Android Development Challenges

My biggest problem with Android dev is it's hard for all the wrong reasons

do android developers have many of the same issues?

You have to realize that the android platform is years behind the iPhone. Developing for the iPhone was a nightmare when the SDK was first released to developers. APIs that did not work as described. Talk to iPhone developers that went through that stage of the evolution and you'll know.

This is the truth, Android API's are poorly designed, Architecture is like a spaghetti code and fragmentation of the OS is horrible in comparison with iOS which sends a message how much Google cares vs Apple about developers and User Experience. Not to mention Kotlin, still love Java and prefer to use that.

Are the Android APIs that bad? (I've yet to develop an Android app)

I wonder if anyone who develops for Android could shed some light on the difficulties they encounter when developing for a fragmented platform?

My source is me, having to develop and manage a cross-platform mobile app (Android and iOS). Doing anything with the latter platform is an uphill struggle, from the platform itself to publishing the app. On the other hand, working with Android is pretty smooth despite the fragmentation; most issues with it are purely visual and easily fixed.

because iOS is considered a second-class citizen compared to native Android devices during development?

Unless you try to support wide range of devices. That's where android development is harder.

Read the comment from thomas marban about developing software on Android, who explains why the Android SDK means apps have worse UI.