My wife got an iPhone after both of us using Android phones for 2 years now, and we both fund iOS cumbersome and excessively time-consuming to navigate. I think it is likely better for first-timers. But Android’s ability to rapidly access every area, and customize is really hard to do without.
How can it be cumbersome and time-consuming to navigate? You can put anything you want on your home screen. . . and on your dock. Instant access. People you want to dial, on your favorites screen, in any order you choose. Or you can tell SIRI to start any app you want or call anyone you want. How is that cumbersome? Apparently you just don't know how to use it to the best advantage and are used to the much more cumbersome user interface of Android.
This idea you cannot customize iPhones is false.
What you’re really telling us is that you’re unfamiliar with the iPhone interface.