iOS Gained Market Share in Most Countries This Summer, Although Samsung Drove Gains for Android in UK

[MacRumors]

Apple's portion of the mobile ecosystem market increased in eight major territories in the three months ending August 2017, according to new data collected and shared by Kantar Worldpanel. Over the summer of 2017, iOS saw growth in the following territories compared to the same year-ago period: Spain (4.4 percentage point increase), followed by China (4.3), the United States (3.7), Germany (2.3), France (1.7), the European Union (1.2), Australia (0.9), and Italy (0.4).

Specifically, iOS grew from 31.3 to 35 percentage points year-over-year in the U.S., and although Android still dominates the U.S. smartphone OS market at 63.2 percentage points, it has dipped slightly from its hold of 66.1 percentage points in the same year-ago period. Dominic Sunnebo, Kantar Worldpanel ComTech's Global Business Unit Director, said that "Apple maintained strong momentum in the US one month before the release of iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus," so iOS should continue to see positive growth in future data that measures the holiday months.

Galaxy S8 compared with iPhone 8​

However, Apple's iOS decreased slightly in the United Kingdom/Great Britain in the summer months this year. The drop in iOS market share is said to be due to Samsung's "significant" promotional activity for its Galaxy S8 and J3 smartphones eating into Apple's pre-iPhone 8 sales. In total, Apple devices running iOS accounted for 33.9 percentage points during this summer period in the UK, dropping 2 percentage points from 35.9 one year prior.

Although this was "offset slightly" by strong sales of the iPhone SE, Samsung itself saw a 6.4 percentage point increase in the June-August 2017 period in the UK. Overall, Android OS grew from 58.9 in 2016 to capture 65.3 percentage points in the three month period. Of course, once Apple's sales of new iPhones are accounted for in future data by Kantar Worldpanel, iOS should see a resurgence.

A few Galaxy S8 owners mentioned both promotional materials put out by Samsung and a "good deal" on the device as key factors to their purchases. At the time of its launch, Samsung said the S8 marked its "best ever" pre-order period for a smartphone.

"Samsung took full advantage of the weeks just before the iPhone 8 and iPhone X were released in Great Britain, with significant promotional activity that helped drive its overall share to a three-year high of 38.4% for the three months ending August 2017," explained Dominic Sunnebo, Global Business Unit Director at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. "More than one in four Galaxy S8 buyers cited a specific promotion as a key purchase influencer, and almost half said that a good deal on the price of the phone was key to their purchase. Both of these metrics experienced a large increase over the last two months of the period."

Otherwise, the only other regression centered in Japan and accounted for just 0.1 percentage points lost by iOS between 2016 and 2017.

Global smartphone OS shares data via Kantar Worldpanel​

iOS market share is expected to see another boost thanks to the launch of the iPhone X, which has caused many people to put off ordering the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus in anticipation of Apple's greatly redesigned smartphone. Pre-orders for the device go up two weeks from today on October 27, while the official launch date will come three weeks from today on November 3.

For more data on the global market shares of smartphone operating systems, check out Kantar Worldpanel's research right here.

Article Link: iOS Gained Market Share in Most Countries This Summer, Although Samsung Drove Gains for Android in UK

 

[BoneCollector]

After owning numerous android phones, my opinion is the iPhone is still the best smartphone around. The best software and best hardware longevity are hard to beat.

 

[Nr123*123]

Also, here in the UK, Samsung knows how currency conversion works.

Apple is ripping off UK customers and people are beginning to realise. You can tell me all you like about Apple betting on the pound being lower in the future because of Brexit, but right now it’s £1=$1.30.

Also, I can buy an S8 for around £600. The equivalent iPhone will be £1000. For £400, I can learn to live with Android, because there isn’t a massive difference now between the two OSs for most people.

Oh and also Apple has the audacity to charge £800 for a design that came out four years ago. No thanks, Tim.

 

[djcerla]

Italy +0.4%

Italy being the country where Windows Phone reached 19% market share because it was the cheapest phone peddled by carriers.

Now, we're flooded in Samsung, however, anecdotally I see more iPhones being used lately.

 

[arkitect]

Also, here in the UK, Samsung knows how currency conversion works.

Apple is ripping off UK customers and people are beginning to realise. You can tell me all you like about Apple betting on the pound being lower in the future because of Brexit, but right now it’s £1=$1.30.

