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Android Continues to Have More Loyal Customers Than iOS
Android customers continue to be loyal to the Android operating system than iOS users are to the iOS operating system, according to new data shared today by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners.
Android saw a 91 percent loyalty rate in 2017, compared to 86 percent for iOS, with loyalty rates for the two operating systems remaining largely steady since early 2016. Android loyalty has hovered at 89 to 91 percent since January 2016, while iOS loyalty has been between 85 and 88 percent.
Operating system loyalty for the year was measured by the percentage of customers that remained with each operating system when activating a new phone over the twelve months ending in December 2017. CIRP says its findings are based on quarterly surveys with a sample of 500 subjects each.
As CIRP points out, with fewer and fewer first-time smartphone buyers available, poaching customers from competing operating systems is becoming increasingly important. Apple regularly aims to lure Android users to iOS through trade-in options, videos, a Move to iOS app to make transitioning simple, and a "Switch" website dedicated to explaining all of the reasons why the iPhone is better than competing smartphones.
Android saw a 91 percent loyalty rate in 2017, compared to 86 percent for iOS, with loyalty rates for the two operating systems remaining largely steady since early 2016. Android loyalty has hovered at 89 to 91 percent since January 2016, while iOS loyalty has been between 85 and 88 percent.
Operating system loyalty for the year was measured by the percentage of customers that remained with each operating system when activating a new phone over the twelve months ending in December 2017. CIRP says its findings are based on quarterly surveys with a sample of 500 subjects each.
"Loyalty for both Android and iOS increased in 2015 and into 2016, when it leveled off for both operating systems," said Mike Levin, Partner and Co-Founder of CIRP. "Loyalty is also as high as we've ever seen, really from 85-90% at any given point. With only two mobile operating systems at this point, it appears users now pick one, learn it, invest in apps and storage, and stick with it. Now, Apple and Google need to figure out how to sell products and services to these loyal customer bases."With the Android operating system, customers have access to a range of different smartphones that are all able to run Android, which may explain why it has a higher loyalty rate. Android devices are also typically more affordable than iOS devices, with a wider range of low-priced options available.
As CIRP points out, with fewer and fewer first-time smartphone buyers available, poaching customers from competing operating systems is becoming increasingly important. Apple regularly aims to lure Android users to iOS through trade-in options, videos, a Move to iOS app to make transitioning simple, and a "Switch" website dedicated to explaining all of the reasons why the iPhone is better than competing smartphones.
"We know Android has a larger base of users than iOS, and because of that larger base, the absolute number of users that switch to iOS from Android is as large or larger than the absolute number of users that switch to Android from iOS. Looking at absolute number of users in this way tends to support claims that iOS gains more former Android users, than Android does former iOS users."These loyalty rates are not equivalent to switcher rates, where iOS wins out. With a larger Android customer base, more customers are switching over to iOS devices on a regular basis. During earnings calls, Apple CEO Tim Cook always touts the high number of Android switchers Apple sees, with each quarter setting a new record.
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7 months ago
That depends on how you measure loyalty...
I'd say that Apple iOS has the MOST loyal clients on the planet. No in the entire Solar System....
That they still have ANY clients at all after what they put they clients through with iOS 11 speaks fathoms about loyalty :D
I'd say that Apple iOS has the MOST loyal clients on the planet. No in the entire Solar System....
That they still have ANY clients at all after what they put they clients through with iOS 11 speaks fathoms about loyalty :D
7 months ago
Android loyalty is 89 - 91% and iOS loyalty is between 85 - 88%. What is the margin of error on this survey? Most political surveys have a margin of 3 - 5 % and they have thousands of samples to get there. The difference here does not look statistically significant enough to claim that one is better than the other (even if the roles were reversed).
7 months ago
Apple could put a much more significant dent into Android, if they chose to "open up a little", and offer more customization for its devices. After 10 years of iOS, we still can't have weather on the lock screen, app icons can't be interactive, ie a weather app cannot show what the current weather/temp is, and still the stale-ass grid of icons that cannot be resized or changed how many icons appear on the grid...
on a 12.9" iPad you could have easily have an extra 10 icons at least.
on a 12.9" iPad you could have easily have an extra 10 icons at least.
7 months ago
Having been an iOS user that now uses Android, I gotta say -- it's pretty nice here. Unless I see some big changes in iOS 12, I expect my next phone to be an Android device as well. Android is really terrific, objectively speaking.
Now, my experiences are with STOCK Android -- that is, Android the way that Google intended for it to be. Many of the folks I've seen hating Android unsurprisingly have experiences with Samsung, LG, and the like. Or no experience with Android at all. But I digress. I implore for them to try the Pixel. Go take a look at the Pixel sub on Reddit and you'll find pages of pleasantly surprised iOS users.
(Before the Samsung lovers lynch me -- I think the Note 8 and S9 look amazing, guys! I kind of want one!)
Now, my experiences are with STOCK Android -- that is, Android the way that Google intended for it to be. Many of the folks I've seen hating Android unsurprisingly have experiences with Samsung, LG, and the like. Or no experience with Android at all. But I digress. I implore for them to try the Pixel. Go take a look at the Pixel sub on Reddit and you'll find pages of pleasantly surprised iOS users.
(Before the Samsung lovers lynch me -- I think the Note 8 and S9 look amazing, guys! I kind of want one!)
7 months ago
This does not shock me at all. Power users are using Android, you can do so much more. IOS has not grown up and that is a pretty serious issue as many long time users start to see how much more they can do elsewhere. And I love Apple products but IOS is a massive joke these days, zero innovation.. oh wait Animated Emojis for the win! lol
7 months ago
Disagree. iOS has more loyal customers. Android has smarter customers that are agnostic to any company or OS.
7 months ago
Using iOS means having to explain that you can't set more than a single DND period, because Apple felt that was good enough and has zero interest in offering an API to control it.
Really, this one issue is enough that I regularly think about how my next phone may end up being an Android instead. Aesthetics be damned - the basic thing a phone is for is alerting me at the right times and not at the wrong times. And Apple thinks that everyone sleeps the exact same hours every day always.
Really, this one issue is enough that I regularly think about how my next phone may end up being an Android instead. Aesthetics be damned - the basic thing a phone is for is alerting me at the right times and not at the wrong times. And Apple thinks that everyone sleeps the exact same hours every day always.
7 months ago
Disagree. iOS has more loyal customers. Android has smarter customers that are agnostic to any company or OS.
So basically iOS users are dumb and more likely to join any cult that ask them to throw their money. Got it. /s
7 months ago
Need to break it down to you?
Trashing $1000 for a Phone is clearly not a smarter choice than wasting $200 for a phone that does basically the same thing or more?
If you think the 200$ Android phone provides the same UX as the iPhone X, I don’t know what to say.
7 months ago
I’ve been loyal since 2010. For a few years, I wouldn’t consider anything else - but not anymore. The price premium isn’t worth it now. The Macs went first; I gave my MacBook Air to my sister, when she needed a lightweight laptop, and I needed Windows, and then sold my Mac mini when I built a Windows tower, which took over its server duties (and does 4K gaming) and the lack of hardware and software options made it useless as an HTPC.
I still have my iPad Pro, and my iPhone 7, but whereas I used to upgrade every year, I’ll keep these much longer, and replace with something good enough, but much much cheaper, and sans notch when they finally die.
I still have my iPad Pro, and my iPhone 7, but whereas I used to upgrade every year, I’ll keep these much longer, and replace with something good enough, but much much cheaper, and sans notch when they finally die.
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