Windows phone discontinued?

My mobile device is MS Lumia 950xl dual sim (runs Windows 10 Mobile).  This is the first smartphone that I've owned.  If you would help me out with choosing between Apple mobile, & Android mobile, which OS would you purchase?

What device you end up getting is a personal choice and it is always a difficult question to reply to. There are pros and cons on every device so my best advice is to go to a cell provider and have them show and explain the different models and that will help you make a decision.

I have not made the change yet, and hopefully, I can hold out for another 6 months but it is coming for me. My wife just switched from a very old Windows Phone that was no longer getting any updates from Verizon. She ended up getting a Samsung Galaxy Note8 and has been very happy with it. 

For her (and me) it has been a steep learning curve but once we installed some Microsoft software on it it made a difference. Microsoft Launcher is the best program. It integrates Microsoft services into the Android experience while also adding some design elements that will be familiar to Windows users. So far, it has been a great experience for her.

Part of your message, quoted from above:  "...but if you know what you are doing it's not really an issue."

YES.  Well, that's my weakness.  I'm a medical professional, not a computer professional.

Quoting myself from my message response, below:  ".....  ANYWAY, my A#1 concern with choosing my new mobile is RELIABILITY & MORE RELIABILITY.  So, anybody have a helpful opinion on  "mobile phone reliability & OS)?  Please?...."

I don't. I am agnostic about the spiritual beauty and trustworthiness of both. I use Microsoft Office software in  business so it is easier to use the same software on my phone.

Having said that, when Google photo trawls through my photos to recognise faces common to my photos, and asks me to link them to email addresses, I wonder what Google will do with that facial recognition information, whether they will sell it, and how well they will protect it.

But Microsoft has its own privacy issues, so we are just choosing between Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

Good question though.

PRECISELY!!  They're all corrupt.  Over the past several years I've heard quite a bit of reportage about Google's antics, then the ALPHABET CEO (umbrella master over Google, don't remember his name)  "stepped down", unh-hunh, right, from his position after Pres. Trump signing Executive Order  "National Security" threat for the USA, worldwide scope about human trafficking.

ANYWAY, my A#1 concern with choosing my new mobile is RELIABILITY & MORE RELIABILITY.  So, anybody have a helpful opinion on  "mobile phone reliability & OS)?  Please?

You don't need to use Google everything, but it's just easier on Android. You'll have to try and see for yourself what suits you better. I switched 3 years ago and haven't looked back. I do not miss anything from Windows Mobile, not a one single app or functionality. I cannot imagine using a Windows phone today.

My mobile device is MS Lumia 950xl dual sim (runs Windows 10 Mobile).  This is the first smartphone that I've owned.  If you would help me out with choosing between Apple mobile, & Android mobile, which OS would you purchase?

Ok, that's it for me right now.  Thanks, for your help.

I went with with Android for two main reasons: stupidly overpriced hardware from Apple and extremely boring user interface which hasn't really changed sine the original release over 10 years. I am now forced to use an iPhone for work, it's not a terrible experience, everything generally just works but getting a custom ringtone on it turned into a half day battle incl. having to install iTunes on my PC, etc. I find Android a lot more flexible, which carries its risks, of course, but if you know what you are doing it's not really an issue.

Hi again,

I'm all in on Google. Full ecosystem. $9.99 for unlimited music, play book for audio books and books in general (BTW, there's a ton of free books), Google+, YouTube, Gmail, Daydream (VR), Drive, Earth, Express (Google's version of Amazon), Google Pay, News, Games, Google's version of Office (Docs, Sheets, and Slides). Have I mentioned I can print from my phone? no? I can print from my phone. Google Assistant. 

Hardware wise, you can choose from so many OEMs, but I prefer Google's. I have a Pixel 2XL. Flawless. Picked up a Pixel book a while back (think of a Surface Laptop, just better built). Google WiFi, Android TV, Google Home speakers. 

Only think missing for me is a viable desktop solution. Yeah there are a few from LG and Acer, but not yet designed for home. So what I have been doing is Chrome casting my Pixel book to my TV for those very rare occasions that I want a larger screen. 

My favorite thing about all of this is that its all connected via a Gmail account. Yes, I have seen the recent articles. But I would suggest reading up on how Apple and Microsoft both state that they WILL share your data, while Google does only if you give permissions. 

Good luck with whatever you choose. As long as its not Microsoft. Haha. 

Robert