps, news stories, and other updates of your choosing.

While they're similar features, they served different purposes for me. I definitely spent much more time scrolling through Google's Discover panel to get up to speed on the topics I'm most interested in, whereas I'd sometimes glance at Apple's feed to see the weather or how long it would take to get home from work.

The proliferation of cloud services makes it easier than ever to transfer photos, apps, and other data between operating systems. But the decision to make the switch will still boil down to many factors, such as your budget and the ecosystem of services you prefer.

I'm not quite ready to give up my iPhone for good, but using the Pixel 3a served as another reminder that when it comes to pioneering new software features, Android is often ahead of Apple.