Examining the Competitive Landscape: Android and iOS Market Power Struggles
The global smartphone market is dominated by two major players: Android and iOS. According to recent data, Android leads globally with approximately 70% market share, while iOS accounts for about 29-30% [1][3][5].
This dominance varies significantly by region, reflecting different user preferences around the world. In North America, for instance, iOS is dominant, with about 61% market share, while Android accounts for around 39-41% [1][5]. In contrast, Europe leans towards Android but still has a strong iOS presence.
The preference for iOS is strongest in developed markets such as the US, Europe, and Oceania. For example, in the US, iOS holds around 55.7%, while Android accounts for 43.4% [5]. However, in developing regions like Asia, Africa, and South America, Android is predominant, especially in markets with lower incomes and education levels [1].
In Asia, Android accounts for around 57-70% of the market share, while iOS takes up approximately 25-40% [1][5]. Africa and South America show similar trends, with Android overwhelmingly preferred and Android's market share being much larger than that of iOS [1].
In contrast, countries like China, Japan, Germany, Spain, and Australia have a more balanced market share. For instance, in China, Android holds 56.8%, while iOS accounts for 25.3% [5]. In Japan, Android and iOS shares are nearly balanced, with Android taking 51.7% and iOS 47.7% [5].
Other mobile operating systems like Samsung & KaiOS collectively make up less than 1% of the total mobile operating system market share [1].
One interesting insight is that users with above-average earnings and education are politically liberal and environmentally conscientious iPhone users, particularly in metropolitan areas [2]. On the other hand, Android users are more common in developing countries and rural areas.
As of May 2022, Android's overall market share across all devices is 37.66 percent [4]. This figure underscores the dominance of Android and iOS in the global mobile operating system market, with the two platforms together accounting for more than 99% of devices [1].
In summary, Android holds the largest market share worldwide, especially in developing regions, while iOS dominates in key developed markets such as North America and parts of Europe and Oceania [1][5].
References: [1] StatCounter Global Stats (2022). https://gs.statcounter.com/ [2] Pew Research Center (2020). https://www.pewresearch.org/ [3] Statista (2022). https://www.statista.com/ [4] IDC (2022). https://www.idc.com/ [5] GSMA Intelligence (2022). https://www.gsmaintelligence.com/
- As technology evolves, there may be a demand for a website to app converter to cater to the increasing number of businesses that want to expand their digital presence from the web to mobile devices, particularly Android and iOS platforms, given their dominance in the global market.
- The technology used in iOS devices, such as iPhones, tends to attract users with above-average incomes and education levels, who are often politically liberal and environmentally conscientious, while Android devices tend to be more popular in developing countries and rural areas due to their affordability.
