20% of Apple iPhone Customers Switched from Android, 7% of Samsung Buyers Switched from iOS - MacRumors
Skip to Content

20% of Apple iPhone Customers Switched from Android, 7% of Samsung Buyers Switched from iOS

by

Between July 2012 and June 2013, 20% of Apple's customers came from the Android operating system and 7% of Samsung's new customers during the time period switched from an iOS device, according to a new report from CIRP.

The majority of iPhone purchases came from customers who previously owned an iPhone, with 42% of customers already in Apple's ecosystem. The same holds true for Samsung, with 43% of former Android customers choosing to stick with the Android platform.

previousos
Both companies attracted former basic phone users, though Samsung attracted a good deal more at 37% vs. Apple's 26%. New phone buyers were more likely to choose a Samsung phone.

When taking into account only customers who switched brands, 33% of Apple’s new customers came from Samsung, while just 11% of Samsung's new customers came from Apple. Samsung attracted more customers from HTC, Motorola, and Nokia, while Apple garnered more BlackBerry users.

brandswitch
The study also found that customers who purchased iPhones tended to be younger than those who purchased Samsung phones. 69% of those that bought an iPhone were between the ages of 18 and 34 compared to only 64% of Samsung buyers. Apple buyers had a slightly higher income, with 38% reporting an income over $75,000 compared to 29% of Samsung buyers. 48% of Apple buyers also had a college degree, compared to 32% of Samsung buyers.

CIRP's data comes from four quarterly surveys between July 2012 and June 2013, and with each survey, 500 subjects who purchased a mobile phone in the preceding 90 days were queried.

Top Rated Comments

Dulcimer Avatar
171 months ago

The study also found that customers who purchased iPhones tended to be younger than those who purchased Samsung phones.
But… Samsung's ads told me that only old people and parents use iPhones.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aussi3 Avatar
171 months ago
Because the s4 isn't as good as they thought and its all gimmicks
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tbrand7 Avatar
171 months ago
But… Samsung told me in their ads that only old people and parents use iPhone.

Samsung lies!
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ValSalva Avatar
171 months ago
It's not surprising that a lot of people buying their first smart phone would choose Samsung/Android. Many purchase primarily based on price and what the workers in the carrier stores sway them towards.

Once they've owned Samsung/Android I'd guess many either give up and don't use the 'smart' features of the phone (thus the disproportionately lower web usage numbers despite market share) or switch to iPhones. I wonder what demographic is going from iPhones to Samsung/Android?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
171 months ago
Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!...
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheRealTVGuy Avatar
171 months ago
So the smart money is on Apple! Nice...

And NO, they don't need to produce a giant screen size just to appease/appeal to a certain segment.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 18 Siri Personal Context

Siri AI Settlement Website Now Live: Apple to Pay Some iPhone Owners

Sunday September 20, 2026 7:24 pm PDT by
In May, Apple agreed to pay $250 million to settle a U.S. class action lawsuit over Siri AI's delayed launch, and the settlement website is now live. Apple will pay an estimated $25 per eligible iPhone to eligible customers, who can submit a claim via the settlement website between September 21 and December 21 of this year. The exact payment may be higher or lower than $25 depending on the...
iOS 26 Home Feature

Apple Will Soon Announce an All-New Operating System

Tuesday September 22, 2026 9:19 am PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system that is essentially a mix of tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman reiterated that the operating system will feature a grid of app icons, widgets, and customizable clock faces. The new software platform is intended for Apple's long-rumored smart home hub. With built-in facial...
Mostly Screen iPhone Purple Feature 2027

