iOS and Android Combined for Record 99% of Smartphone Sales Last Quarter

[techwhiz]

Not even close, more like the beginning of a decline in smartphone sales across the board. It happened to PCs and it'll happen to smartphones, too.

It's happening because there are no more subsidized phones.
Let's face it, for years carriers propped the smartphone market.
So what we are really seeing is the normalization of the market.

There is room for two variants of OS.
iPhones sell into as many hands as premium Android phones.
The numbers for market share look bad because you also include all the ZTE, Blu and others.
How many phones did like the LG V10, LG G4, Samsung Galaxy, HTC M8/M10 and Nexus 6P sold last year/quarter?
Apple doesn't make a $49 pre-pay phone.

I'm an Android phone owner but I don't bash iPhones.
I like them. I like the industrial design, etc. But for me it's more important that I control my device. With my Nexus 6P and unlocked bootloader, I do what I like with my device. For that reason I won't buy a Samsung phone either.

 

[mi7chy]

How many of those apps are premium? The app war is far from being over. Another topic to note is app quality. iPhone app quality is top notch. Look at hangouts for iPhone.

You can't set iOS Hangouts as the default so it's worse than Android. I use both ecosystems and on my Android devices I set Hangouts as the default dialer and SMS client since it offers free landline/mobile calls and SMS on unlimited LTE or WIFI and supports multi-line capability.

 

[CE3]

The numbers for market share look bad because you also include all the ZTE, Blu and others.
How many phones did like the LG V10, LG G4, Samsung Galaxy, HTC M8/M10 and Nexus 6P sold last year/quarter?
Apple doesn't make a $49 pre-pay phone.

I'm an Android phone owner but I don't bash iPhones.
I like them. I like the industrial design, etc. But for me it's more important that I control my device. With my Nexus 6P and unlocked bootloader, I do what I like with my device. For that reason I won't buy a Samsung phone either.

Exactly, it's the market share of one manufacturer vs. all the other manufacturers running the other OS.

And really, it wouldn't matter what the stats in this article were. iOS could be 50% and this thread would still be full of Apple bashing.

 

[Abazigal]

The grass always seems greener on the other side.

As one of my friends likes to say, if the grass seems greener, it could be because there's more dung on the other side.

 

[Altis]

How many of those apps are premium? The app war is far from being over. Another topic to note is app quality. iPhone app quality is top notch. Look at hangouts for iPhone.

You're not wrong, but sadly most people these days don't care. Standards are pretty low among the average user these days and most of them just don't know any better.

This does work to Apple's advantage though when they sell high priced devices with outdated specs.

 

[kildraik]

You do realize that Android is Linux based and iOS is a BSD derivative from Darwin?
What you are asking for is a new GUI and framework.

We covered earlier.

And essentially.

 

[Gudi]

Crazy how quickly Windows phone has just died completely. Microsoft really has seemed to have given up.

Not that WP ever was a big house.​

 

[AppleScruff1]

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/piracy-android-how-bad-is-it-really/

Happy now?

I'll give you points for providing a source. Of course I don't believe that anywhere near 90% of the apps are pirated. Think about it. Android owns 86% of the market. Hundreds of millions of users, all so tech savy that they know how to find and download pirated apps? Please. So by this logic, iPhone users are the least intelligent people on the planet.

 

[Zirel]

I'll give you points for providing a source. Of course I don't believe that anywhere near 90% of the apps are pirated. Think about it. Android owns 86% of the market. Hundreds of millions of users, all so tech savy that they know how to find and download pirated apps? Please. So by this logic, iPhone users are the least intelligent people on the planet.

The article points out to 90-95% piracy rate.

And cracking Apps (on the iPhone), it's not a question of "knowing", first, you need to want and do the jailbreak, second, you need to WANT to steal software and run risks.

 

[BuffaloTF]

At what point do developers stop making apps for iOS? Wasn't that the issue the Mac had in the 1990's, a smaller and smaller market share, so developers abandon it?

At a point when app revenues aren't 75% higher for iOS than that of Android. At a point when Android far far outpaces this revenue to the point where revenues aren't far above the cost to maintain for the iOS version.

In summary: pretty much never.
[doublepost=1471576517][/doublepost]

Despite the smaller market share, it's about 50/50 split between how much revenue an app will make from each platform, because iOS users tend to spend more than Android users.

iOS generates 75% more app revenue than Android. So for every $100 android generates for apps, iOS is generating $175. That's a mammoth gulf of disparity.

 

[r3m1]

How many of those apps are premium? The app war is far from being over. Another topic to note is app quality. iPhone app quality is top notch. Look at hangouts for iPhone.

