It’s often said that the overall iOS experience is superior to Android. This is partly due to third-party software quality (iOS versions are often more polished) and partly due to Apple’s tight control over its ecosystem. To get on the App Store, you must pass rigorous reviews.
Today we look at the system-provided transition before app content is ready: Android’s StartingWindow and iOS’s Launch Screen. Neither is the same as an advertising Activity or business home screen rendered by the app.
I originally wrote that iOS required a single image. I was wrong about that. Xcode 6 release notes document XIB/Storyboard launch screens from iOS 8. They provide early feedback, not a guaranteed zero-delay timestamp. Older Android theme paths allowed customization, disabled previews, and translucent windows; behavior depends on the OS version.