Android Dominates Nearly 80% of Smartphone Market, iOS Drops to 13% Share

Apple's iOS is losing ground to Android when it comes to smartphone operating system market share, according to a new report from research firm IDC. Apple's share of worldwide smartphone shipments dropped to 13.2% during the second quarter of 2013, while Android climbed to 79.3%.

During the same quarter last year, Apple held 16.6% of the market, while Android held 69.1%. Despite its slight loss of share, iOS remains the number two operating system, with Android and iOS combined making up 92.5% of shipments.

"The iOS decline in the second quarter aligns with the cyclicality of iPhone," says Ramon Llamas, Research Manager with IDC's Mobile Phone team. "Without a new product launch since the debut of the iPhone 5 nearly a year ago, Apple's market share was vulnerable to product launches from the competition. But with a new iPhone and revamped iOS coming out later this year, Apple is well-positioned to re-capture market share."

idcosq22013

Worldwide Smartphone Shipments in 2Q13 in Millions of Units (Source: IDC)

Windows Phone continues to gain market share as well, coming in at 3.7% during the second quarter of 2013, up 77.6% from its 3.1% share during Q2 2012.

Other operating systems are consistently losing ground to the top three operating systems with BlackBerry OS representing 2.9% of shipments, Linux at 0.8%, and Symbian at 0.2%.

Last week, IDC released its estimates on worldwide mobile phone sales, showing slowing growth for Apple's iPhone. Apple shipped 31.2 million iPhones during the second quarter of 2013, representing 13.1% of the market. Samsung shipped 72.4 million, for a market share of 30.4%.

Those numbers may shift in the coming quarters as Apple gears up to launch its next generation iPhone and a new low-cost iPhone, possibly as early as September.

Top Rated Comments

w0by Avatar
128 months ago
Eek

I was part of that. I've had an iPhone since the day it first came out, every model. I got so bored with it I sold it an got an HTC One. Once the iPhone 6 comes out I might go back, but we'll see about that :p. This isn't bashing Apple at all, it was just what I did.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrmjenkins Avatar
128 months ago
The problem is that the market grew by 50% YOY and Apple only grabbed 6.5% of those new customers.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cdmoore74 Avatar
128 months ago
Don't worry guys; Iphone 5s and 5c will turn things around.

Tim Cook 2013

Don't worry guys; iphone 6 and 6c will turn things around.

Tim Cook 2014

Don't worry guys; iphone 7 will turn things around.

New Apple CEO
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
springsup Avatar
128 months ago
Honestly, I'm not sure iOS7 is going to help them reverse the trend.

They're going to need to drop their hardware prices.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rootus Avatar
128 months ago
No real surprise here. Google is sorta in the position with mobile devices that Microsoft was with PCs. It looks like Apple will then occupy the same position that they did with PCs. As long as they can maintain the profit margin, they do pretty well as a niche player.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Cod3rror Avatar
128 months ago
The cycle is complete, time for Apple to invent something new.

Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)