Microsoft's Android Apps Prove Capable, But Still Lag Behind Google

A technology analyst and writer spent a month switching to Microsoft's Android apps, replacing Google's ecosystem. He found that Microsoft's apps felt more complete and feature-rich, with features like proper notebooks in OneNote, My Day in To Do, and a dedicated Photos tab in OneDrive.

The biggest difference he noticed was how feature-rich the individual apps were, rather than just offering the essentials. For example, OneNote had handwriting support, attachments, and more room to organize projects than Google Keep. Outlook also packed email, calendar, contacts, and file access into one polished interface.

However, Microsoft's design still lags behind Google's Material You language, making their apps feel dated compared to the clean and easy-to-use experience of Gmail, Drive, Keep, Calendar, and Tasks. The analyst also found that Copilot, Microsoft's AI assistant, has a long way to go in comparison to Gemini.

Despite these limitations, he prefers Google's cleaner design and Gemini's deeper integration but is impressed by the capabilities of individual apps like OneNote and Outlook. He suggests that Microsoft focus on better integrating Copilot across their ecosystem and refreshing the visual look of some apps.