“Android smartphone owners have become more loyal to their operating system than iOS users over the last two years, according to new data,” Don Reisinger reports for CNET. “Between July 2013 and June 2015, 82 percent of previous Android owners stuck with the operating system when they purchased a new handset, market researcher Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) said Tuesday. Apple’s iOS was close behind with a 78 percent loyalty rate. All data was based on quarterly surveys of 4,000 individuals across the US.”
“The data suggests that, at least among iOS and Android owners, switching to a new platform is not an attractive option,” Reisinger reports. “‘The dynamic between Apple iOS and Google Android is not well-understood,’ Josh Lowitz, CIRP co-founder, said in a statement. ‘Even the basic loyalty rate, the measure of how each operating system retains its own users, is not widely known. Conventional wisdom says the Apple ‘ecosystem’ promotes loyalty, while Android readily gives up users to iOS. Our analysis has a more nuanced view on operating system selection, and indicates Android user loyalty has caught up and even exceeds that of iOS.'”
“What’s worse for Apple, CIRP data shows that 20 percent of previous iOS owners decided to pick up an Android device during the period it evaluated. By contrast, 16 percent of Android users switched to iOS, potentially boosting Android’s market share on the back of Apple’s platform,” Reisinger reports. “The CIRP findings also show another phenomenon: Customers switching to AT&T and Verizon were most likely to also switch from Android to iOS. Customers who moved to T-Mobile or Sprint were more likely to shift from iOS to Android.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: First, the carrier changing issue: We believe that people switching to T-Mobile or Sprint (#3 and #4) vs. Verizon or AT&T (#1 or #2) are more likely to be looking for a deal and therefore are more likely to go for Android BOGOF or other promotions.
Now, for the main contention. Simply look at the time period from whence the data were collected: July 2013 and June 2015. That’s nearly 15 months prior to the release of iPhone 6/Plus with larger displays. Larger displays, from many disparate studies we’ve seen, were the #1 reason why iOS users would subject themselves to downgrading to Android. Only 9 months of CIRP’s study covered the period when iPhone 6/Plus with larger displays were available.
This is a very curious time frame. 15 months where people would be most likely to switch to Android for larger displays vs. only 9 months when larger iPhones were available. Was it perchance designed to elicit a newsworthy result?
CIRP, What does the data show for the nine months from late September 2014 – June 2015 when iPhone 6/ Plus with larger displays were available?
We’ve asked CIRP that question above via email and will report their reply when and if we receive a response.
Update 4:15pm EDT: According to CIRP’s Michael Levin, their data shows that, in the U.S. “iOS loyalty spiked in the December 2014 quarter after the iPhone 6/6 Plus launch, then settled back down to the long-term average in the following two quarters. Android loyalty declined somewhat in the December 2014 quarter, and then was consistent with the long-term trend.”
Now, to simplify the bottom line, we’ll round the numbers: If Android has 80% market share and iOS has 20%, let’s then say there are 80 Android settlers and 20 iOS users in a room. If 20% of Android settlers switch to iOS, iOS gains 16 users. If 20% of iOS users downgrade to Android, Android gains 4 settlers. So, now, we have 68 Android settlers left and 32 iOS users in that room.
Extrapolate.
Even with similar loyalty rates (which we still question, especially as Android security meltdowns multiple like rabbits), Android is currently hemorrhaging users to Apple’s iOS.
SEE ALSO:
Apple iPhone sees highest switching rate from Android ever recorded – August 10, 2015
Apple stock target raised as Android to iPhone upgrades surge – May 13, 2015
Nomura ups Apple to ‘Buy’ on strong iPhone growth, increasing Android switchers – July 31, 2015
Significant Android to iPhone switching weakens market for Samsung Galaxy S6 – March 24, 2015
Analyst: Android switchers fueling iPhone growth; Android users even more interested in Apple Watch than iOS users – March 23, 2015