U.S. Army’s special forces reportedly switching from Android to iPhone 6s
- jul
- 19
According to a report on DoDBuzz, the U.S. Army's Special Operations Command is switching from using Android phones to the iPhone 6s in the field. Soldiers are currently equipped with the Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAC), which will soon be replaced by the iPhone Tactical Assault Kit, according to a source "not authorized to speak to the media."
From the publication:
The iPhone is "faster; smoother. Android freezes up" and has to be restarted too often, the source said. The problem with the Android is particularly noticeable when viewing live feed from an unmanned aerial system such as Instant Eye, the source said.
When trying to run a split screen showing the route and UAS feed, the Android smart phone will freeze up and fail to refresh properly and often have to be restarted, a process that wastes valuable minutes, the source said.
"It's seamless on the iPhone," according to the source. "The graphics are clear, unbelievable."
The ATAC system consists of a Samsung phone connected to a specialized Harris AN/PRC 152A radio. There's no mention of the Samsung hardware currently used by the special forces, but until 2013, the Galaxy Note II was the go-to handset.