Apple's internal research revealed: why customers chose Android over the iPhone
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Thanks to the Apple v. Samsung trial we know get to know what Apple’s internal study discovered. At the time 25% of Android phone owners had considered buying an iPhone before settling on an Android handset. Of that 25% that did consider getting an iPhone, the number one reason for going with an Android was not wanting to switch carriers (43%). Next up was trusting Google as a brand (36%) and 30% wanted a larger screen size than an iPhone offered.
Note that respondents could check more than one answer; so a consumer may have preferred the screen size, turn-by-turn GPS, and not having to change carriers. Indeed, Apple now offering devices on most carriers has not lead to a collapse in Android’s market share (although new iPhone launches now lead to a temporary annual recalibration of market share between the two platforms), but the carrier exclusivity issue was the one that Apple could most easily fix, and their market share has indeed grown since then in the United States.
The entire list reads as follows:
- 43% Wanted to stay with current provider
- 36% Trusted Google brand
- 30% Preferred larger screen
- 27% Preferred Android Market
- 26% Wanted better Google services intergration
- 25% Wanted latest and greatest smartphone
- 25% Wanted turn-by-turn GPS
- 25% Wanted latest and greatest technology
source: The Verge
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99 Comments
1. nnaatthhaannx2 posted on 13 Aug 2012, 15:40 37
These "research studies" just make me giggle.
65. Mxyzptlk posted on 13 Aug 2012, 21:14 3
You read that off a LaffyTaffy wrapper didn't you?
28. hung2900 posted on 13 Aug 2012, 17:27 4
No choice shows the disadvantage of iphone. How could Apple tell it was reliable if the question list was not exclusive?
64. MeoCao (unregistered) posted on 13 Aug 2012, 20:42 5
If the analysyis is correct then iPhone market share must be over 50% by now.
But it is not.
2. Jphones posted on 13 Aug 2012, 15:42 8
haha thats what they get for making a phone that not unique in the sense all the iphones are the same android has a phone for every possible user. Smh apple just stick to making computers. Android is saying retina display these peanuts
26. Phullofphil posted on 13 Aug 2012, 17:21 17
Are you blind to the fact that regardless of androids market share that the iPhone is the reason why apple is bigger than oil and makes the biggest profits in the industry and has a crazy amount of cash. We as consumers need apple android and even Microsofts windows phone 8 to all be successfully. Even other companies if there is any market share left. We would not see the smartphones get the technology we see today grow as fast without this competitive companies trying to one up the other. We are right now going through what could be the best times for being a owner of the smart phone as far as innovation in operating systems and technology in hardware. The only draw back being it might be happening to fast to where especially android phones your phones getting outdated faster and faster. Apple being somewhat different but still the same of sorts. Being passed up buy some android handsets, going back and forth for our benefit really. I really think the only thing really holding back even greater possibilities especially on the software side is the us carriers. But that another topic
34. Jphones posted on 13 Aug 2012, 17:45 10
umm sir we don't actually need apple and their off shore bank accounts, essential slave labor over seas and a workforce over here mostly comprised of Temps. I'm saying that While the iphone is great technology it lacks the individualism most of us want in things we own. Especially when it comes to us in the tech community wow I can reorganize my apps and put a case on my iphone doesn't cut it as individualism. Variety is key especially in America nobody wants to be like everybody else
70. bsweetftbll posted on 13 Aug 2012, 22:19 1
while i agree that a good number of people want variety, and individualism, i dont think thats the essential reason people switch to android. Most of us seem to forget that the majority of people dont do any research when buying a phone, and a good number dont care as long as it makes calls. some people see an iphone as i $200 cell with email ability, just like they would see the galaxy sIII as a $200 cell with email ability, a lot of people look at price, and, not that it is a bad thing, android usually beats the iphone in pricing. usually.
39. joey_sfb posted on 13 Aug 2012, 18:00 7
Having a quickly innovation is never a draw back if you view it with an open mind.
Quickly innovation would result in more features that would be useful to you when you do get that new phone.
Apple has been feeling the strain of not innovating fast enough with their recent WDC. Apple are showing off feature that are already available in their competitors product such as noticafication bar in iOS 5 and browser url box search intregation in their Safaria browser.
Their lawsuit are design to disrupt the competitions while they play catch up with technology.
