I actually find this to be quite an interesting question, particularly considering that one can easily emulate the functionality of a switch using a checkbox in Android.
According to the Android developers guide, a checkbox is simply a type of switch. Check the quotes below or read the full description here.
Checkboxes: Checkboxes allow the user to select multiple options from a set. Avoid using a single checkbox to turn an option off or on. Instead, use an on/off switch.
On/off Switches: On/off switches toggle the state of a single settings option.