Today, with each passing day new smartphones are released in the market. Some smartphones are Android while some are iPhones. Often consumers are provoked to switch platforms depending on the pros and cons of the devices. When we compare iPhone users vs Android users, a number of differences can be noticed. The iOS and Android operating systems differ and so their user personas are also different. Before building a mobile app, be it a startup, organization or any other business, having a clear view of user bases will help in finding real insights. This blog deals with an overview of key differences in behavior for Android and iPhone users and enables you to make informed decisions.
Android vs iPhone Users: Market Share
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In the global market, Android and iOS are ruling as the most used mobile operating systems. 70% of the market share is with Android whereas iOS accounts for around 29% shares. Around 3.55 million apps are offered by Google Play to Android users making it the app store with most mobile apps. Whereas the Apple app store offers around 1.6 million apps to iOS users. In the race of iPhone vs Android users, Android remains ahead in the terms of number of users and apps but iOS is ahead in terms of mobile app revenue globally.
iPhone users vs Android Users: Spending in Mobile Apps & Games
In recent times iPhones have overtaken Android users in the US market. Around 50% of the market share of US smartphones consists of iPhones. Several reports have claimed that in the past few years, there has been a trend for Android users to shift to iOS. Below mentioned are some of the reasons for the switch according to the analysts:
1. Apple is an American Company
Being an American company, Apple has gained the trust of its US consumers due to which people here generally prefer iPhone over Android devices. A study between iPhone and Android users states that the iPhone has been a staple in American popular culture so US consumers are more receptive to its claims and consider the iOS ecosystem superior in terms of security and privacy.
2. US Consumers are Less Price Sensitive
Analysts have found in their research that US consumers are less price sensitive than consumers of other countries. That’s the reason they prefer the iPhone over Android. Also, it has been found that iPhones are less depreciating making them a more preferred choice.
3. Apple has the Highest Loyalty Ratings
In terms of loyalty and satisfaction US consumers prefer the iPhone among other smartphone brands. That’s the reason in the US the iPhone users are higher than Android users.
iPhone vs Android Users: Differences in Hardware and Software
To understand the difference between iPhone and Android users, we’ve to first understand the distinction between its hardware and software. Below listed are their basic differences:
1. Variety
Android users have a wide range of devices to choose from. Be it screen sizes, device features, processors and price points, there are a large number of options. Whereas Apple has limited options for its iPhone users.
2. Navigation
Usually Android phones have physical buttons for navigation, whereas iPhones use a navigation interface that is completely touch-based. Although it’s completely a matter of preference numerous users find physical buttons on Android phones convenient to the user especially when they operate the device using one hand.
3. User Interface
In terms of user interface Android users are able to easily customize their home screen by using their widgets and apps. However, iPhone users have very limited options and have a simple grid layout. Broadly, Android phones come with more customization options that allow them to change the look and feel of their phones as per their personal preferences.
4. Publishing Apps in the Application Marketplace
Android has strict terms and conditions to get approval for publishing apps in the application marketplace. Apple has a stricter approval process due to which there are very few low-quality apps in its App Store.
Android users vs iPhone users: Differences in Behavior & Demographics
Numerous factors like country, trending changes etc decide whether one consumer segment prefers to be an Android user or an iPhone user. A recent study between Android and iPhone users states the following points:
1. Earning of iPhone users is more than Android users
Usually, higher-income customers tend to opt for iPhones. According to a survey conducted in 2024, iPhone users spend more on clothes, beauty products and other technology-related products than Android users.
2. iPhones are preferred by Younger generations
Various studies have mentioned that the percentage of iPhone users is younger. While most older generations prefer Android phones. Even in the US consumer base, older age groups prefer Android phones. That is the reason the consumer retention rate of Android is higher than iOS.
3. iOS offers more security and privacy than Android
In comparison to Android vs iPhone users, most Apple users have stated that they feel more secure and have more reliability on iPhones for privacy in comparison to Android phones. Also, many users claimed that they were able to fully recover their data compared to only 55% of Android users.
4. Android users are more responsive
When iPhone users vs Android user’s personalities were compared then it was determined that they were more responsive to push notifications than Android users. In fact, Android apps tend to show more user engagement from push notifications and even their user engagement is better than iPhone users.
5. Expenditure of iPhone users on in-app purchases is more
The in-app expenditure per user on its purchases is more for iPhone users than the Android users. This was determined by analysing global consumer spending on the top 100 subscription-based apps.
Conclusion
The traits of iPhone users vs Android users offer a clear overview to the executives and project managers to make informed decisions while developing a mobile app. Only after understanding the difference between Android and iPhone users’ personalities within their target markets, you can tailor the products accordingly. Nevertheless, businesses can minimize costs, efforts and risks by using cross-platform technologies and making their apps available for both iPhone and Android users.