iOS 7 – Best Mobile OS In User Experience Test

iOS 7 was released ten days ago, on September 18th and it was rapidly adopted by iOS device users around the world. The redesigned mobile Operating System from Apple seems to eclipse not only previous iOS versions, but also its rival Operating Systems in several user experience tests.

Pfeiffer Consulting based in Paris conducted the study (which you can read here). The company compares the latest OS from Apple with four major mobile Operating Systems: the previous version of iOS, iOS 6, Android, Windows Phone 8 and Blackberry 10. The ratings are based on user experience.

It needs to be mentioned that Pfeiffer Consulting used Samsung’s implementation of Android for the purpose of the test, backing the decision by the following statement “given the overwhelming market share of Samsung in the smartphone market, it is clearly the most widely used version of Android currently distributed”.

The following statement describes how the study was conducted: “We do not look at features, we do not compare cutting-edge options and gadgets, we only look at aspects that have a direct impact on the day-to-day user experience of an average, non-technical user [...]”.

It seems the study rated the following aspects when comparing the several mobile Operating Systems: the OS’ cognitive load, its efficiency and integration, what options for customization it offers and user experience friction. You may be wondering what cognitive load actually means. Cognitive load is a term that represents all the elements that an user needs to familiarize with in order to have an intuitive and spontaneous experience while using a device. In order to determine this cognitive load, the study counted the number of icons, pre installed apps and all other elements that an user interacts with, that come in a default mobile Operating System installation.

When it comes to cognitive load, iOS 6 managed to be the winner, with iOS 7 on the second place (you can  see the cognitive load benchmark in the above picture; note that lower is better). As the study explains, the reason why iOS 6 won this test is the fact that iOS 7 adds Control Center.

According to the study, the efficiency and integration comparison “analyzed access to key settings, integration with notifications, multitasking, and camera access, among others [...]”. iOS 7 and Android rated best in the efficiency and integration benchmark.

The study commended iOS 7 for its “mature efficiency and integration including a customizable notifications area, Control Center and well-implemented multitasking and application switching”. Regarding customization options, Samsung’s implementation of Android wins by a wide margin thanks to its “dizzying granularity” of options, while the latest version of iOS managed to be second, being better than the other three mobile Operating Systems.

The study mentions that both iOS 6 and the seventh version of iOS offer similar customization options, however iOS 7 has the edge over the sixth version as it includes “dynamic type support, as well as comprehensive accessibility options”.

Pfeiffer Consulting explains that user experience friction “occurs whenever a device does not do what you expect it to do – or lacks a key feature that should be available”. In the user experience friction comparison (you can check the below image for this benchmark’s results; note that lower is better) iOS 6 managed best all other mobile Operating Systems, while the latest version of iOS managed to be second. Pfeiffer Consulting said about the comparison, that iOS 7′s Control Center  is “clearly useful” but it also has “the annoying habit of accidentally popping up” especially when the user does not need it.

The study took the combined results of all four comparisons and evaluations and based on these results it concluded that the latest version of Apple’s mobile OS, iOS 7, is the most user friendly mobile OS currently available. Pfeiffer Consulting conclusion was that “Apple has achieved its goal to move iOS into the modern smartphone era. Despite some controversial design aspects, iOS 7 is pleasant and more fluid to use than other mobile operating systems [...]”.