49. Jphones posted on 13 Aug 2012, 18:20 5
very good point they just don't want others to make money because they think of things to late. I mean android ecosystem might be fragmented due to the bigger software updates coming at least 2 a year and those crappiers aka carriers takin so long.We as consumers love that and google knows it because they know we will go out and get the latest and greatest or just wait for an ota update or a mod. iphone you can jailbreak wow so I can use it on any carrier I want but won't get any updates? It's a supposed status symbol oh look I have an iphone or better yet I carry around one of the most expensive things I own and its made out of glass and the case isn't free apple really cares about my money.
74. Fuego84 posted on 13 Aug 2012, 22:41 4
Android phones being outdated faster and faster... Well that's alot better than buying an outdated iPhone on launch day.
79. MeoCao (unregistered) posted on 14 Aug 2012, 00:27 1
I disagree with the argument that we need many OSes to keep the competion going.
Android is open source and there is always the competion within Android like Sense, TouchWiz.. they can be called separate OSes in their own right. The thing that keeps Android unified is Google's innovation that outpaces innovation of SS or HTC or Sony.
87. joey_sfb posted on 14 Aug 2012, 09:42 0
No OSes require anyone permissions to compete openly, fairly for the advancement of mobile techology.
Google investment in techology thru people is a good long term business plan. I support that.
Apple is fighting a bitter war with its suppliers, they believe in dishing out punishment so as to create fear and they would reign that chao.
Two very distinctive differents in their upper management thinking. The real question is how long can they continue this path before eveyone around them throw up their hands.
29. jroc74 posted on 13 Aug 2012, 17:27 17
Exactly.
Cuz I get a phone with a physical keyboard, bigger screen, maybe 3D, maybe dual screens....and the green robot logo, maybe with Google's name on the phone...
For the iPhone.
:/
Last time I checked.....Android was alot more than the Galaxy S line.
32. jroc74 posted on 13 Aug 2012, 17:38 8
I can say what made me choose the Droid 1 over the iPhone. I was gonna go to AT&T in 2009:
FREE turn by turn GPS.
physical keyboard.
TONS of free apps. At the time I didnt know iOS had lots of free ones too.
I was gonna switch carriers cuz I thought Verizon service had gotten bad. Turns out it was my current phone. As one last shot, I got the Droid 1. Been happy in Android land ever since.
I wont say what manufacture I had phone issues with tho....lol.
35. blazee posted on 13 Aug 2012, 17:47 10
Although your comment shows how butthurt you are that there so many who prefer android over ios; the possibility of some ifans mistaking an android phone for an iPhone is actually very possible as they don't tend to be a bright bunch.
41. Non_Sequitur posted on 13 Aug 2012, 18:09 2
Yeah, pretty much.
Or they're just older people. My mom doesn't know the difference between a Mac and a "Window," even less anything about smartphones.
76. Fuego84 posted on 13 Aug 2012, 22:57 1
The iPhone always gets advertised an easy to learn and use device, I'd say the iphone is for simple people that wouldn't know apples from oranges sometimes. No joking on 2 separate occasions I met people with iPhones that didn't know who the maker of their phone was and they thought it was their carrier's phone also they didn't know if they had the iPhone 4s or not.
5. MISTER.H (banned) posted on 13 Aug 2012, 15:54 6
Love Android for openness, and specs.
Like ios for Quality apps, and feel and touch of the iP4.
Don't prefer and dislike Windows.
13. PhoneArenaUser posted on 13 Aug 2012, 16:31 14
"Love Android for openness, and specs."
Agree, I also.
"Like ios for Quality apps..."
Maybe three year ago I would agree with you but not today, today Android also have good quality apps.
Also satatistics says taht iOS apps tend to crash three times more than Android apps.
"Don't prefer and dislike Windows."
I don't have anything against WP. I just think that WP still need a few year to grow and it should become a really good OS.
16. PhoneArenaUser posted on 13 Aug 2012, 16:35 6
Also a few years ago we usually could see new apps coming first for iOS but today we can see more and more cases when apps first comes to Android and only then to iOS.
23. PhoneArenaUser posted on 13 Aug 2012, 17:10 1
Thanks!
I Also have added +1 for your comment #5. :)
25. MISTER.H (banned) posted on 13 Aug 2012, 17:20 1
Cool. Really like the avatar!
37. PhoneArenaUser posted on 13 Aug 2012, 17:49 2
More and more people saying that, thanks. :)
42. Non_Sequitur posted on 13 Aug 2012, 18:11 2
iOS actually doesn't have many apps that are that much better than Android's apps. Also, I really like Windows Phone. Using Launcher 7 right now. Me gusta.
Other than that, I agree with you.