I have to disagree, the App Store is filled with less than mediocre apps, the apps that are really good are usually also available on Android. With some gems that are iOS only, such as apps from Readdle, Fantastical, Things, Ulysses, Scrivener, etc. I would put the quality stamp on maybe 10% or less.

Just look for instance in games or productivity apps horrible examples in abundance.

 

[AppleScruff1]

The article points out to 90-95% piracy rate.

And cracking Apps (on the iPhone), it's not a question of "knowing", first, you need to want and do the jailbreak, second, you need to WANT to steal software and run risks.

Like I said, I personally don't believe that hundreds of millions of Android users are pirating apps. I know it is harder on iOS, and even if it wasn't, I doubt that 95% of the apps would be pirated.

 

[Dmunjal]

SpaceX and Tesla, for example, are primarily C++ and C on Linux so when younger students are ready to progress beyond BASIC they're covered under Android which uses Linux as a foundation and covered by Termux for all the installable C++, C, vi, Git, Python, etc. packages. Everything is still free and you can even use a mouse which is a necessity along with keyboard for development.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.termux

[doublepost=1471565248][/doublepost]

Don't count MS out since everyone is waiting for the Surface Phone which could potentially replace the Surface Pro that makes the iPad Pro obsolete. The true single device that replaces everything and the time is ripe with Intel moving to 10nm.

HP already did it.

http://www.theverge.com/2016/2/21/11068496/hp-elite-x3-announced-specs-windows-10-mwc-2016

 

[poematik13]

Crazy how quickly Windows phone has just died completely. Microsoft really has seemed to have given up.

They haven't given up, they're just out of touch when it comes to hardware. There are literally zero apps on Windows phone so consumers don't give a **** about ever trying one. Xbox is the only division thats working- despite the fact that they are second place to Sony. MS is a software/services company, thats what they are good at.

 

[hiddenmarkov]

That Blackberry just keeps on going down...

Can't they take a hint? I guess they still hope people will buy Backberry. but they must no after this time,they won't get up to Android figures..

Blackberry is riding off of long term contracts at this point basically. DoD was one of them. May still be as I see one or BB's around. Most get personal iphones or androids it seems, chuck the blackberry in a drawer if issued.

Needs to die my personal opinion. The server application they released for enterprise install use, man, the nightmares still haunt me. That fellow IT people have to work with it still...tragic really.

 

[Abazigal]

Like I said, I personally don't believe that hundreds of millions of Android users are pirating apps. I know it is harder on iOS, and even if it wasn't, I doubt that 95% of the apps would be pirated.

Well, at any rate, app developers have done forward and vouched that revenues were higher on iOS than in android. Look up the one about monument valley.

Market share is the means, profit is the end. Android has the larger market share and user base no doubt, but developers seem to have problems effectively monetising that potentially huge install base. We can argue until the cows come home with regards to just what it is about iOS that make users willing to spend more, but I certainly can't argue with the end results.

There's a certain irony in developers opting to develop for ios first or exclusively, then using the profits to catch their second wind before releasing the same app for Android.

 

[Chicane-UK]

Question, how much innovation does a user really need in a phone? At some point the return would exponentially decline. I suspect the sales results are more of a pricing issue then innovation.

The answer really is not very much. But it seems to me the problem is that companies like Apple have made a bed for themselves by churning out yearly refreshes - combined with people tied into contracts being the only way many people can afford these devices.

It's like if you lease your car. You can continue to pay the same amount of money month on month - after two years and your car is now old, why wouldn't you want to trade up to a new one?

And when you pick up that new version given how expensive it is you want to see new features for your money.

I just wonder how far they can really go with mobile phones. Have they crammed in just about everything they can really think of and miniturise enough now?

 

[Zirel]

Apple is failing big time. I've been selling iOS apps since 2008 as a small independent, but Apple has kicked off their own death spiral by forcing stupid terms on developers (family share, feature or bury/die). They should dump the captive app store and let us sell directly on the platform (like OS X). It's really their last chance to save themselves.

I also do freelance work for larger companies. Everyone wants Android now - even industries that never did before. And they want it cheap so they don't care about platform differentiation and will do without whatever new bell or whistle is available on whatever platform. All smartphone platforms have arrived at a sufficient level of "functionality parity" so yes, developers are switching to cross platform (write once) implementation to deliver on all platforms. I just realized I need to buy a windows PC to stay in business, which is actually good because now I no longer need to care about the next "Mac Pro".

And the final nail in the coffin is the Lightning connector. I just finished a "proof of concept" app for a customer working on a hardware device. But the project is not going anywhere because it can't be commercially viable because of the need to do a USB-C AND a Lightning version. I also have MFI experience - it's worse than app store red tape.

The smartphone industry is now a commodity industry. Apple is trying hard to be the "Gucci Smartphone", but you don't see the young hipsters featured in their emotional marketing ads shopping on Rodeo Drive, do you?

