At this point, the Android versus iOS and Windows versus Mac arguments are old and irrelevant. No operating system is objectively superior to another, and it’s mostly a matter of personal choice. That said, it still makes sense to buy into an ecosystem.

Apple, Google, and Microsoft are all now trying to marry computers and smartphones to provide a seamless experience for users.

If you’re on a Mac, you should grab Apple’s own iPhone rather than an Android or Windows Phone. Why? Well, there are many benefits to the iPhone–Mac combination.

1. Continuity and Handoff

Continuity between iPhone and Mac

Apple devices feature Continuity and Handoff—and these two features help iPhones and Macs communicate better with each other. They sync your smartphone and your computer so that you can start working on one and then seamlessly switch to the other.

A good example of this is in the form of Messages. When you can start typing a message on your iPhone and realize it’s going to be a long conversation, just open it in your MacBook and you can continue typing on your full-sized keyboard instead. Similarly, you can answer or ignore calls directly from your Mac screen, without ever touching your phone. It works seamlessly and is available only with a combination of iPhones and Macs.

Continuity, similarly, syncs several different apps, most of which come preloaded on your Apple devices. It supports your contacts, calendars, email accounts, maps, browser tabs, and the iWork suite of office apps (Pages, Keynote, and Numbers). You just have to be signed in to the same iCloud account on both devices.

You can also sign your documents or make sketches on your Mac using your iPhone with the help of Continuity Markup. Simply draw or annotate a document on your iPhone and insert it directly into the actual document on your Mac. This saves the hassle of using your trackpad to draw or sign a document ,for example.

Markup between iPhone and Mac

Continuity and Handoff combine to make for a terrific experience, especially in reducing how often you need to reach for your phone while using your Mac.

Related: Can You Use a MacBook Power Adapter to Fast Charge Your iPhone? Is It Safe?

2. FaceTime and iMessage

Apple has two proprietary communication apps—the instant messaging service iMessage and the video calling service FaceTime. Again, both of these apps are only available on Macs and iPhones.

iOS 15 allows Android and Windows users to join FaceTime calls via shareable links, but that can only be done as long as an Apple user starts a call using an Apple device and shares the joinable link. Thus, it makes more sense to buy an iPhone if you’re planning on using FaceTime a lot.

There are plenty of benefits to this. You can start a video chat on your Mac when your iPhone is running out of battery. You can continue the same conversation on iMessage with different devices.

Sure, Windows and Android have alternative apps, like Skype and WhatsApp, but if your friends use iMessage and FaceTime, then you’ll need to use it too!

3. AirDrop

One of the best parts of using an iPhone with a Mac is AirDrop. It’s the easiest and most seamless way to share files between your Mac and your iPhone. Just open AirDrop in Mac’s Finder, start AirDrop from Control Center on your iPhone, and drag-and-drop or share the appropriate files.

No messy cables required, no iTunes needed, it just works. On the other hand, throw Windows or Android into the mix, and you’ll need cables and special drivers, or software to make the transfers possible.

4. AirPlay

iOS 15 and macOS Monterey allow you to mirror your iPhone display on your Mac. This can be useful in many cases—you can choose to view a video from your gallery on your Mac’s bigger screen for a better experience, or choose to mirror your screen to record a tutorial. You can also choose to play the phone’s audio through your Mac’s speakers, if wanted.

Airplay Mirroring from iPhone to Mac

All this is done wirelessly, so there’s no need for any cables or adapters. The mirroring is quite fast too and can be very effective if used properly.

5. Apple Ecosystem Apps

iPhone and mac showing calendars

Several developers swear by their Apple devices and build apps exclusively for these. In fact, some of our favorite apps across all platforms are exclusive to Apple gadgets.

For example, take Tweetbot, probably the best Twitter client on mobiles or desktops. It’s exclusively available on macOS and iOS, and even syncs across the two. That’s also the case with Fantastical, an expensive and totally-worth-it calendar; Day One, the daily journaling app; and Reeder, one of the best RSS readers around.

Related: The Best RSS Reader Apps for iPhone

All of these apps are as good as they get, and we’d even go so far as to say they don’t have worthwhile competitors on Android or Windows.

6. iCloud

Another advantage of having an iPhone with your Mac is iCloud. iCloud allows you to sync everything to the cloud, allowing it to be accessed quickly and easily from any other device. For Mac and iPhone users, this means you can quickly access your Mac’s files using the Files app on your iPhone if you have iCloud Drive enabled. Similarly, if you have iCloud Photos enabled, all the photos you take on your iPhone are automatically uploaded to the cloud and synced to your Mac.

iCloud Apps

iCloud allows you to seamlessly integrate your data across all your devices easily. You can also choose to sync your Calendar, Contacts, Notes, and more using iCloud.

7. Instant Hotspot

If you’re working in an area with poor Wi-Fi receptivity, you may want to temporarily switch to a cellular network and connect using a personal hotspot for a better internet connection. The conventional step would be to enable the hotspot from the phone’s settings and then connect to it as a usual Wi-Fi network by entering the password.

Instant Hotspot

A feature called Instant Hotspot allows you to connect directly to your iPhone’s cellular connection using a personal hotspot without going through the conventional steps. This means you don’t have to enable it on your phone or enter the password on your Mac. Your iPhone’s cellular network will simply show up in the list of available Wi-Fi connections on your Mac, and you can directly connect it to it.

Android and Mac Isn’t Bad, But iPhone and Mac Is Better

Apple devices featuring Continuity

Now, none of this is to say that Mac users shouldn’t ever buy Android phones. The Android and Mac combo isn’t bad. Yes, you’ll miss out on Handoff, Continuity, and AirDrop, but there are alternative methods you can use, like Bluetooth to transfer files wirelessly or cross-platform apps like Google Calendar and Feedly.

The advantage of the iPhone and Mac combo is that it makes everything easier. Technology is at its best when it gets out of the way and lets you be more productive, concentrating only on getting things done instead of figuring out how to get things done — and that’s where the Apple ecosystem excels.

The famous "it just works" philosophy is at its best with an iPhone and Mac together.

It Goes Both Ways

Given the number of extra features you get with an iPhone, Mac users should consider an Apple smartphone or tablet over Android, Windows, BlackBerry, or anything else. It works the other way around too—if the price isn’t a barrier and you have an iPhone, buy a Mac rather than a computer running some other operating system. And if you have a Chromebook, you might be better off with an Android smartphone than an iPhone.