Kantar: iOS Adoption Rises in China as Android Grows in U.S. and Europe - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Kantar: iOS Adoption Rises in China as Android Grows in U.S. and Europe

by

Kantar Worldpanel has released new smartphone operating system market share data for the third calendar quarter of 2015, providing a regional breakdown of Android, iOS, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and other mobile platform adoption in the U.S., Europe, China, Japan and elsewhere during the three-month period ending October.

iPhone 6 Galaxy S6 Edge
In the U.S. market, Android led the third quarter with 62.8% market share, compared to 33.6% for iOS. The U.S. smartphone market continues to be virtually a two-horse race between Apple and Google, with iOS and Android combining for 96.4% market share in the October quarter. Windows Phone was a distant third place with just 2.7% market share.

"With 33.6% of the U.S. smartphone market, Apple's share remained down year-over-year, but up quarter-over-quarter, as iPhone 6s became the third best-selling smartphone," Milanesi added. "Samsung retained its leading position in the U.S. smartphone market and, for the first time in 2015, the South Korean brand was able to show year-on-year growth."

Android continued to have the highest market share among mobile platforms worldwide, experiencing 1.6% year-over-year growth in Europe's big five markets -- United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. iOS adoption grew in China and Japan by 7% and 3.5% respectively compared to the year-ago quarter.


Kantar Worldpanel data shows the iPhone 6s accounted for 24% of all iPhones sold in the U.S. in the three months ending October, compared to 33% for the iPhone 6 in 2014, and 22% for the iPhone 5s in 2013. Kantar says "overall volumes are pretty much identical to what was sold in 2013, while down 25% from 2014’s sales."

Kantar Worldpanel's latest data is also available in chart format for those that cannot view the embedded map above.

Top Rated Comments

LovingTeddy Avatar
135 months ago
Just wait until they bring out the iPhone 7 with no headphone jack...then sales will REALLY tank.
It is just rumor for now, until it become offical, it is just a baseless rumor. If Apple does do away headphone jack, it must be headphone jack is acient technology and it needs Apple's reimaginations. After all, consumers do not know what they want util APPLE shows to them, right? And I am sure it will sell well, becuase so many hardcore fan will buy regardles...

Well, I am just going to enjoy iPhone 6S and my Android phones with CM 13
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
135 months ago
China knows what's up.

(And Japan, which actually has a higher iOS market share than Android!)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Chrome Feature 22

Google Claims Android Is Now Faster Than iPhone for Web Browsing

Wednesday March 25, 2026 10:00 am PDT by
Google today said that Android has set a new record for mobile web performance, making it the fastest mobile platform for web browsing. The newest Android devices have set new records on web performance benchmarks like Speedometer and LoadLine, which Google attributes to "deep vertical integration across hardware, the Android OS, and the Chrome engine." Speedometer simulates real-world...
RCS Feature 1

iOS 26.5 Beta Continues RCS End-to-End Encryption Testing for iPhone and Android Messages

Monday March 30, 2026 11:43 am PDT by
Apple tested end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages exchanged between iPhone and Android users in the iOS 26.4 beta, but Apple made it clear the functionality was not going to launch in the iOS 26.4 update. E2EE for RCS was removed before iOS 26.4 was released, but the feature is back in the iOS 26.5 beta as Apple continues testing it. In the Messages section of the Settings app,...
iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Color Likely as Android Rivals Prep Same Shade

Monday April 13, 2026 3:22 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro is very likely to come in a new deep red color, claims a Chinese leaker, because the color is already being prototyped by Android phone makers. In February, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple is testing a deep red finish for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Rumors of purple and brown finishes have also circulated, but Gurman believes those are ...