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Large-Screened iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Less Popular With Android Switchers Than Predicted

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The larger-screened iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus may have been less popular with Android switchers than analysts initially predicted, according to new data gathered by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP).

A survey revealed that fewer iPhone buyers came from the Google Android platform in 2014 compared to the number of buyers who switched from Android to an iPhone in 2013. In 2014, 12 percent of iPhone buyers reported formerly owning an Android phone, while 23 percent reported being former Android customers in 2013. The launch of the iPhone 5s also saw a higher number of customers coming from BlackBerry and Windows Devices.

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"The vast majority of new iPhone buyers were already iPhone owners." said Josh Lowitz, CIRP Partner and Co-Founder. "Current iPhone owners accounted for over 80% of buyers after this launch, compared to less than 65% after the iPhone 5S and 5C launch in September 2013. Android owners accounted for a much smaller share of buyers immediately after this year's iPhone launch, and with smartphones so prevalent in the US, we also saw a smaller percentage of iPhone buyers moving from basic phones."
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Former Android owners who were already accustomed to larger screens were more likely to buy the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus than iPhone owners who were upgrading to a new device. 31 percent of former Android owners chose the iPhone 6 Plus, while only 25 percent of existing iPhone owners opted for the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus over the 4.7-inch iPhone 6.

The data also shows that those who did switch from Android in 2014 tended to go for more expensive flagship iPhones. In September of 2014, 85 percent of former Android owners who bought an iPhone chose the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, while only 52 percent of former Android owners who bought an iPhone chose the iPhone 5s in 2013.

Ahead of the launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, analysts suggested the larger screens of the two devices could cause a massive spike in upgrades and lure an unprecedented number of former Android users who desired bigger displays. In anticipation of a large number of Android switchers, Apple even launched a guide designed to walk Android users through moving data from their Android devices to the iPhone.

During Apple's most recent earnings call, CEO Tim Cook noted that Apple had seen a huge numbers of upgraders along with many first time buyers, including both customers who had never had a smartphone and switchers from Android. Cook also explained that demand was "far outstripping" supply, with no clear date for supply/demand balance in sight.

Though it appears that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus may not have been highly popular with Android switchers, it is important to note that CIRP gathered its data from just 300 Apple customers who purchased an iPhone in the 30 days following the device's September 19 launch. A survey encompassing 300 customers is a very small sample size relative to the number of people who have purchased one of Apple's new devices, a figure that had already hit 10 million during launch weekend.

It will be interesting to see if the balance between upgraders and Android switchers shifts over time, as it's possible that iPhone users already on Apple's timetable may be more inclined to upgrade their devices right away while Android users may be waiting for their contracts to expire.

Article Link: Large-Screened iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Less Popular With Android Switchers Than Predicted
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/11/12/iphone-6-less-popular-with-android-switchers/
We should also not overlook the fact that it's still damn near impossible to find a 6 Plus in stock anywhere.
 
My guess is that people who were already on an apple device were more familiar with the process to get a device early and had been holding back their own iPhone upgrades for a bigger phone. Give the new phones a year and we'll see where we're at.
 
iOS has a huge portion of the market. I think at this point, they really can't expect to convert too many non-Apple users.
 
This makes sense since many Android users like the OS, and so the physical form factor is not the end all be all. Its a great phone to be sure, but I know too many Android users who like the OS over iOS.
 
People may be on contracts and waiting for those to run out.

Shouldn't be a problem to let everybody use what they like.
 
ouimetnick said:
Not a big deal. Android users get to use what makes them happy, and iOS users get to use what makes them happy too.
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STOP spreading this new-world propaganda!! NO ONE can be happy unless they use the stuff I use!
 
The real test is going to take place over the next 6 months, since this study only looked at the first 30 days after launch when only the true Apple faithful would be willing to wait in lines for hours or a month to get the phone in the mail.

Most android users would rather get a GS5 today than wait a month to get the new iPhone 6 Plus. But when supply catches up with demand and the 6 Plus is available in most stores side by side with the GS5, then I would bet you that many android buyers will purchase the 6 Plus.
 
It's not a surprise given how far ahead android os has come along. Many phone journalists and power users choose android over ios.

It's arguable that android lollipop is far more innovative and polished that ios 8
 
Bogus Data

It's silly to compare the results of a complete redesign to those of a speed bump. I would imagine fewer iPhone users rush out to get ahold of a faster version of the phone they already have, whereas, many people were eager to upgrade to this new design. They need more data over a longer period of time to really prove anything.
 
firedept said:
With the 6+ more readily available and a starting point of 32GB we may have seen a slightly higher difference.
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The lack of supply, if anything, has many people to jump ship back to Android. You can't switch if you can't get the damn phone in the first place.

And yes, although the Note starts at $750 like the 6 Plus, $850 just to get more storage than measly 16GB is pretty steep.

The Android OEMs in-general knew about the 6 Plus and put their best foot forward. The Note 4 actually looks impressive, and the Nexus 6 is a great buy at only $650. One Plus also having Pre-order sessions for the One Plus One for those without an invite also isn't helping either.

With that said, I'll take a survey of 300 people out of 10 million sold phones with a grain of salt.
 
prlj said:
We should also not overlook the fact that it's still damn near impossible to find a 6 Plus in stock anywhere.
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Lordskelic said:
Let's look at these same sales figures after the phone is in plentiful supply.
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Irrelevant. This is a survey of the people who managed to buy one. It doesn't matter how many people are standing outside in line without a phone.

Unless, are you both suggesting that iPhone owners are somehow more adept at finding iPhones than Android users are? Like, the Android users don't know where the local Apple store is or something?
 
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