iPhone Loyalty Rate Climbs to 87% as Switching to Android Slows

[MacRumors]

iPhone owners are sticking with the platform at a higher rate than a year ago, with new research firm CIRP putting iPhone loyalty at 87% for the first quarter of 2026.

CIRP's latest quarterly survey found that just 12% of new iPhone buyers in the March quarter had come over from an Android phone, with the remaining 1% arriving from a feature phone, a different smartphone platform, or buying a smartphone for the first time. That puts loyalty three percentage points above the same quarter a year earlier, when 14% of buyers switched from Android and the overall loyalty figure sat at 84%.

The firm has been tracking this movement for years by asking iPhone buyers what device they owned right before their purchase, among other questions about how they shop. Across the periods it measured recently, the share of buyers coming from Android has held in a fairly narrow 11% to 15% band, a much smaller pool of switchers than in the iPhone's early years, when Apple was still expanding beyond AT&T to other U.S. carriers and picking up large numbers of new users in the process.

The trend held steady in early 2024 too, when 13% of buyers arrived from Android and loyalty came in at 85%. CIRP's numbers suggest the bulk of smartphone owners settled on a platform long ago, and only a small slice change sides each year. This is a pattern other recent surveys have pointed to as well, even if their methodology and figures differ from CIRP's.

Apple will roll out Siri AI, its overhauled AI assistant, in iOS 27 later this year, which could help retain existing iPhone owners. Attracting Android converts is a separate challenge, though Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone will introduce a new form factor that may appeal to some existing Android foldable owners.

Article Link: iPhone Loyalty Rate Climbs to 87% as Switching to Android Slows

 

[sjsharksfan12]

I guess I was one of the 12%. Evidently I did it at exactly the right time too because the prices are going up and Siri AI does look exciting (I'm not on the Beta though).

 

[capamac]

Story mentions U.S. buyers; globally, Android is far, far ahead of iPhone. https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/worldwide

 

[jz0309]

so this, record sales indicate that Apple is doing something right, despite all the negativity here on MR such as lack of innovation, iPhone fatigue etc etc ... guess Apple nows it customers better than MR posters after all ...
Keep going Apple!

 

[Reverend Benny]

It would be so nice if we had a "third" option rather than having to choose between Android or iOS/iPadOS based devices.

 

[jb310]

I switch between iPhone and Android every so often based on when I can get good deals on a new phone, so I'm hardly "loyal"... but I have to say that iPhones are genuinely better for day-to-day use. I'm not surprised people who have iPhones usually don't switch away from them.

 

[SpotOnT]

Story mentions U.S. buyers; globally, Android is far, far ahead of iPhone. https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/worldwide

Ummmmm that is an odd whataboutism…

We are talking about “loyalty” not “market share”. Any thoughts on customer loyalty outside of the U.S.?

 

[capamac]

Loyalty ... yeah I can see that. The Android advantage is price on the lower and mid-spec Android phones. There's zero competition from iPhone in this price range. Absolutely nothing at all. Android has free reign.

 

[mashdots]

It would be so nice if we had a "third" option rather than having to choose between Android or iOS/iPadOS based devices.

Unfortunately it's very much like a mac / pc situation now but just handheld. However, you can install de-googled android OSes like /e/os and graphene, although your device options are limited which isn't a surprise considering the manufacturers.

 

[SactoGuy18]

Story mentions U.S. buyers; globally, Android is far, far ahead of iPhone. https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/worldwide

There's a reason why: the massive number of low and mid-range Android phones sold in many markets, particularly in Africa, India and southeastern Asia. For example, the Samsung Galaxy A36 and A56 are hot sellers in the regions I mentioned.

 

[CarAnalogy]

In the US, it's true that people settled into Android vs iOS camps long ago. Reason doesn't really enter into it anymore. In most cases the vast majority of "normal" users I see are practically religious about it. They just don't like the other platform because of lots of preconceived notions.

Android has steadily become more closed and more like iPhone anyway. Most Android users don't even make use of its few remaining advantages.

At this point, it takes a major event to get someone to switch. And there just aren't that many major changes anymore.

Even kids at this point are handed a device by their parents who have already made their choice, and that's just what they use growing up.

