How Android Users Connect to Their Devices: Poll Results

Cable still led, but not by much

The author expected most readers to use a physical connection and was surprised how many preferred wireless. Cable users pointed out that the phone is often plugged in anyway for charging, or for a manufacturer’s sync software such as Kies. When it is already connected, there is little reason to set up another service just to send a file.

The author also recalled a friend setting up a Nexus device who asked where the SD card was, and then wondered whether SD cards were a dying idea.

Internet-based options

• Dropbox: by far the most common choice. The author liked its reliability, the instant upload feature and the extra free storage.
• Drive: the second most popular service.

Several readers said that for very large files, around 1GB, they would still use a cable.

Local network options

• AirDroid: the favourite by a wide margin.
• Bluetooth: mentioned, but compatibility and file type limits get in the way.

Other tools readers named included File Expert, SwiFTP, ES Explorer, WinAmp for music, Total Commander, Folder Sync Lite, Solid Explorer, Double Twist, Samba file sharing and QuickSSHd. Nobody named Wifi File Explorer, which the author had suggested.

Status today

This poll is from the early days of Android. Some of these apps have changed or disappeared since, so check what is currently available before relying on any of them.