If you’re considering buying your first smartphone, you’ve probably heard the words “Android” and “iPhone” thrown around. You may even try to convince friends and family members of the benefits of one or the other. But unless you already understand the smartphone market, you probably have questions. For example, is the iPhone an Android phone?

The short answer is no, the iPhone is not an Android phone (or vice versa). Even though they are both smartphones — that is, phones that can run apps, connect to the internet, and make phone calls — the iPhone and Android are two separate entities and are not compatible with each other.

Android and iPhone are separate brands, similar tools that do similar things, but they are not the same. For example, a Ford and a Subaru are both cars, but they are not the same vehicle. A Mac and a PC are both computers and can do most things the same, but they are not identical.

The same goes for iPhone and Android. They are both smartphones and can do mostly the same things, but they are not identical. There are four main areas that differentiate iPhone and Android phones.