I hate Apple's software design, so I'm not a user, but this is a perception based on security researchers and actual activists being targeted by their (or other

I hate Apple's software design, so I'm not a user, but this is a perception based on security researchers and actual activists being targeted by their (or other) governments, not Apple's assertions. Google has made positive moves, and there is hope with Treble that they can match Apple (they absolutely have the security personnel to do it) but as yet they are not there. Apple provides this with affordable several year old devices that are cheaper than any remotely secure android device. Those devices will generally continue to get software updates as long as brand new flagship Android devices.