>and works the same on any phone.
Well yes, that's what Jobs' "thermonuclear war" was about. In fact Google is still at it with Android Q. They've given up and just aped the iPhone X gestures [2]. Apple might be mad about it but they shouldn't be because it just makes switching from Android to iOS easier.
[1] http://www.iphonehacks.com/2013/09/ios-7-gestures.html
[2] https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/7/18530599/google-android-q-...
Apple’s gesture for this requires starting at the edge of the screen, but Instagram allows you to start swiping anywhere.
I’d hesitate a guess that without this difference, the ape wouldn’t have been able to browse Instagram nearly as easily.
Though in fairness, I do think the iphone is pretty intuitive. My parents picked it up quite well (mac too).
However, there are a variety of mid-tier functions that are not very discoverable. Not pro features, even simple stuff like screenshots and certain sharing options.