Android Dominates Nearly 80% of Smartphone Market, iOS Drops to 13% Share

[BaldiMac]

Regarding 3:

I am not a developer but how hard can it be for God's sake? This has worked for desktops for ages. Of course, if your device is low specced, you should not be expecting to run the latest games. Other than that, with 2013's developer tools and knowledge and whatnot, scaling to a couple of resolutions and a couple types of devices shouldn't be that big a problem.

A couple?
http://gizmodo.com/just-look-at-how-much-worse-android-fragmentation-got-l-921423675

(That was just a joke. Obviously every different device doesn't introduce fragmentation.)

But it's silly to downplay the real problem. This isn't only about screen size and processor speed. Android fragmentation has many different levels. The biggest is simply version fragmentation. Developers can't just target the latest APIs, they have to go back and support significantly older versions in order to address a majority of the market.

 

[BaldiMac]

182 in Q2 somehow that gets 900? LOL

No. As I said, I added up IDC's Android smartphone shipment estimates from every quarter (since 2008) to reach the total number of Android smartphones ever shipped. That number is 1.2 billion Android smartphones estimated to have shipped by IDC.

Compare that to the 900 million Android devices that Google claims to have activated. (Smartphones being closer to 800 million.) As I said to begin with, Google activation stats are far below the shipments reported by IDC.

If your argument was that its too much duh, oh you are already ignoring your own words.

My point there is that the numbers aren't consistent.

But if you look at the actual numbers instead of "LOL" and "duh" then even when you add in tablets the number is too high.

IDC Q2 2013
187 million Android smartphones
28 million Android tablets
----
215 million total

 

[tgi]

I gave Android a shot, went from iPhone 4S to Galaxy S3. It was cool but it wasn't for me, ended going back to iPhone 5 after 3 months. I don't care if Android dominates 99% of the market, I'm sticking with Apple.

In before "Cool Story Bro".

 

[GenesisST]

Apple has nothing to "turn around". Apple's iPhone is continuing to enjoy increased sales and increased profit. Let's have a look at a mobile phone profitshare. It would likely still be around 70% with samsung having the other 30% and everybody else just treading water.

Marketshare is certainly a valuable metric, but hardly the most important metric... Profit is the goal. Apple could easily win marketshare, but at the cost of their profits

Look this work up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humour

----------

I gave Android a shot, went from iPhone 4S to Galaxy S3. It was cool but it wasn't for me, ended going back to iPhone 5 after 3 months. I don't care if Android dominates 99% of the market, I'm sticking with Apple.

In before "Cool Story Bro".

Exactly! I'm a bit tired of the "must convert others" attitude nerds from all sides seem to have...

If you prefer a Motorola StarTac, why shouldn't you? Why is everyone so insecure in their phone preference?

 

[Stella]

But my original argument is that there are other measures of "most." For example, even though there are more Android phones shipping, Apple iOS developers are making a much higher percentage of money. I think developers are more interested in profit, than number of phones shipped.

If the developer base decreases, the customer will lose interest because there won't be as many applications, if the customer base decreases, developers will lose interest because the falling customer base. Its a spiral downwards. Like I said, we saw this in the Mac world.

 

[unplugme71]

You're actually not far off.

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jo...s-any-city-and-you-know-where-rich-live/5961/

Amazing how there are more farmers than city people. Considering some towns out in MO have a population of 8,000 people for 50 sq miles.

 

[linuxcooldude]

It is my belief that the Open Android platform is the exact cause to their being cheaper phones, wider distribution, and more variations. While Android phones do compete with iOS, more importantly they compete with each-other on price, features, and overall performance within the world of Android OS.

I think there is often a misconception Android is better just because its open.

I think these phones will sell well despite Android. I also believe while being "Open" it primarily benefits the phone companies rather than the consumer directly.

They take this open software along with their own proprietary software on top of it.

Cheaper phones that use Android, the manufactures dont software update them very often, if at all.

While there are custom ROMS you could probably install, does the average user know how to use it or want too? They probably would prefer the phone company to do regular updates for them.

