Fewer Android users switching to 'iPhone 13' because of CSAM scan, no Touch ID
Android users are less likely to make the switch to Apple with the launch of the "iPhone 13," a survey claims, with the move away from Touch ID and Apple's CSAM controversy apparently among the top reasons for not switching ecosystems.
In early August, a survey claimed 43.7% of iPhone users planned to make the switch to the inbound "iPhone 13." In another survey targeting Android users, it seems that fewer people are prepared to make the switch as part of their next smartphone upgrade.
According to the survey by SellCell, only 18.3% of Android users are willing to make the switch over to the "iPhone 13" for their next upgrade. The vast majority of respondents, 81.7%, said they were not interested in getting a new iPhone.
The variance is a bit of a step down for the iPhone, as a similar survey from 2020 said nearly 33% of Android users were considering an iPhone 12 for their next upgrade.
Of those who said "no" to switching in 2021's survey, a follow-up question was asked, requesting to know why they didn't want to switch.
Top of the list was a "lack of fingerprint reader," which scored 31.9% of the vote. Fingerprints are still the main form of biometric identification in Android devices, though it is unclear exactly why Face ID is shunned by the voters in favor of the removed Touch ID.
Second and third place in the list are that iOS "offers very little customizability" (16.7%) and "no support for sideloading apps" (12.8%). Apple prohibits the use of third-party launchers and sideloading for security reasons, but it is making iOS easier to personalize with successive releases.
A claim that "Android phones have better hardware" takes up the fourth spot at 12.1%, which is odd considering the copious reports about the high performance of Apple's chip designs in comparison to rivals.
The "Intrusive iCloud photo scanning for Child Sexual Abuse Material or CSAM" is in the top half of the list at 10.4%. The inclusion of the option in the list may be in response to repeated misguided claims that Apple's CSAM tools erode privacy and may enable surveillance for governments down the road, likely caused by misinformed public outcry overestimating the system's capabilities. Furthermore, Google also performs the scanning -- albeit not on-device.
Other complaints include how "iPhones are expensive" (4.5%), the preference for Google Assistant over Siri (2.6%) despite the former being accessible on iOS, and "No support or multiple user profiles (1.5%.)
Also on the hardware front, some users say they "prefer an older iPhone model" (3.9%) over what they expect from the "iPhone 13." A lack of a foldable device is also an issue, albeit for only 0.8% of respondents, despite occasional issues surfacing.
Of those looking to make the move to the iPhone, some reasons run counter to the complaints. The "better privacy protection" and "upcoming child safety features" received 11.4% and 0.9% of the vote respectively, while 4.3% say the iPhone will have better hardware features, and 5.2% claim iPhones have "better prices."
At the top of the list is "Longer software support" with a massive 51.4% and "Apple ecosystem integration" at 23.8%. This is likely due to how Android devices are heavily fragmented in their operating system updates and feature adoption, while Apple is direct to consumers with its update releases.
When asked which model they want to upgrade to, most Android users said they would go for the "iPhone 13 Pro Max", at 39.8%, narrowly beating the standard model at 36.1%. Third place was the "iPhone 13 Pro" with 19.5%, and the "iPhone 13 mini rounded out the list with 4.6%.
The survey is based on the responses from more than 5,000 Android users aged 18 or over, based in the United States.
Read on AppleInsider
In early August, a survey claimed 43.7% of iPhone users planned to make the switch to the inbound "iPhone 13." In another survey targeting Android users, it seems that fewer people are prepared to make the switch as part of their next smartphone upgrade.
According to the survey by SellCell, only 18.3% of Android users are willing to make the switch over to the "iPhone 13" for their next upgrade. The vast majority of respondents, 81.7%, said they were not interested in getting a new iPhone.
The variance is a bit of a step down for the iPhone, as a similar survey from 2020 said nearly 33% of Android users were considering an iPhone 12 for their next upgrade.
Of those who said "no" to switching in 2021's survey, a follow-up question was asked, requesting to know why they didn't want to switch.
Top of the list was a "lack of fingerprint reader," which scored 31.9% of the vote. Fingerprints are still the main form of biometric identification in Android devices, though it is unclear exactly why Face ID is shunned by the voters in favor of the removed Touch ID.
Second and third place in the list are that iOS "offers very little customizability" (16.7%) and "no support for sideloading apps" (12.8%). Apple prohibits the use of third-party launchers and sideloading for security reasons, but it is making iOS easier to personalize with successive releases.
A claim that "Android phones have better hardware" takes up the fourth spot at 12.1%, which is odd considering the copious reports about the high performance of Apple's chip designs in comparison to rivals.
The "Intrusive iCloud photo scanning for Child Sexual Abuse Material or CSAM" is in the top half of the list at 10.4%. The inclusion of the option in the list may be in response to repeated misguided claims that Apple's CSAM tools erode privacy and may enable surveillance for governments down the road, likely caused by misinformed public outcry overestimating the system's capabilities. Furthermore, Google also performs the scanning -- albeit not on-device.
