For most businesses, choosing iOS or Android is not really about technology. It is about protecting the company’s data, supporting staff, and keeping mobile contracts simple.
We often see the same issue. When businesses struggle with mobile choices, it is rarely about the phone itself. The real problems are unclear policies, an inconsistent setup, and contracts that do not fit how phones are used.
What does iOS and Android for business actually mean in practice?
A good business smartphone comparison considers the entire setup, not just the phone model. In practice, you are choosing a mix of:
- Devices: flexibility versus standardisation
Because there are fewer models and updates are released at the same time, iOS (iPhone) is simpler to standardise.
Android provides a wider selection, which is helpful if you have a variety of roles with varying needs and budgets, such as office staff, field workers, and warehouse teams.
Common issue we see: businesses allow “any phone” and then discover they’re effectively supporting dozens of combinations of screens, batteries, chargers, cases, and operating system versions. That increases downtime and support calls.
- Policies: what you want to control (and why)
Most businesses do not want strict restrictions. They want basic protections to reduce risk:
- screen lock / biometrics
- encryption and remote wipe
- approved apps (where needed)
- separation of work and personal data
- preventing risky settings (for example, unknown app installs)
This is where mobile device management (MDM) for business matters. The UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) guidance is clear that MDM is a key part of managing organisational devices securely, and that it needs protecting because it can unlock and wipe devices across the estate.
In plain English, MDM is your remote control for company mobiles. You set the rules once and they apply every time a phone is deployed, replaced, lost, or returned.
- Support: speed back to productivity
Support tends to be overlooked until something breaks, then it becomes urgent. The real question is not “which phone fails less?” but “how fast can it be recovered?”
Practical steps that reduce disruption:
- approved device list (so spares/accessories are compatible)
- clear replacement process (especially for field teams)
- simple onboarding for new starters
- leaver checklist (accounts, access, and data removal)
NCSC’s small business guidance highlights the basics that stop the most common problems: password protection, the ability to track/lock/wipe lost devices, and keeping devices up to date.
When is a mixed fleet of iOS and Android the smartest option?
A mixed fleet works best when you match devices to job roles, not personal preference.
It works well when:
- senior teams want iPhone, while operational teams need practical Android models (rugged, larger screens, specialist use cases)
- you have a BYOD policy alongside company-owned phones
- you want flexibility without losing control
The key is to manage devices consistently. Without enrolment and MDM, mixed fleets end up with everyone doing their own thing. You get different apps, different security settings, and no reliable way to recover devices or data when someone leaves.
A well-run mixed fleet usually includes:
- an approved list of devices (by role)
- one enrolment process (so every phone is managed from day one)
- one policy baseline (passcodes, encryption, remote wipe, updates)
- one support route (staff know exactly what to do)
This is also where total cost of ownership (TCO) smartphones becomes real: not as a spreadsheet, but as time saved on set-up, fewer support tickets, and less downtime when something goes wrong.
What is Apple Business Manager and Android Enterprise?
These are not just nice extras. They are the basics that make managed rollouts work.
To keep the difference clear, use this simple split:
- Apple Business Manager and Android Enterprise determine how a device becomes company-managed and how apps are made available safely.
- MDM or UEM decides what happens to that device every day once it is enrolled, including compliance, configuration, reporting and remote actions.
Apple Business Manager (ABM)
Apple Business Manager is Apple’s web portal that works with your MDM to deploy and manage Apple devices at scale. Apple describes it as a portal for IT administrators to deploy devices and buy content in volume.
The big operational win is Automated Device Enrolment: Apple’s process that automates MDM enrolment and can lock enrolment in place, so devices remain managed even after a reset.
Why ABM matters in practice
- New starters can unbox and start quickly, with company settings applied automatically.
- IT doesn’t need to “touch” every device to set it up.
- If a phone is wiped, it can return to managed status rather than becoming an unmanaged personal device.
Android Enterprise
Android Enterprise is Google’s framework for deploying and managing Android devices.
It supports different approaches depending on ownership:
- Work Profile for BYOD: keeps work and personal data separate on the same phone, supporting employee privacy while allowing the business to protect work apps and data.
- Fully Managed Device for company-owned phones: provides extended controls intended for corporate-owned devices. For large rollouts, Android also supports zero-touch enrolment, which allows devices to be configured and enrolled out of the box.
Practical difference to remember:
- ABM and Android Enterprise are the official “rails” that make enrolment reliable.
- Your MDM for business is the control centre where you apply policies, deploy apps, and keep visibility.
How do eSIM for iOS and Android business phone contracts affect your choice?
eSIM is a simple upgrade that can reduce admin, if your devices and contracts support it.
What an eSIM actually is
Apple defines an eSIM as an industry-standard digital SIM built into the device, removing the need for a physical SIM.
Google’s Pixel help page describes eSIMs similarly: digital SIMs that activate your mobile network without inserting a physical SIM.
Why eSIM matters for businesses
- Faster onboarding: remote starters can be provisioned without posting SIMs.
- Simpler replacements: if a phone is lost, broken, or upgraded, you can move service more easily.
- Better security: Apple notes eSIM can’t be removed like a physical SIM if a device is lost or stolen.
- Dual SIM options: useful for separating business/personal lines, or adding a travel profile where appropriate.
Even with the right phones, eSIM and good device management do not work if contracts are not designed for your business purpose.
In Mobifon reviews, the common pain points are:
- roaming costs that are not clearly controlled (especially for travel)
- data plans that don’t match real usage (some staff over-provisioned, others constrained)
- upgrade timings that force unnecessary device changes
- unclear price rises and bolt-ons
Ofcom’s rules and the wider market focus on price-rise clarity have made transparency a priority. Ask for plain, written clarity on pricing and any planned increases before you commit, especially on longer agreements.
Practical advice: Decide your device strategy (iOS, Android, or mixed) and your ownership model (BYOD or company-owned) first. Then match the contract to what you need.
Conclusion
The best choice is the one that makes your mobiles easy to run. Look for consistent onboarding, clear security policies, simple support, and contracts with no surprises.
- Choose iOS when standardisation and consistent rollout are priorities.
- Choose Android when flexibility and a broader range of device options matter.
- Choose a mixed fleet when different roles need different tools. Manage it properly with enrolment and mobile device management (MDM).
Call to action: get a clear, practical recommendation (without the jargon)
Mobifon helps UK businesses with mobile strategy, rollouts, and ongoing management. We keep it simple, accurate, and focused on your business.
Book a Free Business Consultation and Audit and we will:
- review your current devices, contracts, and usage (including roaming risk)
- recommend the best-fit approach: iOS, Android, or mixed fleet
- advise on BYOD or company-owned policies that staff will actually follow
- map out ABM / Android Enterprise setup and the right MDM approach
- suggest contract improvements for cost control and easier management (including eSIM readiness)
If you want Mobifon to review your current setup, contact Mobifon and organise a FREE Business Consultation and Audit