Apple and iOS Continue to Make Small Gains in U.S. Smartphone Market Share

[vpndev]

Apple doesn't

HTC can't compete with Samsung's marketing budget. Shame really.

Apple doesn't compete with it either. It could but does not.

Apple competes upon product, not marketing spend.

 

[LordVic]

So, I guess it's about time for that miraculous Apple-sequel rebound for BlackBerry that so many here in Canada are counting on

not sure it'll happen. we've been hoping for years that BBRY can get the leadership they need to steer them in the right direction.

Instead they appointed a corporate yes man to CEO who led them further down the rabbit hole with more delays and stupid decisions.

This new guy taking over for Thorstein Heinz (who actually did worse than the predessors) actually seems like he's not an idiot. Unfortunately, this might finally be the case of "too little too late". especially since Carriers are directly trying to push BBRY out. Sprint for example offered their customers $200 if they brought in their BB10 devices for any non blackberry device. Chen (new CEO) went on a tirade against that maneuver that seemed to only further fuel the exodus, instead of preventing it.

 

[iolinux333]

Could be that people who jumped ship just to try out Android are probably realizing that the grass isn't quite so greener on the other side and are slowly trickling back to iOS's great user experience, Apple's excellent customer service, and the richness of the App Store.

I jumped ship from android after 3 years, to ios (loving ios BTW), after getting sick of google being constantly in my face with Google+, eliminating drag&drop to SD, trying to do away with SD cards completely, doing away with privacy, taking away features with each update, and never ending lag issues. I hope to someday have a pure open source phone but until that day I guess I'll stay with ios. Google can go fsck themselves.

 

[Wicked1]

Samsung is outgrowing Apple by 30% (+1% vs +1.3%), Apple is doomed!

Funny there are only a few iPhone running iOS and they are not that far away from many different version of Android on multiple MFG's?

I personally don't blast Android but use iOS and an iPhone however Apple is doing something right, they are making money hand over fist and people love their products, so not so bad for Apple

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Jonny Ive needs to be replaced with someone who knows what the hell they are doing!

? I am not sure I even have an answer for this? Maybe iOS 7 is not the greatest but that does not mean he is not a great designer, I favor no one, just want good products to come out of Apple even if Mickey and Goofy were making them...lol

 

[teknikal90]

Jonny Ive needs to be replaced with someone who knows what the hell they are doing!

Noob!
Read the walter isaacson biography!

 

[69Mustang]

Statistics are such great ways to hide the truth.

Android is not one thing. Android is not one vendor. Android is not compatible with Android.

iOS is one thing. iOS is all by Apple.

So, if we were to redo that chart in an honest manner it would be Apple at the top and way down below them would be all the little Android cloners.

I see iPhones, iPads and iPodTouches all around. I almost never see Androids.

Those on iOS6 and below would tend to disagree with you.

We often see what we want to see. I have a serious question. I've seen that anecdote about seeing "iOS devices wherever I go" all over this forum. It's always made me wonder. 1. Are you that much of an fan that you actively search iOS devices or 2. Is it part of some real world RPG?

I ask because I am in public constantly and I've never paid attention to someone else's brand of mobile device.

 

[Mockenrue]

Funny there are only a few iPhone running iOS and they are not that far away from many different version of Android on multiple MFG's?

More manufacturers doesn't imply more market share when users primarily buy from within the OS and app ecosystem of their choice.

It was recently revealed that Steve Jobs wanted Mac OS to run on Sony VAIO laptops. If that had become a reality, would market share have changed that much? I don't think too many Windows or Linux users would have converted to OS X just because there was more choice in hardware manufacturer.

That's why OS market share trends are so important. Web OS and the Palm Pre were both lauded as class-leading upon their release... iOS and Android are still ripping off some of Web OS's interface elements to this day. But it failed miserably because it didn't have the app ecosystem, and it didn't have apps because it didn't have market share.

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We often see what we want to see. I have a serious question. I've seen that anecdote about seeing "iOS devices wherever I go" all over this forum. It's always made me wonder. 1. Are you that much of an fan that you actively search iOS devices or 2. Is it part of some real world RPG?

In all seriousness, it's a psychological effect called Confirmation Bias. Your brain actually notices something more often when it supports a conscious or unconscious belief. It's often a filter in what we read or hear, but it also can affect what we see. Here's another example that I've noticed in myself: when I buy a new car, I suddenly see the same model everywhere. It's not that there are more of them... my brain is now noticing because I have one.

 

[winston1236]

Yep, just zoom in and out of a line graph until you find an angle that shows your personal views and call it a trend!

 

[69Mustang]

In all seriousness, it's a psychological effect called Confirmation Bias. Your brain actually notices something more often when it supports a conscious or unconscious belief. It's often a filter in what we read or hear, but it also can affect what we see. Here's another example that I've noticed in myself: when I buy a new car, I suddenly see the same model everywhere. It's not that there are more of them... my brain is now noticing because I have one.

