I'm a lifelong iPhone user, but a few months with Gemini on Android have shown me exactly why Apple and Google's AI partnership is what everyone needs

Google saves the day

Opinion By John-Anthony Disotto published 13 January 2026

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Who had Apple conceding it can’t keep up with the rest of the AI industry to kickstart 2026? If you’ve been following TechRadar over the past year or so, you’ll have heard many times that Apple was in discussions with Google to use Gemini foundation models to power the ever-delayed AI Siri upgrade.

Now, just a few weeks into the new year, Apple and Google have confirmed these reports, announcing that the two companies “have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology.”

The models have also been confirmed to “help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year.”

This partnership raises uncomfortable questions about Apple’s place in the AI race. Still, the more interesting story is what it unlocks for iPhone users, and why switching to Android suddenly makes a lot less sense.

A bit of background

I’ve been an iPhone user since 2008, essentially growing up alongside Apple’s industry-leading smartphone. In fact, it wasn’t until last year that I decided to see what the world outside of iPhone looked like.

After the latest iPhone launch in September, I moved from an iPhone 16 Pro Max to an iPhone Air, and I absolutely fell in love with Apple’s sleek ultra-thin design. After a few weeks, however, I felt the hollowness that had plagued my smartphone use for years, wanting to try something new to feel a change.

If a new hardware design and an elegant software overhaul (I like Liquid Glass) couldn’t fill the constant void and boredom of using an iPhone, I had to look elsewhere, so I opted to move to Android for a few months to close out the year and get a new perspective on smartphones.

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