Peak iPhone is behind us....

Sorry to break it to you: Apple doesn't need you, go away, they have their own stores, and you are clearly biased.

The AppStore is 2x as big as the PlayStore. THE END!

 

[Savor]

Cheaper phones = more volume sales?

Are you sure? That's the sole reason?

Symbian was open sourced like Android. Within two years, Android surpassed it. Symbian never had the marketshare penetration the way Android has now.

Research In Motion had multiple phones too from different price points. Android destroyed BlackBerry too within two years.

Windows Mobile and Palm OS/webOS never had the same marketshare.

Windows Phone offers cheap phones. The Lumia 520, 530,635,and 640 were all phones that can bought for under $50. Why didn't it take off?

Samsung really did help Android become popular. They overtook Nokia to be the world's most popular phone manufacturer by 2012. Maybe that is also a good reason but not only reason why. Educate yourselves with mobile history. The real power comes from the mind. Not the platforms you or me might prefer.

Just because you prefer iOS doesn't mean if we use Android is because we can't afford iPhones. Listen, I tinkered with Android, iOS, WP, webOS, BlackBerry OS, and Symbian S60. I prefer Android the most. It simply is more customizable out of the box. More PC to me. Both WP and iOS might be smoother, but boredom sinks in faster.

I will get bored of iOS within days because I hate how it doesn't have an app drawer, can't hide apps, can't change the icons, can't change the animation, can't use gesture shortcuts. Feels like Communism to me. Different plug to charge it. Proprietary everywhere. No micro-sd slot. You have to keep waiting if Apple will ever add an "old" feature that Android had for years.

It's not even a contest in sales. 80% is a landslide victory over multiple OSes that had different price points and OEM's, and whatever excuses you keep using. No different then when Windows spanked Macs in the desktop OS. Give credit where credit is due. Android kicked everyone's azz. Apple might take home the mobile profits but that won't last forever if they can no longer grow their installed base.

Aim higher, kids.

 

[daveathall]

The AppStore is 2x as big as the PlayStore. THE END!

You will be able to give some proof of that grandiose statement I take it?

Didn't think so.

 

[N0ddie]

You will be able to give some proof of that grandiose statement I take it?

Didn't think so.

I hate to enter these Vs. threads but the idea that the App store has more apps than Google play is fantasy:

http://www.statista.com/statistics/276623/number-of-apps-available-in-leading-app-stores/

Wasn't it at some point during summer 2015 that the Google Play store overtook the App store in terms on quantity of apps?

*EFA. Play store overtook App store in 2014 for number of apps available. The app store still generates 4 times the revenue.

 

[daveathall]

I hate to enter these Vs. threads but the idea that the App store has more apps than Google play is fantasy:

http://www.statista.com/statistics/276623/number-of-apps-available-in-leading-app-stores/

Wasn't it at some point during summer 2015 that the Google Play store overtook the App store in terms on quantity of apps?

*EFA. Play store overtook App store in 2014 for number of apps available. The app store still generates 4 times the revenue.

Yes, I agree, I didn't want to either. I have mainly Apple products MBP's iPads etc but have a Nexus and find that the apps I use are more or less indistinguishable from those in the app store. It just seemed a strange thing to say, as if the number of apps made the store better for some reason.

http://www.androidauthority.com/google-play-store-vs-the-apple-app-store-601836/

 

[oopsroger]

If the trend continues, soon it will be like Brian Cook and Kobe Bryant combined for 82 points on Jan 22, 2016.

 

[Savor]

Okay, my bad. A 73.3% lead by Android over iOS.

A slowly, rotting Apple. I guess the rest of the world outside the United States didn't want to be part of the Apple Plague which pushes tech idiocracy by limiting your rights and freedom to do anything with it. Apple Communism. They didn't want to own the Kim Kardashian phone of the mobile industry. I guess function over fashion, substance over style still does matter to most people outside USA.

No wonder America have such terrible presidential candidates. It's who you chose for each party and now you got to live with it. Windows v Mac OS all over again. Look at Samsung. It used to be at 28-29%. They maintained their share after the growing surge from the Chinese. Samsung and LG are two of the most innovative companies today. Samsung succeeds but still thrives for innovation.

Apple is not even Top 5. Just maintaining the American status quo. Maintaining success but no longer thrives leaving a dent in the universe. I say it surges back to 15% when iPhone 7 gets released but iOS will never top 20% against Android. The rest of the world aren't falling for that **** anymore. Goodbye, Apple Plague. All smoke and mirrors and those mirrors are now broken.

 

[Three141]

Everytime I read an article like this my hope of the Surface phone being a surprise reveal this years diminishes. *sigh*