I familiar with the term and the concept; especially with the car. I still don't get it with a mobile device. Maybe it's a matter of what's important to the individual. If Apple is important to you, you notice Apple products. I guess because I use multiple brands I tend to tune them all out.

 

[tdale]

This is a US stat, and Apple is a US company, the others aren't, so hardly surprising that he US stats favour Apple. The better indicator is global market share, or more importantly, how that is trending, as there is less bias, and hence more purchasing based on the pros and cons of each device and OS

 

[LordVic]

I familiar with the term and the concept; especially with the car. I still don't get it with a mobile device. Maybe it's a matter of what's important to the individual. If Apple is important to you, you notice Apple products. I guess because I use multiple brands I tend to tune them all out.

Confirmation bias isn't unique to anything. We look for it everywhere. it's a known psychological "condition" (for lack of better word).

Its really hard to not want it. its an emotional state that many people do fall into after making a purchase, because they wan't to know that they made the right purchase. Obviously with apple it's

"I bought the iphone, I need to see people out in the wild using them, because therefore how can I be sure that I bought the right phone for me?"

we all do it. I know i've been guilty of it. Its recognising when you're doing it and removing emotion from it that you start to drop the bias.

 

[69Mustang]

Confirmation bias isn't unique to anything. We look for it everywhere. it's a known psychological "condition" (for lack of better word).

Its really hard to not want it. its an emotional state that many people do fall into after making a purchase, because they wan't to know that they made the right purchase. Obviously with apple it's

"I bought the iphone, I need to see people out in the wild using them, because therefore how can I be sure that I bought the right phone for me?"

we all do it. I know i've been guilty of it. Its recognising when you're doing it and removing emotion from it that you start to drop the bias.

I am guilty myself and I am not saying there's anything wrong with it. If I catch myself looking, I tend to hope that no one else has what I have. Not with mobile (I really don't care), but definitely every time I see a classic Mustang I look really hard. 69 Fastback? No? Sweet! Yes? Find owner and blow up car.

 

[fertilized-egg]

This is a US stat, and Apple is a US company, the others aren't, so hardly surprising that he US stats favour Apple. The better indicator is global market share, or more importantly, how that is trending, as there is less bias, and hence more purchasing based on the pros and cons of each device and OS

The US market has shown over and over again that they are willing to buy foreign company's goods over US ones. Otherwise Motorola would be the 2nd largest selling phone maker after Apple and Zenith still would be a major TV maker.

 

[Arndroid]

It is amazing that apple is at 41% of os share with a handful of devices versus scores of devices.

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Statistics are such great ways to hide the truth.

Android is not one thing. Android is not one vendor. Android is not compatible with Android.

iOS is one thing. iOS is all by Apple.

So, if we were to redo that chart in an honest manner it would be Apple at the top and way down below them would be all the little Android cloners.

I see iPhones, iPads and iPodTouches all around. I almost never see Androids.

To be fair you have a condo at 2 infinity loop

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Those on iOS6 and below would tend to disagree with you.

We often see what we want to see. I have a serious question. I've seen that anecdote about seeing "iOS devices wherever I go" all over this forum. It's always made me wonder. 1. Are you that much of an fan that you actively search iOS devices or 2. Is it part of some real world RPG?

I ask because I am in public constantly and I've never paid attention to someone else's brand of mobile device.

Too busy looking at their butts eh?

I agree I pay no mind to what phone someone has. They would literally have to put it right in front of my face or have a note3 for me to notice.

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This is a US stat, and Apple is a US company, the others aren't, so hardly surprising that he US stats favour Apple. The better indicator is global market share, or more importantly, how that is trending, as there is less bias, and hence more purchasing based on the pros and cons of each device and OS

Not really.

 

[lilo777]

According to Apple, 82% of devices are running iOS 7. Did someone put a gun to people's heads and force them to buy an iOS device or upgrade their existing one? Also do you really believe Jony Ive alone made all the changes to iOS? Apple employs thousands of software engineers/designers. Do you really think none of them had input on iOS? They just implemented whatever Ive wanted whether they liked it or not? If that were the case wouldn't the rumor mill be full of stories about it or wouldn't we hear about employees leaving the company in protest?

Apple did it by planting a huge security flaw in older iOS versions. I happened to know a person who decided to replace iPad 2 altogether because of this issue. Using old version of OS was too scary and the idea of installing iOS 7 on iPad 2 was nearly as attractive.

 

[wovel]

while I find those numbers always very interesting - it is also amusing to look at different outlets reporting very different outcomes, always massaged to show what the core readership wants to read (or which message the author wants to send).

As usual, depending on how you look at the numbers, you can read almost anything in them, e.g. looking at manufactures vs OS vs devices (and even there it depends on what do you include in which group).

