I’m an Apple fan. I use both Apple and Android, and I love them. But I’m sick and tired of this long standing stereotype. There’s a persistent belief in tech culture that Android users are somehow less successful, less refined, or just flat-out poor. The stereotype has existed for years for as long as I can remember: If you’re not using an iPhone, it must be because you can’t afford one. It’s an assumption that’s lazy, inaccurate, and long overdue for retirement.

Let’s start with the obvious—cost. It’s true that Android offers entry-level phones for people who need affordable options. A Samsung A15 5G can cost under $200, and Motorola’s Moto G series goes for about the same. Apple doesn’t compete in this market. Its most affordable option, the iPhone SE, starts at $429 and that’s for a device with older hardware and a dated design.

But that’s only one side of the Android landscape. On the high end, Android matches or surpasses Apple in price and performance. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at $1299. The Pixel 9 Pro XL when configured with 256GB of storage sells for $1199, the same as an iPhone 16 Pro Max. And the Galaxy Z Fold6 starts at $1899, going as high as $2259 for the 1TB model. These are not budget devices, and they’re not designed for people looking to save money. In many cases, they outpace Apple’s offerings in specs and price.

So where does the stigma come from?

The open-source nature of Android means manufacturers like Samsung, Motorola, and Google can produce phones at every price point—from basic to premium. Apple, by contrast, sells only what Apple makes, and it has positioned itself exclusively at the top. This has created a false impression that all Android phones are cheap, and all iPhones are premium. That simply isn’t true.

The idea that owning an iPhone signals status is reinforced by how people talk—and sometimes date. A recent survey from All About Cookies found that 52% of Android users had been teased by iPhone users, and nearly a quarter had been excluded from group chats, 22% of iPhone users admitted to thinking less of someone when they saw a green text bubble. Even more surprising, 23% of iPhone users admitted that seeing a green bubble in a text conversation could be a dealbreaker in dating. That’s not harmless teasing. That’s social pressure. And for some Android users, it works. Around 30% have considered switching to Apple, not for the phone itself, but to avoid being mocked, while 36% say they’ve been judged harshly.

This stigma surrounding Android users became so serious even the government got involved.

This is more than brand loyalty, it’s tribalism. We want to believe the choices we make say something good about us. That we’re smarter, savvier, or more stylish because we picked the “right” phone. But when it comes to actual use, most people just want a device that works well, fits their needs, and doesn’t cost more than it has to.

For some, that means a high-end Android device with top-tier hardware. For others, it means a simple, functional smartphone under $300. Both are valid. Neither says anything about someone’s character or income. And none of it should be used to judge someone in a group chat or on a date.

We’ve reached a point where flagship Android and iPhone models sit in the same price bracket. The idea that Android is for people who can’t afford better no longer holds up, if it ever did. If anything, Android’s range gives consumers more choice.

That’s worth something.

So let’s stop using phones as a shorthand for value. You can have a preference—many of us do—but it’s time to drop the assumption that your device defines your worth. And it’s ridiculous that I have to explain to some of my friends that people don’t choose Android because they have no money. They choose it because it fits their needs. Some like the hardware.

Some like the customization. Some just prefer how it works. And yes, some people choose less expensive models to save money because that’s a responsible decision, not a shameful one.

If we can’t have group chats or relationships without dragging people over their phone choice, maybe the problem isn’t the phone.

Maybe it’s us.