Take the time to go through all the options in the Settings app. There are lots of options, and doing so is cumbersome and time-consuming, but it's worthwhile for configuring the phone options to match your preferences. I've found the sections Notifications, General, Control Center, Accessibility, and Privacy & Security most influential for my preferences.
When typing, double tap the Space Bar to insert a period followed by a space.
Long pressing on app icons from the Home Screen will often give access to a few handy shortcuts. For example, with the Messages app one option allows you to go directly to the New Message screen.
The Firefox Focus app is a good set-it-and-forget-it ad blocker for iOS Safari.
Be mindful of how Apple benefits users who have multiple devices and take advantage as you see fit. Others have mentioned Continuity, the Notes app is good and syncs between iOS and macOS, the Reminders app will also sync across platforms, etc.
Don't count on Siri for much. Rudimentary tasks are typically reliable, but not much else: setting timers; basic math, saying, "Call Judy," tell Bob I'm leaving now (for a text/iMessage), basic language translations.
Selecting text provides a pop-up menu that can be scrolled right to left and has some helpful options (like getting a word defined and a few other things).
When the next major iOS release comes out in a couple months, Apple sites like MacRumors and 9to5Mac can be helpful resources for tips on the new OS.
You don't need to purchase a "scanning" app. a) On your macbook, you can right click in files and "scan from iphone" and it wirelessly opens the camera on your phone. b) You can make new scans from within the Notes app, but it's a little hasstle.
Long/force-press the space bar to move the cursor around in text boxes like a touchpad.
SwiftKey is very helpful with replacing the terrible, terrible iOS keyboard.
The iOS keyboard was without question the hardest part of the transition from Android to the iPhone for me. (GBoard for iOS is a pale imitation of GBoard for Android.) I still think it's weird that I have so much trouble with the iOS keyboard, because I've used an iPad for years, and the iPadOS "Flick Keyboard" has always been just fine since it was introduced 5 or so years ago.
Your MacBook Air have a shared clipboard - you may need to set some permissions for it to work but once it does it’s amazing.
Also, shared messages app.
It would probably be worth your time to watch some tips & tricks videos on iOS. Apps are cool, but other than some iOS exclusive 3rd party apps, the apps themselves will likely be pretty similar.
What you’ll really want to spend time on is learning the system and first party apps from Apple.
For example, in the camera app there is a little carrot in the top center that reveals a bunch of more advanced features. Simply swiping up (or away from the shutter button) on the viewfinder will also quickly bring these options up. Also, instead of tapping the shutter button, sliding it one way will start a video, while sliding it the other way will take a burst of photos.
I find tips like this really help me use my phone much better and easier, and they are things most users never stumble across on their own.
Apple likes to make apps that appear simple on the surface, so it’s easy for the 80% to use, but certain apps have a good amount of depth when you know where to look.
You can use the Messages app on your MacBook Air to send and receive texts and calls too.
When texting Android users, don't use reactions. It spams them with an additional text saying "Soandso liked your post blah blah." They don't share a compatible messaging protocol.
"Find My" with precision finding can be useful for locating your devices or wallet (with an Airtag).
If your iPhone has a lidar, you can have some fun with photogrammetry apps. It's like a Kinect in your phone.
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Those are just the random things I'm jealous of as an Android user. Had an iPhone for a while but couldn't get used to it.
On YouTube, I love "Proper Honest Tech".
https://www.youtube.com/@ProperHonestTech
He is excellent at explaining how to use the iPhone (and other Apple stuff) in a fun, clear and concise way. His explanations are simple, but he goes deep on features that I haven't seen covered elsewhere.
- Disable background refresh for all apps (for battery life)
- Enable lockdown mode and any other privacy features
- Limit all app permissions to the minimum, including notifications (for privacy and battery)
- For password manager, use bitwarden (or 1password), not apple's own (to prevent lockdown)
- Under location settings, avoid using precise location unless explicitly required, like maps (for privacy)
If you like the sound of white noise or rain, there is a nice built-in feature that makes it available as additional background music even when listening to podcasts:
Settings -> Accessibility -> Audio & Visual -> Background Noise
I can activate it by pressing the home button three times (but I think that needs an additional setting).
Shortcuts is a cool app that seems underused. I have a few automations that I use regularly:
- open a specific web page every day at 5:00
- an icon on the Home Screen that enables low power mode (otherwise you have to dig into the settings for it)
- custom icon images for various apps, just to make it more visually appealing
Pay for a developer account, since without it you can't feasibly sideload the good apps.
Install AdGuard as soon as possible.
The stock iOS apps (calendar, mail, etc.) are all pretty good and clean, I recommend trying to use them unless you find a good reason not to.
Set up proper icloud security, findme, backup and sync options.
Explore builtin features for notes, tasks, mail app etc.
That is when you get awesome synergy with your macbook.
Shake your phone to undo typing or editing.
You can select text in images, such as screenshots and photos. I think this still isn’t possible on Android.
Everything you need to know can be found here: https://www.stallman.org/apple.html
If you enable Continuity, you have some good features like clipboard sharing. This is arguably the most useful computing features of the apple ecosystem, especially if you use your devices in different context.
Explore the Accessibility section in the Settings. That's where the useful customization options are.
If you have the storage space, let the Photos app on the Macbook store the photos locally. Way easier to deal with them as a bulk there than on the Phone.
You can store web apps on the homescreen by using the share button. If it's a pwa, it will appears like a real web app (Was great for Navidrome, Logitech Media Server, and Outlook).
Some apps have both iOS and Mac versions, like Bear, Things, Anybox,... Be sure to check the iOS counterpart.
Explore Shortcuts. While I prefer scripts on the Mac, they're good on the iPhone.