 

[pirg]

No. As I said, I added up IDC's Android smartphone shipment estimates from every quarter (since 2008) to reach the total number of Android smartphones ever shipped. That number is 1.2 billion Android smartphones estimated to have shipped by IDC.

Compare that to the 900 million Android devices that Google claims to have activated. (Smartphones being closer to 800 million.) As I said to begin with, Google activation stats are far below the shipments reported by IDC.



My point there is that the numbers aren't consistent.

But if you look at the actual numbers instead of "LOL" and "duh" then even when you add in tablets the number is too high.

IDC Q2 2013
187 million Android smartphones
28 million Android tablets
----
215 million total

All this shows is that no one knows android sales numbers because they are not reported. Google's is probably accurate as far as activations but I don't know if they count reactivations of already sold devices.

 

[linuxcooldude]

Market share does matter. Ask Windows Mobile or BlackBerry users. Apple is in no danger of single digit market share but they do have to turn this trend around soon. As it is, Android is accelerating.

The market share your talking about are individually owned & operated by their prospective companies.

Android is not a conglomerate of companies or subsidiaries that combine their assets or share profits in any way by using Android.

So Android market share does not matter.

 

[ryannel2003]

I was part of that. I've had an iPhone since the day it first came out, every model. I got so bored with it I sold it an got an HTC One. Once the iPhone 6 comes out I might go back, but we'll see about that . This isn't bashing Apple at all, it was just what I did.

That's what I did. I've had an iPhone for 3 years now and was bored with the offerings and purchased an HTC Droid DNA. Can't say I miss the iPhone that much.

 

[AngryCorgi]

Wait for it...

Don't worry, gents...Apple is about to launch a new segment entirely with the iWatch! The computer on your wrist...and stuff...you'll buy it!!

 

[AaronEdwards]

What do quotes from dead people have to do with anything?

When the dead person is Steve Jobs? A lot.

 

[apolloa]

You look at numbers without understanding them. "Smart phone" is meaningless for a market. The relevant markets are either "high-end smartphones" or "phones". In each market, Apple's share is growing.

Haha, good old gnasher being condescending twisting facts and changing words to grey and make Apple look good.

All you needed to do mate was highlight how well they have done with ONE phone model. But they will need to up their game in the future, I may get that cheap iPhone if it cones out here and the specs are good,has to have the iPhone 5 camera minimum, I find the reception on the iPhone 5 is rubbish so a plastic phone should help and be more durable.
Apple also need to launch a phablet, a 5.5" device would be good.

But yeah I initially thought holy bull poo! That is a rubbish market share, then I remembered that was with one single phone model updated once a year by one single company!

 

[Michael Goff]

Regarding 3:

I am not a developer but how hard can it be for God's sake? This has worked for desktops for ages. Of course, if your device is low specced, you should not be expecting to run the latest games. Other than that, with 2013's developer tools and knowledge and whatnot, scaling to a couple of resolutions and a couple types of devices shouldn't be that big a problem.

All this fuss about fragmentation and "one size fits all" are Steve Jobs' reality distortion field.

If only fragmentation complaints were about resolution.

 

[Bobby Corwen]

Wow so many insecure comments from people trying to make excuses for the stats.

Do you guys realize this was always going to happen mathematically speaking? Considering the ultra conservative adoption patterns of the masses?

I could have told you this 5 years ago.

The time to worry will come when an open system performs as smoothly as a closed system and everyone is years from that because their whole community of numbers and logistics is based on the fact that people dont care about that and think they prefer to just do their own thing. So theres numbers in that sure.

But Apple merely needs to remain the best. Quality over quantity in other words.

 

[dragje]

No you keep inferring from my posts that I'm suggesting such. I'm not. Please see my signature. iOS is hardly monolithic these days. Don't be so sensitive.

No need to get upset. Your signature will do just fine, you see, people don't choose Apple when considering their options any longer. See the marketshare once again if you don't take my word for it.