Other complaints include how "iPhones are expensive" (4.5%), the preference for Google Assistant over Siri (2.6%) despite the former being accessible on iOS, and "No support or multiple user profiles (1.5%.)
Also on the hardware front, some users say they "prefer an older iPhone model" (3.9%) over what they expect from the "iPhone 13." A lack of a foldable device is also an issue, albeit for only 0.8% of respondents, despite occasional issues surfacing.
Of those looking to make the move to the iPhone, some reasons run counter to the complaints. The "better privacy protection" and "upcoming child safety features" received 11.4% and 0.9% of the vote respectively, while 4.3% say the iPhone will have better hardware features, and 5.2% claim iPhones have "better prices."
At the top of the list is "Longer software support" with a massive 51.4% and "Apple ecosystem integration" at 23.8%. This is likely due to how Android devices are heavily fragmented in their operating system updates and feature adoption, while Apple is direct to consumers with its update releases.
When asked which model they want to upgrade to, most Android users said they would go for the "iPhone 13 Pro Max", at 39.8%, narrowly beating the standard model at 36.1%. Third place was the "iPhone 13 Pro" with 19.5%, and the "iPhone 13 mini rounded out the list with 4.6%.
The survey is based on the responses from more than 5,000 Android users aged 18 or over, based in the United States.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
Touch ID works with masks, Face ID doesn’t (yet). It’s a significant issue, and it doesn’t look like it will be disappearing in the immediate future. Not significant enough that I would consider switching to Android for it—if anything, I’d just get an SE, which is a great phone and an incredible bargain—but if you don’t understand why anyone would want Touch ID these days, there is at least one very good reason.
This is how people think. They don’t care about details. Once Apple throws privacy out the window there’s less difference.
For context, the biggest Apple fan I know personally, told me “I heard Apple can look through your photos”. The Apple forum nerd is the .01%, maybe less. The mass majority see “Apple doesn’t care about privacy” and buys a 80 bucks knockoff because it does the same thing.
The claims - from essentially every privacy group - that it's likely to be abused in the future because it enables client side scanning isn't a "misguided claim", it's almost inevitable once the ability is added. It's just a question of what it will "protect" us from next.
"Google also performs the scanning" - because what, we look to Google as a shining light of privacy protection? "albeit not on-device." Right, usually when some third-party software is scanning your files, it's malware or a virus, not the company selling you the phone. It's arguable that you shouldn't have private companies scanning your files as part of storage solutions, but with the secret letters that agencies use to access content, that ship has sailed.
It's unclear why AI is cheerleading something that will 99.999% likely end up eroding privacy protections - and in the best case doesn't improve your privacy. They could scan iCloud content like everyone else scans their respective cloud files and at least not end up being worse. (Hell, they could use the hash, # of hits, review method all server side.)
The difference between the iPhone and Android screens was unbelievable. Granted some of the Androids may have been less expensive models but the difference in quality was HUGE. The Android phones that I saw people using had dull, muddy screens, that I couldn't imagine using.
1. Lack of TouchID
2. Customization
3. Sideloading
4. Overpriced
Complaints we’ve heard for years from the same critics right here in AI. Now we add CSAM to the list. And I only hear this stuff from Android techie wannabes, likely the source of this survey. Normal people probably use Android because it’s cheaper, they got a ‘deal’ from the carrier, not because of CSAM or sideloading. The converse is probably also true. People use iOS because their friends do, they got a ‘deal’ from their carrier, not because of security, privacy, or any of the other bullet points.
Remember the text in the first paragraph “a survey claims”. iOS is gaining share in the U.S., not losing it.
Now let’s see AI come up with the mirror survey of why iOS users aren’t switching to Android
The CSAM scanning is less invasive than Steam, the DRM platform and game store. The Steam client reports on software you have installed, as well as whether the copy of a game you're trying to run was purchased under your account or not (i.e., whether you may have committed a crime). Don't want to be subject to such scanning? Don't buy stuff on Steam.
Don't want to be subject to the CSAM scanning? Don't sync photos to iCloud.
That said, other applications like OneDrive can recognize new photos and automatically upload them to the associated service if you want. I think it would probably be best from a messaging perspective if iCloud photo sync were spun out into a separate application like that. Then, if you don't want the CSAM scanning code to even be present on your phone, you just remove (or don't install) the iCloud photo sync application.
There's a lot of detail in the linked documents about what they're doing. The hash check against the CSAM database happens on-device.
For for those of you not wanting a new iPhone unless it comes with Touch ID, GET THE FUCK OVER IT! Face ID is what, 50x more secure than Touch ID was, and with an Apple Watch now allows unlock with a mask on?
You fools are just that, FUCKING FOOLS
I would be fine with CSAM scanning in iCloud, but will not pay for a device with spyware installed.