iOS and Android Loyalty Rates Reach All-Time High [Chart]

Loyalty rates for Apple's iOS and Google's Android have reached an all-time high, according to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners.

Based on research for the calendar quarter ending December 31, 2018, CIRP found that Android accounted for 62% of U.S. activations and iOS accounted for 37%.

“Apple launched its new phones in the fall, so iOS historically has a higher market share in the December quarter,” said Josh Lowitz, Partner and Co-Founder of CIRP. “Looking at the past five December quarters, we see that Apple has not matched the high of the 2014 iPhone 6/6 Plus launch in the past four years. Apple’s 37% share this year was slightly below the 39% in the December 2017 quarter, which is consistent with Apple’s own announcement of softer sales in the December 2018 quarter.”




Both Android and iOS improved loyalty, measured as percent of activations with the same operating system. Both operating systems exceeded 90%, with Android at 92% and iOS at 91%.

“Loyalty hit the highest levels we’ve ever measured,” said Mike Levin, Partner and Co- Founder of CIRP. “Both systems have seen loyalty trending upward for the past several quarters, as customers have become comfortable with the features and consistency of their operating system. Learning a new operating system takes effort, so fewer and fewer customers have found the need to switch. This, coupled with the quality and reliability of new phones is likely contributing to the longer upgrade cycles we are witnessing”

Take a look at the chart below for more details...