iPhone Loyalty Hits 96.4% as Android Users Four Times More Likely to Switch

[MacRumors]

Customers are more loyal to Apple than ever, according to a smartphone loyalty survey conducted by phone trade-in site SellCell. 96.4% of customers surveyed said they planned to stick with an iPhone for their next upgrade, and 3.6% said they would choose a different brand. That's up from 91.9% in SellCell's 2021 survey and 90.5% in 2019.

Android users were less loyal to their brand, and are almost 4x more likely to switch than iPhone users. 86.4% of people surveyed said they would stick with an Android device, while 13.6% said they planned to switch.

Of the 3.6% of iPhone users who said they would move to another platform, 69.7% said they would choose a Samsung smartphone, and 20.2% said they would choose a Google smartphone. While most Android users said they would switch to a Samsung or Google device, 26.8% said they would choose an iPhone over an Android smartphone.

Most iPhone users said they would stick with an iPhone because they prefer Apple (60.8%), while 17.4% said they were invested in the Apple ecosystem. About half of iPhone users contemplating switching said they would do so because the iPhone is too expensive or other brands offer better value, but 22.5% said other brands have better technology.

iPhone users were more likely to be loyal over time, and 83.8% said they had used an iPhone for more than five years. By comparison, just 33.8% of Android users said they had stuck with a brand for over five years.

SellCell's survey was limited to 5,000 U.S. respondents. The site says there was a roughly equal representation between iPhone and Android users, with two separate surveys that included the same question structure. More information from the survey is available from SellCell's website.

Article Link: iPhone Loyalty Hits 96.4% as Android Users Four Times More Likely to Switch

 

[RogueWarrior65]

As a cross-platform developer, I believe this. The amount of hoops you have to jump through to do something on an Android device that iOS gives you with one function call is stunning. And Google insists that you drop support for devices that are older than about two years whereas an iOS app will probably run for a decade or more. Then there's the tight integration in the ecosystem. I can copy a text or images on my iPhone and it magically shows up in my Mac's clipboard.

 

[boswald]

That's amazing, and I'm one of them! I tried Android for a good long while, and while it does do some things right, the ecosystem just didn't do it for me in the long run.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

if you have green text bubbles. We can’t be friends.

 

[Astuces iOS]

That's amazing, and I'm one of them! I tried Android for a good long while, and while it does do some things right, the ecosystem just didn't do it for me in the long run.

Fr fr android sucks

 

[boswald]

Fr fr android sucks

It's not bad, it just wasn't for me.

 

[HouseLannister]

Have these survey respondents tried Liquid Glass or Apple Intelligence? It’s like saying people on the Titanic were electing to stay on the big boat rather than risk those tiny lifeboats.

 

[capamac]

“About half of iPhone users contemplating switching said they would do so because the iPhone is too expensive or other brands offer better value” — this is me. Switched from iPhone to an A17 Galaxy coz the Samsung cost less than a third of the iPhone 17e, and it’s faster than the iPhone I retired, and it runs current OS/apps, while the old iPhone does not.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I unloaded my iPhone 13 for a Pixel 10a, I know anecdotal. Love the Pixel 10a, great camera and I prefer Google's core apps.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

EU: “It’s anticompetitive that only Apple can sell the Apple iPhone. So, as a part of the gatekeeper regulations under the DMA, they will be forced to allow other companies to sell iPhones. It’s the only way companies that don’t make the iPhone can compete.”

 

[JohnC1959]

Have these survey respondents tried Liquid Glass or Apple Intelligence? It’s like saying people on the Titanic were electing to stay on the big boat rather than risk those tiny lifeboats.

I suspect they have. After all, we have Gemini on iPhones so the iPhone is just lacking the strong integration of AI with the rest of the phone. As for Liquid Glass, it turns out that most don't mind it -- some actually like it while others learned the settings to tone it down.

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

iOS is the biggest problem right now.
Imagine if iOS was still as smooth as iOS 14 & 15

 

[JohnC1959]

I unloaded my iPhone 13 for a Pixel 10a, I know anecdotal. Love the Pixel 10a, great camera and I prefer Google's core apps.

I'm sure you're not alone. I'm curious, are you a Mac users?

 

[Abydos]

the grass is always greener on the other side ... syndrome, be realistic the world is not perfect there are no perfect solutions (or products)

 

[Digital Dude]

I’ve had nearly every iPhone since the beginning, but I switched to the Pixel 10 XL in December 2025. Being retired, I’m not using my phone as heavily as I used to, so the move to Android was easier than expected. The cost difference also stands out, with trade value and pricing making Android considerably less expensive for me. I expected the Pixel 10 XL to feel like a downgrade from the latest iPhone, but it doesn’t. The software took some time to learn, but now that I’m used to it, I like it. I still use my iPad and enjoy staying current with iOS, so I’m not planning a full switch unless Android offers a viable alternative.

 

[I7guy]

Have these survey respondents tried Liquid Glass or Apple Intelligence? It’s like saying people on the Titanic were electing to stay on the big boat rather than risk those tiny lifeboats.

The masses won’t recognize personal biases.

 

[Jumpthesnark]

Have these survey respondents tried Liquid Glass or Apple Intelligence? It’s like saying people on the Titanic were electing to stay on the big boat rather than risk those tiny lifeboats.

It’s actually like saying 96.4% of surveyed iPhone users are going to stick with iPhone when they upgrade. It’s exactly like that.

 

[Aneef]

I used to have an iPhone 7 Plus, used it for 5 years, then switched to Galaxy Note Series, and then last year got 17 Pro Max again. And would probably be on an Apple device for the next quite some time.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

This is why Apple shouldn't worry so much about being "behind" on AI. They are doing just fine without it.

 

[ADGrant]

Whole family is on Apple devices. The ecosystem integration is much more important to me than the cost of an individual device or the features on an individual device. So no Windows or Android in the house (apart from a work laptop).

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I'm sure you're not alone. I'm curious, are you a Mac users?

Replying on my Mac Mini

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Not sure I trust a trade-in site that doesn't pay a graphic designer. If they'll AI-generate the header image who's to say they won't generate some survey responses.

 

[NyxAluminium]

For me, the primary concern is screens and eye strain. I can use my 13 Mini all day without discomfort. But just about every recent & current OLED iPhone doesn't work for me. The Mini isn't going to last forever so I've been looking at some Android alternatives. A few of the manufacturers go out of their way for those of us with sensitive eyes.

Bought one as a backup phone and am really liking it. It's definitely more clunky than iOS. But I like the freedom of it. With Motorola promising GrapheneOS support in the near future, that might be my next main phone. Motorola already makes phones with a certain amount of eye care built in. More than what Apple offers. Better PWM refresh rates + the most privacy focused phone OS would be great.

 

[now i see it]

I think the so called loyalty is more like laziness. That’s why I don’t change. Too much trouble.

 

[JohnC1959]

I think the so called loyalty is more like laziness. That’s why I don’t change. Too much trouble.

laziness is one of many components of loyalty, though even most lazy people will change if the motivation is high enough. Regardless, one still must ask why iPhone users are more 'lazy' than Android users.