Nielsen: Android growth outpaces iOS in U.S. amid smartphone adoption boom
A report from market analytics firm Nielsen on Thursday found Android's U.S. growth to outpace Apple's iOS as smartphones accounted for two thirds of all new wireless phone purchases for the first time ever.
According to the report U.S. smartphone penetration continued in the second quarter of 2012 as 54.9 percent of mobile users owned a smart device at the end of June. Contrary to last quarter's report, however, Android accounted for more new users than iOS which lead the segment as Google's OS appeared to be plateauing.
Overall, Android kept its marketshare advantage with 51.8 percent while 34.3 percent of smartphone owners opted for the iPhone. BlackBerry trailed with an 8.1 percent share of the market.
Both Android and iOS showed signs of growth during June resulting in a respective 54.6 percent and 36.3 percent share of recent smartphone buyers. The two operating systems accounted for over 90 percent of the total smartphone market in the U.S. with RIM's BlackBerry lagging far behind with 4 percent as Windows Phone and other platforms combined to take 5 percent.
The highest share of users once again went to Apple among nation's largest smartphone manufacturer with 34 percent of the market. Samsung garnered 17 percent of all Android sales followed by HTC and Motorola which came in with 14 percent and 11 percent, respectively.
According to the report U.S. smartphone penetration continued in the second quarter of 2012 as 54.9 percent of mobile users owned a smart device at the end of June. Contrary to last quarter's report, however, Android accounted for more new users than iOS which lead the segment as Google's OS appeared to be plateauing.
Overall, Android kept its marketshare advantage with 51.8 percent while 34.3 percent of smartphone owners opted for the iPhone. BlackBerry trailed with an 8.1 percent share of the market.
Both Android and iOS showed signs of growth during June resulting in a respective 54.6 percent and 36.3 percent share of recent smartphone buyers. The two operating systems accounted for over 90 percent of the total smartphone market in the U.S. with RIM's BlackBerry lagging far behind with 4 percent as Windows Phone and other platforms combined to take 5 percent.
The highest share of users once again went to Apple among nation's largest smartphone manufacturer with 34 percent of the market. Samsung garnered 17 percent of all Android sales followed by HTC and Motorola which came in with 14 percent and 11 percent, respectively.
Comments
It all depends on how you calculate it. If you look at relative growth rates, Android's share grew by 5.4% while Apple's grew by 5.8%.
However, that's not really the issue, either. I really couldn't care less how many people buy Android phones. 'Android' covers everything from feature phones (I provided some examples in a previous thread) through low-end smart phones to high end smart phones like the SIII (which sold a whopping 6 M units during a time period when Apple probably sold 35-40 M units. In the segment where Apple chooses to compete, they're the clear leader.
But even THAT isn't the real issue. The real issue is that I've used Android phones and they're garbage. Slow, choppy performance, OS fragmentation, crappy apps, and so on. And of all the Android phones that my family has owned, there was only one that was ever upgradeable (Android 2.2 to 2.3).
this is irrelevant. Wins who takes more money home. Apple takes 75% of all revenue on the smartphone market and 85% of all revenue on the tablet market. Android can sell more devices but this is irrelevant.
People who buy the iPhone are people who knows they are buying and iPhone and why they are buying an iPhone. People who buys Android phones are in big part, people who don't even know what android is. They buy a cute phone they see there on the store. These folks buy the phone because they want something modern, or beautiful. They will never buy any application or even bother to visit the store and get something. Many will never know they can do that. This is why Android apps sell six times less than iPhone equivalents. This also explains why Google makes 4 times more revenue from ads on iOS devices compared to Android.
edit: Pipped my [B]jragosta[/B]. Bastard!
When you flood the market with Android flotsam and jetsam this is what happens.
I'd say this is irrelevant as dozens of manufacturers with hundreds of products across numerous form factors just slightly outpace a single manufacturer selling three phones that all fall into the same category, just different price points. If Android weren't outselling iPhone, something would be seriously wrong.
I get really tired of these places only showing numbers for "smartphones" that run an OS. This completely skews the numbers since when you include all iOS devices the numbers are a lot different. Android also has a built-in skewing factor because most android manufacturers expect you to purchase a new phone to get an updated OS.
Looks to me like the chart is titled 'Smartphone Operating System Share', which means that it's… going after smartphones… with that OS.
No surprise with all the POS dumdroids saturating the market.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LunarMoon
this is irrelevant. Wins who takes more money home. Apple takes 75% of all revenue on the smartphone market and 85% of all revenue on the tablet market. Android can sell more devices but this is irrelevant.
People who buy the iPhone are people who knows they are buying and iPhone and why they are buying an iPhone. People who buys Android phones are in big part, people who don't even know what android is. They buy a cute phone they see there on the store. These folks buy the phone because they want something modern, or beautiful. They will never buy any application or even bother to visit the store and get something. Many will never know they can do that. This is why Android apps sell six times less than iPhone equivalents. This also explains why Google makes 4 times more revenue from ads on iOS devices compared to Android.