Also, I can buy an S8 for around £600. The equivalent iPhone will be £1000. For £400, I can learn to live with Android, because there isn’t a massive difference now between the two OSs for most people.

Oh and also Apple has the audacity to charge £800 for a design that came out four years ago. No thanks, Tim.

Spot on.
We seem to be a cash cow for Apple and it is getting old.
People have a pain threshold financially. And quite frankly, the Apple "eco-system" is just too costly.

And before people leap in and say, yes, but prices in US are sans tax… even with VAT and taxes in account the Apple "exchange rate" is piss poor value.

 

[Jsameds]

Also, here in the UK, Samsung knows how currency conversion works.

Apple is ripping off UK customers and people are beginning to realise. You can tell me all you like about Apple betting on the pound being lower in the future because of Brexit, but right now it’s £1=$1.30.

Also, I can buy an S8 for around £600. The equivalent iPhone will be £1000. For £400, I can learn to live with Android, because there isn’t a massive difference now between the two OSs for most people.

Oh and also Apple has the audacity to charge £800 for a design that came out four years ago. No thanks, Tim.

Three years. iPhone 6 was 2014.

I agree though. I was due an upgrade this year but they wanted upwards of £55/month. No thanks.

I'll stick with my 6S, drop my contract to £18/mo (from £39) and eagerly await an SE 2.

 

[djcerla]

the Apple "exchange rate" is piss poor value.

Don't know. I'm selling my 2 yrs old iPhone 6S+ 64GB for €500, looks like great value overall in terms of TCO.

 

[itsmilo]

Considering how crappy iPhone is doing in countries like Germany is it really significant when it gains 2 points? A drop would be shocking considering the percentage it is at as it is.

I personally hope the percentage will go down significant by next year.

 

[AppleFan78]

Every time I see a Galaxy S8 or Note 8, this is what I see. Maybe Shamdung took these idiots seriously when the iPhone 5 was being mocked for going taller.

 

[calzon65]

Competition is good to keep Apple and any other company on their toes. I use the iPhone, but I'm glad there is a solid competitor to IOS.

 

[melendezest]

After owning numerous android phones, my opinion is the iPhone is still the best smartphone around. The best software and best hardware longevity are hard to beat.

I categorically disagree, especially about the longevity part. There's several threads discussing that very thing with iOS device slowdown with subsequent OS releases.

The software is at best a wash (Android is more capable but less smooth, efficient, and integrated).

As far as hardware it's not even close.

In the case of the Samsung Note series every iteration has had comparatively bigger and better screens, microSD expansion, headphone jack, better waterproofing rating, and more RAM, wireless charging (first), more navigation and security options, all in an attractive, sexy, slim, and often smaller package than iPhones of the same screen size.

Personal preferences and taste aside, I will never understand how iOS users can say the hardware is better with a straight face.

 

[Smeaton1724]

Spot on.
We seem to be a cash cow for Apple and it is getting old.
People have a pain threshold financially. And quite frankly, the Apple "eco-system" is just too costly.

And before people leap in and say, yes, but prices in US are sans tax… even with VAT and taxes in account the Apple "exchange rate" is piss poor value.

100% this. People can't cope with the increase in gouging. 4 months after the Brexit vote accessories went up by at least 20%. 20-30% for Laptops and iMacs. The Apple Watch was around £300, now £400. Apple Pencil £80, now £100, Watch Straps £39 now £49, Cases £25 now £35 etc etc.

I purchased a Macbook Pro 2.9 Ghz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD for £1350 in the Early 2015 refresh, the comparable touchbar one now is £1800. Macbook Pro 15'' is £2000+. It is a £250-500 increase.

Funny thing is mostly everything else since Brexit has been the same, car pricing, clothes, food, games consoles, everything apart from Apple pricing.

 

[convergent]

Every time I see a Galaxy S8 or Note 8, this is what I see. Maybe Shamdung took these idiots seriously when the iPhone 5 was being mocked for going taller.

Have you used a Note 8?

Coming from a 6s+, the form factor of the Note 8 is almost the same size overall, but the slightly thinner and taller form makes it much easier to deal with one handed, and its ideal for split screen... watching a video in the top 1/3 while running another app below.

 

[2IS]

I categorically disagree, especially about the longevity part. There's several threads discussing that very thing with iOS device slowdown with subsequent OS releases.

The software is at best a wash (Android is more capable but less smooth, efficient, and integrated).

As far as hardware it's not even close.