The very fact Apple loosing so much marketshare on a level that even Apple Board Members getting concerned about the lack of innovation and they are right. Even tough some might think Apple is superior, other devices can do pretty much the very same thing and some even more. Even the whole surroundings like stores and communities among Android users.

The thing is, if you by a smarthphone's these days from the high end line of Samsung products or the HTC one you get a very good quality smartphone. Same goes for tablets.
In other words, the smarthphone era isn't special any longer.

The only thing that could lead Apple out of this downfall in marketshare would be innovation. By bringing a totally new product that would truly be revolutionary. But to be honest, I've my doubts. The new Mac Pro isn't revolutionary at all, all tough I'm going to buy one. The whole iMac line isn't revolutionary either, they are just a bit more thin.

Time will tell, if Apple lacks innovation in the future then I'm ok with that, they still got good quality products and they can still make these products even better. Like OSX, I'm a big fan of OSX and I don't mind that it still looks pretty much the same as the first version of OSX, at the end it's the quality that matters, less bugs, more stability. But that's another discussion.

----------

That's what I did. I've had an iPhone for 3 years now and was bored with the offerings and purchased an HTC Droid DNA. Can't say I miss the iPhone that much.

Bored? How come? A phone is for phoning people and send messages to them. Ok, you can play games on it but it the 'way it appeals to you' more important then it's functionality where the phone is made for to begin with? Apparently yes. But I'm more on the side where I think in Apple words: it just works. When it does that it's fine enough for me.

----------

But Apple merely needs to remain the best. Quality over quantity in other words.

Well, that's the thing. Quality over quantity carries Apple's logo with other logo's these days.

----------

Don't worry, gents...Apple is about to launch a new segment entirely with the iWatch! The computer on your wrist...and stuff...you'll buy it!!

It's obsolete all ready

----------

So Android market share does not matter.

Trust me, it does. Board members of Apple shaking yes at well.

----------

The title of this article is very misleading, it suggests that Android holds an 80% share of all the phones in the market, which is likely not true.

What it actually means is that Android sold 80% of smartphone market in the previous quarter. Which is a very different stat.

It means that of all phones in the market 80% is using smartphones so those phones are no Apple iPhones. Apple needs to 'share' that last 20% with others as well so people walking around with an iPhone is even becoming rare. I've seen days where almost everybody had an iPhone, when I look around now I see only other devices, hardly any iPhone. That's something that should worry any company who was in the lead before.

 

[k995]

No. As I said, I added up IDC's Android smartphone shipment estimates from every quarter (since 2008) to reach the total number of Android smartphones ever shipped. That number is 1.2 billion Android smartphones estimated to have shipped by IDC.

Still waiting for those numbers & source

Compare that to the 900 million Android devices that Google claims to have activated. (Smartphones being closer to 800 million.) As I said to begin with, Google activation stats are far below the shipments reported by IDC.

That was a PREDICTION for THIS YEAR. , i mean i give sources and if you feel the need to even then pull numbers out if thin air ...

http://m.cnet.com/news/google-android-activations-to-total-900-million-this-year/57584484?ds=1

450 million last year again all activations .


[quite]
My point there is that the numbers aren't consistent.[/quote] thatq because you eithet make them up or quote them wrongly

But if you look at the actual numbers instead of "LOL" and "duh" then even when you add in tablets the number is too high.

IDC Q2 2013
187 million Android smartphones
28 million Android tablets
----
215 million total

And now you should give an actual quote on activations that is nowhere near this number . Lets not forget the argument was these numbers are so skewed apple is actually selling close to this .


Fyi total iphone install base estimated at around
250 million . Google smartphone activations alone do this now every 1,5 quarter .

The argument is bs if you take shipping or activations android is outselling apple by a huge margin in smartphone market .

 

[Deliro]

Why is this a shock? We're talking worldwide here. The numbers are closer in NA and Western Europe. Why? Apple products come with a premium pricetag putting it out of reach for the majority of the population in the emerging marketplace. Most carriers overseas do not subsidize phones with contracts so it makes even more difficult to acquire this device.