6. CharlieAtInfinity posted on 13 Aug 2012, 15:56 10
I want a OPEN and a CUSTOMIZABLE OS.. and yes as in the article a bigger screen too :D but the first 2 are the biggest reasons I am using an Android phones..!!
7. speckledapple posted on 13 Aug 2012, 15:58 0
Oh that is quite rich indeed. Data like that is extremely valuable to any company looking to find out why.
8. Ravail posted on 13 Aug 2012, 16:01 10
I chose Android because its open source, anyone can create apps, better phone selection, different screen sizes, battery sizes, carriers, and over all that, customization.
Android over iOS anyday.
9. KEVlN posted on 13 Aug 2012, 16:09 16
Got 99 problems but my android ain't one.
Btw, what's an iPhone?
44. Non_Sequitur posted on 13 Aug 2012, 18:13 4
If you've got an iPhone, I feel bad for you, son!...
71. KEVlN posted on 13 Aug 2012, 22:26 1
Funny thing is that I really do feel bad for people with tiny little iphones. 3 inch screens are so 2008
10. SleepingOz posted on 13 Aug 2012, 16:18 5
Wanted latest and greatest technology
Wanted latest and greatest smartphone
12. InspectorGadget80 posted on 13 Aug 2012, 16:29 3
I was on att for 9yrs ever since the original iphone launch. I never bought the phone after all the glitches and problems the iphone have plus it was 300$. Im just glad i never bought the iphone and went android. You dont see me rushing out buying the new thing first.
14. fistigons posted on 13 Aug 2012, 16:32 2
Can't wait til I actually get a smartphone. Still got 22 months left to decideif I want to be an iFanBoy or a Phandroid.
52. Non_Sequitur posted on 13 Aug 2012, 18:26 2
Either way, you'll be executed by one of two groups.
But no pressure! :P
18. matrix_neo posted on 13 Aug 2012, 16:49 2
I thought apple don't make any study as what they said before. The results clearly indicates what people really want from a smartphone. Why apple neglect and didn't take advantage in this study? if they considered and believed in this study, they might have a higher market share. Sad to say as what apple said also before that they will create products what is good for consumers not what consumers want from a product. IOS is the best example.
80. zhypher_23 posted on 14 Aug 2012, 00:58 0
Cause Apple don't really care much about their customers ideas, they make their products they way they want it, unlike for Android users, the other companies actually take their customers ideas into hand and give them what they want, this is one of the reasons why alot of people stick to Android, Open Source+Free Optimizations Roms+Selection
21. shotine posted on 13 Aug 2012, 17:07 2
As for me i have had androids for many many years now and i have tried iphone, i have tried palm, i have tried blackberry and i have tried (shudder) windows, they just dont hold up to a good android. Interchangeable battery, upgradeable memory, the ability to customize everything on YOUR phone and most import I dont have to play mother may i with itunes every time i want to move something to or from MY device.
31. Jay_F posted on 13 Aug 2012, 17:37 1
Turn-by-turn navigation? Really. There's an app for that. Seriously, and it's free too. See: MapQuest jeez.
54. remixfa posted on 13 Aug 2012, 18:44 1
if its anything like normal mapquest.. no not really. lol
56. Non_Sequitur posted on 13 Aug 2012, 18:58 1
I just realized what your avatar is.
Lol, awesome! xD
89. remixfa posted on 14 Aug 2012, 11:13 0
lol thanks. I've had it so long, I didnt think anyone would recognize ol Sad Kermit anymore. :)
68. jroc74 posted on 13 Aug 2012, 21:30 0
I tried Mapquest on phones.
There is a reason Google Maps is a go to solution for many.....even on desktops....
The app sucks just like the desktop version.
33. rudlie posted on 13 Aug 2012, 17:44 0
why apple takes one third on U.S. market? at least no reason above 50% hahaha
45. mas11 posted on 13 Aug 2012, 18:14 3
Don't forget about the percentage of people who don't support the business ethics of a company that thanks it's better to sue than make a better product
47. martinchavez90 posted on 13 Aug 2012, 18:19 2
Now this most be wrong information ! The way apple been b**ching you would think at least 40% would be because they thought it was an IPhone hahaha
55. remixfa posted on 13 Aug 2012, 18:46 4
and now we see the real reasons that iOS started adopting the "if we dont have it, we'll just steal it from android next year" policy.
Google should take that and sue apple for "willful infringement" of Android's "look, feel and functionality".
63. Peter98 posted on 13 Aug 2012, 20:17 0
I love every Apple products. But talk about Android, I would just say I love Google. Google is so great. And my ideal display size would be 4.3"
