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

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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.

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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.

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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
164 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
164 months ago
Because the s4 isn't as good as they thought and its all gimmicks
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tbrand7 Avatar
164 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
164 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)
164 months ago
Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!...
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheRealTVGuy Avatar
164 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)

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