Apple is correct that security researchers believe iPhones are more secure than Android devices. But that's not because of Apple's app store review process, whi

Apple is correct that security researchers believe iPhones are more secure than Android devices. But that's not because of Apple's app store review process, which is notoriously inconsistent and uneven. The security of iPhone comes primarily from security features built into the iOS operating system itself – app sandboxing, memory safety, and permission prompts to access photos, contacts, etc. These OS-level security features also exist in macOS which allows apps to be downloaded from any source and run safely. There's no reason that iOS couldn't follow the macOS model. Nearly every macOS app offered outside of the Mac App Store uses Apple's "notarization" process, which requires developers to send a copy of their apps to Apple for inspection and malware scanning before Apple gives their seal of approval. When a user runs an app for the first time, macOS checks that the app has been notarized first. Apps that lack notarization require the user to jump through several hoops before they can be run which discourages novice users from proceeding.