Google, like Microsoft did with PC/Windows, positioned itself to license to several companies creating phones at all price point levels. I lived in Thailand for a bit and everyone wanted Apple hardware, however it was out of most people's price range where a cheap Android based phone was a lot more obtainable and still gave them a smartphone. Hell you can get a iPhone 5 clone with Android in Asia.

Apple is not dying. This is just how their position has always been in the marketplace.

 

[BaldiMac]

Still waiting for those numbers & source

I told you my source. I'm sure you've hear of Google. I'm not going to find and post links to two dozen different tables.

That was a PREDICTION for THIS YEAR. , i mean i give sources and if you feel the need to even then pull numbers out if thin air ...

http://m.cnet.com/news/google-android-activations-to-total-900-million-this-year/57584484?ds=1

450 million last year again all activations .

No. As I posted earlier, Google claimed 900 million Android activations as of May 15, 2013.

thatq because you eithet make them up or quote them Wrongly

Or because you are more interested in "LOL" than an actual discussion.

And now you should give an actual quote on activations that is nowhere near this number .

How many more times do I have to do that?

Lets not forget the argument was these numbers are so skewed apple is actually selling close to this .

I never said anything of the sort.

Fyi total iphone install base estimated at around
250 million .

Source? Apple has sold 387 million iPhones as of Jun 30, 2013.

Google smartphone activations alone do this now every 1,5 quarter .

Yep.

The argument is bs if you take shipping or activations android is outselling apple by a huge margin in smartphone market .

I agree. It just has nothing to do with the argument that I was making.

 

[Dontazemebro]

Wow so many insecure comments from people trying to make excuses for the stats.

Do you guys realize this was always going to happen mathematically speaking? Considering the ultra conservative adoption patterns of the masses?

I could have told you this 5 years ago.

The time to worry will come when an open system performs as smoothly as a closed system and everyone is years from that because their whole community of numbers and logistics is based on the fact that people dont care about that and think they prefer to just do their own thing. So theres numbers in that sure.

But Apple merely needs to remain the best. Quality over quantity in other words.

Well it looks like the Moto X might just be that answer. An American produced phone that's not all spec'd out like it's android brethren. Seems like Motorola is getting away from the HTC/Samsung model of developing by just adding layers and layers of features caked on over android which dilutes the user experience for consumers. They're concentrating on providing the best experience possible without needing 10 cores or a massive battery.

If they can actually pull this off, we might start to see other oem's fall in line with this business mantra.

 

[k995]

I told you my source. I'm sure you've hear of Google. I'm not going to find and post links to two dozen different tables.

And they dont give estimates by year?Sure

No. As I posted earlier, Google claimed 900 million Android activations as of May 15, 2013.

"Google expects users to activate about 900 million Android devices this year, more than doubling the number activated in 2012, an executive said Wednesday. Sundar Pichai, head of Google's Android and Chrome operations, said at the company's developers conference that users activated 400 million Android devices in 2012 and 100 million in 2011."


http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57...d-activations-to-total-900-million-this-year/

As I already showed, if you take current estimates from IDC for just smartphones (160 million Q1 180 million Q2 ) You come close to such numbers
if you deduct tablet android estimates( 30-40 million per Q .)

Are the numbers perfect ? Of course not they remain estimates but they arent 100's of millions off.

Or because you are more interested in "LOL" than an actual discussion.

Ah you cant laugh in a discussion, And here I was thinking its arguments backed by sources that drives a discussion not the presence of laughter.

Source? Apple has sold 387 million iPhones as of Jun 30, 2013.

I'll see if I can find it back, perhaps was outdated.

Doesnt really matter as its this a huge difference.

I agree. It just has nothing to do with the argument that I was making.

"And Google activation states are far below the shipments reported by IDC and Gartner."

which on itself started with this "Metrics on Sold iPhones/iPads are actual numbers sold directly to customers. Apple has activation stats for all of their devices."

That poster and you both made up some complete BS how android smartphones usualy arent upgraden thrown away after a small period, no revenue...



Ok you for some reason dont like android/google and like to talk negative about it. But still all those argument are BS, and if you actually tried to have a discussion you would see that.

