Do those updates matter?

Not for me at least usually (exception might be something like an rpg game expanding the world), apps nagging to get updated is annoying in fact.

> apps nagging to get updated is annoying in fact.

There is no nagging. Apps auto-update on iOS, and have for years. I had 15 apps update in the last week. There was no nagging or notifications. It just happens.

My only gripe is that they seem to want to update right after I take it off the charger in the morning, instead of at night. But I only actually notice this once or twice per year, if I go to use an app that’s in the process of installing within the first few minutes of waking up.

Apps also auto update on Android. Frequently though, the updates reduce functionality or make it more annoying (basics like messages, calculator, photos, calendar, etc have been 'done' for a decade+ and can only really be made worse), so personally I've turned that off for most apps (and I suppose the other poster has too). Of course Google being aggressive assholes, they then have some of their apps start showing popups every time you open it telling you to update when the entire point was to have it not change in functionality and not introduce that sort of thing.

Most online RPGs (Genshin for example) check for world updates everytime you log in, it's not tied to app updates.

I was thinking Andor's Trail :)

To add more examples, a game I play on my phone got an update that adds controller support on iOS, with controller support on Android expected 6 months down the line.

There are plenty examples to the contrary. It's almost like one of the platforms has the supermajority of phones in most countries, so there are plenty of apps only targeting a single one.

Do you have any examples handy? It'd strengthen your argument a great deal, even if it wasn't the specific example of controller support.

I've never understood how Google was able to get PR for the most trivial coding stuff any child coder can do.

"...support for a dynamic light mode. Instead of always viewing photos with a black background, Google Photos will use the light mode or dark mode background that you have set for your device's system theme."

This is literally one IF statement. The sentence is longer than the code.

The iOS and Android app teams at Google don’t coordinate their releases. They ship it when it’s ready for publication. Why inconvenience the other base just because the other team has other priorities and schedules. That said, Google apps have always been superior on Android than iOS. Just look at Keep.