 

[theheadguy]

I find this interesting because I've been with iPhone since the iPhone 3gs up to the 17 Pro Max and I'm finally done with it. It's uninteresting (and interestingly, I think people here who yell at others saying the iphone is only a tool and shouldn't have to be fun or interesting have unknowingly admitted this to themselves as well, lol) and it just doesn't seem worth the price. It's not just about being "expensive"... I'm ok with expensive things, but being worth the price is important, and I think I should have probably switched the last go-around...

But if people are happy, more power to them...

 

[vegetassj4]

I for one welcome our new Apple Intelligence overlords

 

[jntdroid]

It would be so nice if we had a "third" option rather than having to choose between Android or iOS/iPadOS based devices.

Bring back WebOS!

 

[Jason2000]

I am surprised with all the anti-capitalism and eat the rich movements. You would figure these folks would not use a product from one of the most greedy capitalist companies in the world.

 

[svish]

Good for Apple! iPhones are great phones, the software is good and really works well with other Apple devices. I am very happy with my 17 Pro Max.

 

[BvizioN]

It has been over a decade since I last bought and Android device. I have no urge to switch platforms anytime soon.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Loyalty ... yeah I can see that. The Android advantage is price on the lower and mid-spec Android phones. There's zero competition from iPhone in this price range. Absolutely nothing at all. Android has free reign.

I wouldn’t say this is necessarily true entirely.
while Apple doesn’t have offerings themselves in this lower price range region, there is absolutely competition from the used, refurbished, renewed market.
If all a customer wants is an iPhone, it’s not that hard to find $200 iPhone 13s or 12s that are still in reasonably decent conditions.
Even Apple themselves just last month introduced a refurbished iPhone 16e at $419.
Sure, it’s still not competing with the bottom of the barrel $99, $150 android phone market, but in comparison to phones like the Galaxy A series, it is relatively competitive.


It also can’t be ignored that over 60% of United States mobile phone purchasers are using installment plans or carrier contracts, a lot of which have insane value on the surface. Of course, once you dig a little deeper, it’s a little bit more complicated than that, but there is a reason that you can trade in your old iPhone to most carriers and get a free 17 on them. That strategy actually works for a lot of people.

 

[Mrbiggestman]

I have no reason to use iPhone anyways, I like the variety of things that I can do on android and the many unique features when switching from brand to brand. Plus I have no intention of sliding myself into an ecosystem despite having a macbook.

If it feels like a prison, I'm moving out.

 

[zarmanto]

It would be so nice if we had a "third" option rather than having to choose between Android or iOS/iPadOS based devices.

We did. It was even the other heavyweight in tech: Windows. And it was surprisingly good by most reports, even on low-end hardware.

Ultimately, Windows Phone failed in the market due to precisely the opposite conditions from those that helped Windows on desktop succeed: there just wasn't any meaningful support from third party developers. Those same conditions are also what make it next to impossible for anyone else to compete with the iOS/Android duopoly.

Even kids at this point are handed a device by their parents who have already made their choice, and that's just what they use growing up.

A friend of mine was commenting the other day about buying her husband an iPhone when his previous one died -- apparently with him right there throughout the process. After it was all said and done, he made a comment that he actually would have preferred an Android... and she was like, "Why didn't you say something, then??"

Of course, it might have still gone that way, because she also admitted that she kind'a prefers that he have an iPhone anyway, because it's just easier for her if he has the same kind of phone she has.

I mention this because sometimes it's not just kids who have decisions made for them.

 

[macvicta]

It has been over a decade since I last bought and Android device. I have no urge to switch platforms anytime soon.

The thought of owning something other than an iPhone never even crosses my mind.

 

[capamac]

The phones aren't free, just financed. For example just checked Verizon: iPhone 17 comes to $68 per month for 36 months with their "simple" plan. That's $2,448 for an $800 iPhone.

 

[diewish2007]

I’ve never regretted buying any of my Apple products but have certainly regretted buying things from the competition.

 

[Abydos]

gee, I thought it was the monthly activity challenge

 

[ab2c4]

I can tell you there are still people that switch back to Android. I know you can add me to that list when I get my next phone.

I imagine Android has similar loyalty rates.