Bottom line: everyone is doing just fine, nobody is doomed and people have the choice and can buy devices based on there preferences and needs. So it is good news for everyone, even though many try to read bad news for some into it.

I disagree.. Only Samsung and Apple are fine everyone else is losing money. Since most of the companies losing money are also losing market share, they won't be improving their profits any time soon. They might not be doomed, but they are certainly not fine.

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Not really.

I agree

 

[Taz Mangus]

Samsung is outgrowing Apple by 30% (+1% vs +1.3%), Apple is doomed!

And yet iOS outgrew Android by 200% (+1% vs -0.5%). Yep, Apple is doomed


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Apple did it by planting a huge security flaw in older iOS versions. I happened to know a person who decided to replace iPad 2 altogether because of this issue. Using old version of OS was too scary and the idea of installing iOS 7 on iPad 2 was nearly as attractive.

Good story. On second thought this isn't even a good story.

 

[inkswamp]

It's interesting to me that so many tech pundits and Android fans have insisted that comparisons of Android vs. iOS to Windows vs. Mac are valid and indicate that Apple will eventually be marginalized in the mobile market. But I've long maintained that the similarities were meaningless as Apple never had the market share in computers that they have in smartphones. It's always been an uphill battle for the Mac but with the iPhone, Apple gobbled up a massive chunk of the smartphone marketshare within a couple years which, IMO, meant parallels to Windows vs. Mac were pointless.

I'm thinking the most likely scenario here is that Android and iOS settle in around 45% of the market each with the rest going to other mobile platforms. And I think that's a great place to be. I know there are people who desperately hope for the failure of either iOS or Android but that seems silly. It seems to me that innovation in mobile will keep on at a rapid pace if we have two major players constantly trying to one-up the other. And we all benefit by keeping both Apple and Google's worst instincts at bay by ensuring that neither has a monopoly.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I sincerely believe that a lot of PC OEMs, or phone manufacturers who use Android, would be much better off if they didn't offer 1000 different models.

I think the most important case study to look at from Steve returning to Apple is his decision to cut Apple down to 4 product lines - a consumer desktop, a consumer portable, a professional desktop, and a professional portable. It's easy for people to figure out if they're a pro or not, and it's easy for them to figure out if they want a portable or a desktop. Since then, they've expanded to have as many as 6 different lines (when they had the plain old MacBook) and now they're back down to 5 (I was thinking they were going to nix the MacPro or MacMini, but they haven't yet. Maybe they'll stick with the 5... they're all distinct enough that I think people easily can pick which one they want...)

It's not easy to find out if they want a W510 or a W530 ThinkPad (nobody wants a freaking W510. The W530 has 8 times as much computing power and is many years newer - both things that are easy to determine by looking at the product names, right?)

 

[proline]

Bottom line: everyone is doing just fine, nobody is doomed and people have the choice and can buy devices based on there preferences and needs. So it is good news for everyone, even though many try to read bad news for some into it.

Yup. Motorola lost 8.5% of their user base in THREE MONTHS. BB lost 14% of their base in THREE MONTHS. These are companies whose sales are nearly zero and whose user base will be gone in a couple years. But yes, they are doing 'just fine'. Intelligent analysis at its best.

 

[vomhorizon]

It is surprising though... given that it was primarily new iPhone 5s vs old Galaxy S4 during that quarter.

Well new Galaxy S4 variants were launched and the next big thing was also launched around the same time..

 

[proline]

It is surprising though... given that it was primarily new iPhone 5s vs old Galaxy S4 during that quarter.

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I agree... HTC One and Moto X won a bunch of "best of 2013" awards, but neither has the marketing oomph to gain ground.

You've pretty nearly got it figured out. Samsung didn't outgrow Apple because the S4 is more attractive than the iPhone 5S which actually outsold it by a wide margin. Samsung outgrew Apple by consolidating the Android market- Motorolla and HTC were down 1.9 percentage points which pretty much explains all of Samsung's gains and then some.

 

[numlock]

Good story. On second thought this isn't even a good story.

so you dont appreciate real life instances on the effect of apples policy?

the ios7 automatic ota download and this security flaw devalue all the ios7 adoption rate statistics

 

[Taz Mangus]

so you dont appreciate real life instances on the effect of apples policy?

the ios7 automatic ota download and this security flaw devalue all the ios7 adoption rate statistics

Claiming Apple purposely planted a security flaw in iOS 6 which forced people to upgrade to iOS 7 is a real instance? More like a story. If you don't like automatic update simply turn it off.

 

[numlock]

Claiming Apple purposely planted a security flaw in iOS 6 which forced people to upgrade to iOS 7 is a real instance? More like a story. If you don't like automatic update simply turn it off.

planting who knows. not issuing a separate fix ios6 for ios7 ready devices whose owners want to keep on running ios6 is however strategic move.

i dont like automatic downloads taking up to 50% of the space of the device (ie 8 gig iphone) and please tell me where that setting is located.