It’s time for Apple to reach out to Android switchers
Literally flying off the shelves — and in smaller packaging too.
Apple has won Android hearts and minds, claims this years Cell Phone Brand Loyalty Report, which claims consumers have fallen out of love with Android brands. If ever there was time for a marketing campaign aimed at Android switchers, it is now.
Privacy I love you
The report crops up every year from SellCell, but this one looks particularly good for Tim Cook’s dream machine. It shows iPhone brand loyalty at an all-time high of 91.9% while Samsung loyalty has declined to 74%, down from 85.7% in 2019.
The report also confirms that iPhones are the most favored smartphone model of all the flagship devices introduced in or since August 2020, though the Samsung Galaxy S21 sits in third place.
In fact, iPhones accounted for 46.9% of all the preferences across all these models (see below).
This makes now a perfect time for Apple to continue to drive forward with good deals for Android switchers, and to continue to create and deliver solutions designed to give Android users a little slice of iOS in their phones, led by Apple’s services.
What keeps the iPhone users happy?
45% of iPhone users just like iPhones best and never want to change, while 21 percent say they are locked into the Apple ecosystem, A combined 18% don’t want to migrate because they think switching from iOS to Android is too much hassle and they prefer to stick with what they know.
Those iPhone users who do want to switch are most likely (46%) to choose a Samsung, while 35% might choose to use a Google device (though 34.8% of Pixel users plan to switch to another brand next time). The remaining 19% of the tiny switchers market goes to other brands.
What drives a migration? Those who do choose to abandon iPhones do so because they think a device from another manufacturer has better tech, or a better design. One-in-ten say they prefer Android.
Apple is right about privacy and I’m pleased at least one big tech firm is bothering to try
What about Android abandoners?
The research shows that a large chunk of those sticking with a Samsung Android device do so because they believe switching form Android to iOS is hassle, which it isn’t.
But the research also shows that 53% of those planning to abandon a Samsung phone will choose an iPhone next time, with 24% shifting to a Pixel.
But what’s really interesting is why people are abandoning Android. Privacy is becoming a bigger concern for smartphone users as the need to protect it was cited as reason to switch by 31.5% of people leaving Google’s smartphone ship. Many (13%) simply prefer iOS.
Additional stats
- 65.2% of current Google Pixel users intend to stick with the brand the next time they upgrade, which is down 18.8% from 84% in the 2019 survey
- But 34.8% of Google Pixel said they plan to switch to a different brand
- Only 37.4% of LG users intend to stick with the brand, down 23.9% from 61.3% in the 2019 survey
- Whereas a majority (62.6%) of LG users would switch to a different brand when they next upgrade
- Only 29% of Motorola users intend to stay with the brand, down 32.1% from 61.1% in the 2019 survey
- The remaining 71% using Motorola would switch to a different brand when they get a new smartphone.
- More here.
The most popular smartphones are
- Apple iPhone 12 — 17%
- Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max — 12.7%
- Samsung Galaxy S21 — 11.4%
- Apple iPhone 12 Pro — 10.6%
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra — 10%
- Samsung Galaxy S21+ — 9%
- Google Pixel 5 — 8.1%
- Apple iPhone 12 Mini — 6.3%
- Other — 5%
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G — 3.1%
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G — 2.5%
- LG Wing 5G — 2.3%
- Motorola Razr 5G — 1.2%
- Motorola Edge S — 0.8%
The report is based on an online survey across over 5,000 U.S. smartphone users conducted 3-10 March, 2021. The sample group included 2,000 Apple iPhone users, 2,000 Samsung Galaxy users, 400 Google Pixel users, 300 LG handset users, and 300 Motorola handset users.
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You’re writing about me! I switched from the Samsung Galaxy Note series (most recently the Note 10+) to the iPhone 12 Pro. I finally decided to switch due to privacy issues, and I was fed up with increasing ads appearing inside core apps. My dilemma was whether to buy the Pixel 5 or the iPhone 12. Both would resolve the issues, although my perception was that Apple would be better at privacy… and Google would allow me to keep the Android functionality I’m used to, and also continue to use my extensive library of apps purchased over my long Android history. In the end, I chose the iPhone 12 Pro. (You’re wrong above: it IS a hassle to switch. A big hassle. Don’t get me wrong: what works, works really well, but the sheer volume of Android apps makes a true migration impossible.) Months later, I still feel like I’m missing functionality because Apple keeps such tight reins on what can even be done by the phone. That said, I don’t ever plan to go back. Eventually, I’ll feel the loss less and less, but the peace of mind I’ve gained is worth it.
Thank you Christopher.
If you wanted to, it might be interesting to learn what it was about the process that worked well, and what really didn’t/doesn’t work. Though I can very easily see how you get invested in the platform over time and how some apps don’t come with you on the journey, but was it mainly third party related problems, rather than problems with the core systems? What was your experience?
Thank you for writing.
Hi Johnny, it’s been about 2 months now, so I won’t recall all the details, but I do remember the process for the most part. I used Apple’s transition app from the Play Store, and it copied across the data that it could fairly well. As part of that process, it told me it would install my apps. Presumably, any app that is available in both iPhone and Android would have been installed, but that part never actually happened.
So if you’re happy using just the apps that come with your phone (apart from the inevitable games), then transitioning between Android and iPhone in either direction shouldn’t be too bad. Samsung has a good migration app, although I can’t speak for any other brand.
But your article specifically talks about Android users, not smartphone users who just happened to have picked up a phone that had Android instead of iOS. So much of your article was talking about me. I had so many questions beforehand, and would have been well served to read your article.
Thank you Christopher. I suppose the next potentially helpful question might be around which apps you lost? I wonder if that’s actually a useful thing to write about, ie. “iOS replacements for popular Android only apps’ or something like that? As if this impacted you then it will have also impacted someone else. Just a thought.
Thank you for your generous contribution 😀
I would love/would have loved a guide for replacements, but it would be difficult to provide, since app choice is so subjective. For example, I’m still using my Note as my ereader in the evenings. I abandoned FBReader years ago because I wanted more features (and found them in Moon+ Reader Pro). In migrating to iOS, FBReader is the most fully featured reader I can find, and now I have to figure out how to manage the library without access to the file system that I’m used to. The guy beside me could claim he can’t see why anyone would ever need anything more than Apple Books…
Your article seemed to be speaking directly about me (I switched because I felt my privacy rights were being disrespected, and I was choosing between a Pixel and an iPhone), so clearly you have insight into a potential market. If I can help you create resources that help make that choice easier for others, feel free to reach out to me directly.