In the case of the Samsung Note series every iteration has had comparatively bigger and better screens, microSD expansion, headphone jack, better waterproofing rating, and more RAM, wireless charging (first), more navigation and security options, all in an attractive, sexy, slim, and often smaller package than iPhones of the same screen size.

Personal preferences and taste aside, I will never understand how iOS users can say the hardware is better with a straight face.

You can disagree all you want. Funny you mention threads about slowdowns but forgot the front page article proving its BS.

 

[rpe33]

Look at that horribly disgusting looking Galaxy S8. Get that thing out of my face! OUT OF MY FACE!!!

 

[melendezest]

Every time I see a Galaxy S8 or Note 8, this is what I see. Maybe Shamdung took these idiots seriously when the iPhone 5 was being mocked for going taller.

Hahaha, I remember that.

I thought the same thing when I first saw it, but then I used the phone (I own a Note8).

The usefulness comes from split-screen multitasking (which iPhone doesn't have), so you get two nice-sized screens in both landscape and portrait, and the device is still wide enough but not unwieldy, even with a case.

Even the iPhone X has wider bezels (bezelless is an illusion...the ring around the phone is fat).

 

[monty77]

Spot on.
We seem to be a cash cow for Apple and it is getting old.
People have a pain threshold financially. And quite frankly, the Apple "eco-system" is just too costly.

And before people leap in and say, yes, but prices in US are sans tax… even with VAT and taxes in account the Apple "exchange rate" is piss poor value.

This! The game is up Apple .. your products are no longer best of breed so those with half a brain are leaving you in droves - nothing to do with marketing, your price hikes have just drawn attention to the flaws and made otherwise loyal customers (like me) think about alternatives which is dangerous.

The 8 is a dinosaur compared to the S8 and people aren't convinced by the X beyond the silly gimmicks and people who must have an apple logo on something they own.

My movements over recent months/years:

Airplay > Sonos
iCloud photos > Google photos
iCloud services > Office365
iPhone > Samsung S8
Apple watch > S3 Frontier
MacBook Pro > Dell XPS15
Apple TV > Chromecast

iPad remains but frankly if I can get over the size of the Note8 that'll be next purchase and the iPad will be on the way out too.

The cost of entry, while painful, is worth it _if_ it's the best end to end experience - but it's not (for me at least) any more.

If Google can address App quality somehow .. the Android counterparts are still more buggy than iOS, and I'm talking about BIG apps like Spotify, Plex etc.. then they could do some serious damage

 

[creediddy]

This is a clear sign that Apple is growing their base...I see Samsung growing as well, but not at the pace Apple is...Android is steadily declining with eroding margins

 

[melendezest]

You can disagree all you want. Funny you mention threads about slowdowns but forgot the front page article proving its BS.

Nope. The article "proving" it's BS, is BS.

There's plenty of thread comments explaining how the test performed does not actually represent UI experience.

Plus I don't need studies to tell me that my older iOS devices (don't) suck, I have firsthand experience. They.Slow.Down.To.Paperweight.

Believe what you want.

 

[Nagy Dávid]

Apple has the audacity to charge £800 for a design that came out four years ago.

Yes, R&D and patented technologies are free stuff.

 

[ravenstar]

You can disagree all you want. Funny you mention threads about slowdowns but forgot the front page article proving its BS.

That front page article was deeply flawed as many have pointed out. Sure, the hardware performance is the same, but OS demand increase with each release and Apple pushes OS releases out users beyond what their hardware can handle comfortably. No one cares that the CPU runs at the same speed, when the OS takes twice as long to launch an app, or when scrolling stutters after a new OS release.

 

[jonnysods]

I really like the look of that Samsung. Still makes the X look porky.

Having said that, Samsung phones are gross to use.

 

[Benjamid]

Considering how crappy iPhone is doing in countries like Germany

Yeah, those germans have no respect for design and æsthetics I’m living in Norway and everytime I’m at home in Germany I get shocked how ugly people are and how poorly they dress.

 

[Mildredop]

After owning numerous android phones, my opinion is the iPhone is still the best smartphone around. The best software and best hardware longevity are hard to beat.

After owning numerous iPhones, my opinion is Android is the best software and the best value hardware with the most features.

Each to their own.

 

[ravenstar]

Only on Macrumors could an article showing Apple's mobile ecosystem market share be used to support claims of Apple's demise. No wonder Trump was elected President.