 

[BaldiMac]

And they dont give estimates by year?Sure





"Google expects users to activate about 900 million Android devices this year, more than doubling the number activated in 2012, an executive said Wednesday. Sundar Pichai, head of Google's Android and Chrome operations, said at the company's developers conference that users activated 400 million Android devices in 2012 and 100 million in 2011."


http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57...d-activations-to-total-900-million-this-year/

As I already showed, if you take current estimates from IDC for just smartphones (160 million Q1 180 million Q2 ) You come close to such numbers
if you deduct tablet android estimates( 30-40 million per Q .)

Are the numbers perfect ? Of course not they remain estimates but they arent 100's of millions off.





Ah you cant laugh in a discussion, And here I was thinking its arguments backed by sources that drives a discussion not the presence of laughter.





I'll see if I can find it back, perhaps was outdated.

Doesnt really matter as its this a huge difference.



"And Google activation states are far below the shipments reported by IDC and Gartner."

which on itself started with this "Metrics on Sold iPhones/iPads are actual numbers sold directly to customers. Apple has activation stats for all of their devices."

That poster and you both made up some complete BS how android smartphones usualy arent upgraden thrown away after a small period, no revenue...



Ok you for some reason dont like android/google and like to talk negative about it. But still all those argument are BS, and if you actually tried to have a discussion you would see that.

I have no idea what you are talking about any more. You are putting words from other posters in my mouth.

I stated a simple fact that is neither positive or negative towards Android and provided stats to back it up. All the rest is you trying to start a fanboy argument.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

No need to get upset.

You are a hoot. I'm the one getting upset? Ha. Ha. You are the one with a bug up you know where for Android. Trust me you have no sway over my emotions one way or the other. You are a complete stranger. I'm just a lover of tech, not a cheerleader for a company or companies I have no relationship with. Yes, I prefer Apple products. It's why I hang out at a site called Mac Rumors to find out the latest news. What I don't do though is hang out at Android sites and trash that OS or it's products like you do here with Apple.

So if you don't like Apple products no prob. We all get that. But why not talk about your passion for Android at an Android site rather than bash iOS and iOS fans? I mean if iOS is dead as you say, why is even worth your effort to do so. I don't get that.

 

[egoistaxx9]

Ok your point is? Features that most won't use.

yeah, right. these were the features that most iphone users are eager to use but can not because apple isn't adding them to iOS.

 

[dragje]

I don't get that.

Yeah, I notice

FYI, I don't 'bash' Apple products or it's iOS. It wouldn't make sense either since I work on mac's, for decades, and I love OSX and Powermacs, and I'm typing on an older model Powerbook. So I dislike Apple?

Seriously mate, you should learn that when someone is criticizing Apple this doesn't mean that a person straightforward dislike Apple products or Apple in general. I can only talk on my behalf, I'm just not dogmatic about any branch. I see good and bad things and things that are so so in my humble opinion. The world isn't black and white.

Macrumors isn't, is, as far I can tell, a discussion forum where one can only cheer hallelujah every time Tim Cook sneezes, that aside, you said you don't get it, well I'm telling you, I like Apple products. So now you do get that, but it doesn't mean I can't criticize when I think it's appropriate to do so.

I leave this "discussion" for what it is.

----------

Apple is not dying. This is just how their position has always been in the marketplace.

True. In fact, Apple has made so much 'cash' that as a company it can survive for the coming years without any problem. But they where very big when looking at the market share and market share -does- matter. People stating otherwise do miss the point that market share is a good way to see how popular devices are where the OS runs on. If the market share in OS is very low and tend to get even lower then more and more developers will aim at any platform that has a much bigger marketshare. So on the long run marketshare does matter.

But time will tell. I'm just hope to see the new Mac Pro would be soon available. I can't wait to use that monster in our studio.

----------

2. Apple isn't losing.

Losing ground would be a better description. In the context of marketshare on OS used for smart phones they, Apple, do. And this means that more and more people walk around with a none apple smartphone and trust me, Apple isn't quit happy about that...