Does it really matter to you in the long run? I guess it matters if you're an investor, but nobody in the real world really cares who wins -- they just want a smartphone. Does it really matter why someone buys a smartphone with their own money? Does it affect me if someone buys an HTC One X or a Nokia Lumia 900? All of this back and forth and belittling of other platforms just strikes me as childish. It would be like me driving a BMW and saying that anyone who drives a Toyota, Honda, Acura, or even a Mercedes or Audi is simply clueless because everyone should aspire to have the "Ultimate Driving Machine"
I think we all tend to get too caught up in all these market share numbers when in reality, they really mean nothing to us end-users in the end. I have an iPhone 4S, an iPad, and a MacBook Air and I enjoy them all. Whatever Google, Microsoft or the rest is doing in market share makes no difference to me. It's just something that news sites use to drum up Haterade.
OK, I'm off my soapbox! Just had to get that off my chest
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quadra 610
Ok. How is this news?
When you flood the market with Android flotsam and jetsam this is what happens.
Agreed. You might as well say that it is news that Neilsen reports that machine guns wielded by the average troop can shoot way more bullets than a single shot rifle wielded by a specialist. Of course Android sells tons of devices - their business model is totally different to Apple and is akin to Windows which MS continuously sells more licenses than Apple does.
It says nothing about quality of devices, just raw numbers which is not an accurate thing to go off of.
I thought I'd check out what all the fuss was about the Galaxy S3. Had a good play with it. Good camera for sure but the screen is actually too big for a phone and pretty awkward to use with one hand. Most of all Android OS sucks when you've used an iPhone. I guess Android will continue to sell strongly to those who don't care, don't know or look for the cheapest option.
Some people just want a device with a blinky screen that makes phone calls.
Some people want the real thing.
Sucks to be former.
Personally, I would like to see Android and iOS being neck-and-neck. It forces Apple to make some compromises that are in the best interest for the consumer (e.g. Safari supporting uploading images, navigation for Maps, built-in attachment support in Mail, notifications, larger display size, etc.)
With staggered high end released from Apple and Samsung this seems par for the course.
I would like to finish with a LOL at Microsoft and Nokia. Smartphone beta test is over boys.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mazda 3s
Does it really matter to you in the long run? I guess it matters if you're an investor, but nobody in the real world really cares who wins -- they just want a smartphone. Does it really matter why someone buys a smartphone with their own money? Does it affect me if someone buys an HTC One X or a Nokia Lumia 900? All of this back and forth and belittling of other platforms just strikes me as childish. It would be like me driving a BMW and saying that anyone who drives a Toyota, Honda, Acura, or even a Mercedes or Audi is simply clueless because everyone should aspire to have the "Ultimate Driving Machine"
I think we all tend to get too caught up in all these market share numbers when in reality, they really mean nothing to us end-users in the end. I have an iPhone 4S, an iPad, and a MacBook Air and I enjoy them all. Whatever Google, Microsoft or the rest is doing in market share makes no difference to me. It's just something that news sites use to drum up Haterade.
OK, I'm off my soapbox! Just had to get that off my chest
I think it does matter to the end user. With a competitive split market share, OS designers are playing one up with each other. This competition for our money is driving innovation in the smartphone segment. So yes the end user has a major stake in the market share and I do care how the competition to Apple is doing. Our purchasing habits drive the smartphone market and even the stock market.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GalaxyTab
Once the iPhone lull is over (come iPhone 5) I'm sure iOS will see some significant growth again. We're in Galaxy S III territory for now.
With staggered high end released from Apple and Samsung this seems par for the course.
I would like to finish with a LOL at Microsoft and Nokia. Smartphone beta test is over boys.
Windows RT is just painful. A Windows device that cannot run my existing Windows apps?
Dang! You got to it first.
Well, Sony just came out with a brand new phone on AT&T . Big screen, PS2 compatibility ( not for all games though).
The OS it will be shipping with is—2.3!
Now, Sony added some screen elements from 4.1, but it's still 2.3 from its compatibility.
1) That's absurd since you're talking about one vendor v. as many vendors that wish to use Android. For Apple to have the same amount means they are the single highest vendor by units, revenue and profits. Nothing in that will scream for them to work harder to add Android features just to weaken their products.
2) All but one of those examples is already possible in iOS.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jragosta
It all depends on how you calculate it. If you look at relative growth rates, Android's share grew by 5.4% while Apple's grew by 5.8%.
However, that's not really the issue, either. I really couldn't care less how many people buy Android phones. 'Android' covers everything from feature phones (I provided some examples in a previous thread) through low-end smart phones to high end smart phones like the SIII (which sold a whopping 6 M units during a time period when Apple probably sold 35-40 M units. In the segment where Apple chooses to compete, they're the clear leader.
But even THAT isn't the real issue. The real issue is that I've used Android phones and they're garbage. Slow, choppy performance, OS fragmentation, crappy apps, and so on. And of all the Android phones that my family has owned, there was only one that was ever upgradeable (Android 2.2 to 2.3).
Apple sold 35-40M iphones not iphone 4s. That means Iphone 3s and 4 that you can get for free or $99 in many places with a contract. Samsung GSIII only on sale for about half the q. and had not even come out for the 5 US carriers. This SGSIII is a beast.
Oh the vast majority of US phones sold in the U.S are high end. SGSII, Moto razr, and HTC sensation variants hold about 70% of the android market in the U.S. Try again .
You care because you're an enthusiast. But ask the average iPhone or Droid 3 user (who got the phone for free after mail-in rebate from Verizon) on the street about the market dynamics between iOS and Android and they'll likely stare at you like you're an alien.
I don't mean to belittle the rivalry, but some people get extremely heated about these market share numbers and throw insults at any company that isn't Apple. All I'm saying is that we just need to relax -- it's just a smartphone.