iPhone 20 Pro Display Sizes Leak Ahead of 2027 Launch

Monday September 21, 2026 4:29 am PDT by
Apple's 20th-anniversary iPhone lineup could feature slightly larger displays than the iPhone 18 Pro models, if a new leak shared on Weibo is accurate. Prolific Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station claims that early iPhone 20 Pro display specifications include a 6.41-inch screen with a resolution of approximately 2,686 × 1,236 pixels, while the iPhone 20 Pro Max is said to have a 6.96-inch...
Latest Stories
Launch Discounts Arrive for New Mac Mini and Mac Studio, Plus Massive Deal on Samsung's Portable SSD
Launch Discounts Arrive for New Mac Mini and Mac Studio, Plus Massive Deal on Samsung's Portable SSD
8 minutes ago
New iPhone Setting Lets Users Shake Off Motion-Sensing Ads
New iPhone Setting Lets Users Shake Off Motion-Sensing Ads
2 hours ago
Apple Intelligence Taking Up 30GB+ on Some Macs Running macOS 27
Apple Intelligence Taking Up 30GB+ on Some Macs Running macOS 27
4 hours ago
New Mac Mini Has Two Storage Downsides, Including Unremovable SSD
New Mac Mini Has Two Storage Downsides, Including Unremovable SSD
11 hours ago
Apple Card Savings Account's Interest Rate Just Went Up
Apple Card Savings Account's Interest Rate Just Went Up
11 hours ago
Apple Releases First Public Betas of iOS 27.2 and macOS Golden Gate 27.2
Apple Releases First Public Betas of iOS 27.2 and macOS Golden Gate 27.2
15 hours ago
OpenAI's New GPT-6 Sol and Luna Models Bring Astra Improvements to Cheaper Tiers
OpenAI's New GPT-6 Sol and Luna Models Bring Astra Improvements to Cheaper Tiers
17 hours ago
Apple Park Visitor Center Just Lost an Attraction Offered Since 2017
Apple Park Visitor Center Just Lost an Attraction Offered Since 2017
18 hours ago
Shazam App for iPhone Updated With New Icon and iMessage Stickers
Shazam App for iPhone Updated With New Icon and iMessage Stickers
18 hours ago
Anthropic Launches Claude Opus 5.5 With Fable-Level Performance at a Lower Price
Anthropic Launches Claude Opus 5.5 With Fable-Level Performance at a Lower Price
19 hours ago
Apple Releases Firmware Update for Beats 360
Apple Releases Firmware Update for Beats 360
20 hours ago
Beats 360 Pre-Orders Open at Amazon With Cushion Kits on Sale, Plus More Beats Deals
Beats 360 Pre-Orders Open at Amazon With Cushion Kits on Sale, Plus More Beats Deals
20 hours ago
Apple Puts AirTag-Sized AI Pin on Hold
Apple Puts AirTag-Sized AI Pin on Hold
21 hours ago
Beats 360 Ear Cushion Kits Just $9.99 Each Until the End of October
Beats 360 Ear Cushion Kits Just $9.99 Each Until the End of October
21 hours ago
Apple Testing Prototypes of Whoop-Like Screenless Fitness Band
Apple Testing Prototypes of Whoop-Like Screenless Fitness Band
21 hours ago
Apple Will Soon Announce an All-New Operating System
Apple Will Soon Announce an All-New Operating System
22 hours ago
Apple Watch Series 10 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?
Apple Watch Series 10 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?
22 hours ago
Apple's Smart Glasses to Enter a Rapidly Growing Market
Apple's Smart Glasses to Enter a Rapidly Growing Market
22 hours ago
Apple Event This October? These 7 New Products Expected Next Month
Apple Event This October? These 7 New Products Expected Next Month
22 hours ago
Beats 360 Deliver Customizability and a Revamped Over-Ear Headphone Design
Beats 360 Deliver Customizability and a Revamped Over-Ear Headphone Design
1 day ago
Massive Discounts Hit 2026 MacBook Pro, Save Up to $600 on Amazon
Massive Discounts Hit 2026 MacBook Pro, Save Up to $600 on Amazon
1 day ago
Apple Planning to Bring iPhone Duo Display Tech to Pro in 2029
Apple Planning to Bring iPhone Duo Display Tech to Pro in 2029
1 day ago
Apple Announces 'Tap to Pay on iPhone' Availability in 8 More Countries
Apple Announces 'Tap to Pay on iPhone' Availability in 8 More Countries
1 day ago
New Mac Mini and Mac Studio Now Available for Same-Day Pickup at Apple Stores
New Mac Mini and Mac Studio Now Available for Same-Day Pickup at Apple Stores
1 day ago
Apple Still Working on Anti-Snatching Feature That Locks Stolen iPhones
Apple Still Working on Anti-Snatching Feature That Locks Stolen iPhones
1 day ago
Apple Quietly Excludes Older iPhones From New Camera Feature
Apple Quietly Excludes Older iPhones From New Camera Feature
1 day ago
App Switcher Returns in watchOS 27.2 Beta With New Launch Gesture
App Switcher Returns in watchOS 27.2 Beta With New Launch Gesture
1 day ago
Apple Music Hall Spatial Audio Venue Opens in Battersea Power Station
Apple Music Hall Spatial Audio Venue Opens in Battersea Power Station
1 day ago
Apple CEO John Ternus Talks iPhone Duo Design, Siri AI, and Becoming CEO
Apple CEO John Ternus Talks iPhone Duo Design, Siri AI, and Becoming CEO
2 days ago
You Can No Longer Downgrade From iOS 27 to iOS 26
You Can No Longer Downgrade From iOS 27 to iOS 26
2 days ago