Smartphone buyers are becoming increasingly loyal to their chosen platform, whether that’s Apple’s iPhone or Google’s Android.
The increased loyalty also means that smartphone buyers are less likely to switch from Android to iPhone and vice versa. That’s according to new research that found that of those who do switch, Android users are more likely to buy iPhones than the other way around.
However, switching does still happen. And Android phone owners are still more than willing to switch to iPhones despite their increased loyalty.
Ultimately, the retailer found that iPhone loyalty had increased to 96.4% from 91.9% five years ago. Android loyalty stands at 86.4%, with those users more than four times likely to switch (13.6% vs 3.6%) than their iPhone-owning counterparts.
The research, shared by used device retailer SellCell, involved a survey of more than 5,000 smartphone users throughout the United States. The aim was to discover whether buyers were likely to switch, and why they came to that decision.
Samsung and Android are the big winners
While iPhone owners are increasingly likely to buy a new iPhone when it comes time to upgrade, the same applies elsewhere. Android loyalty has increased to over 86% from 65.2% five years ago, thanks in part to an increase in Samsung loyalty from 74% in 2021 to 90.1% today.
The report notes that, overall, loyalty is at its highest-ever recorded level across all of the major brands. Customers see little reason to switch as the market solidifies.
iPhone buyers are sticking with Apple more than ever
As for the key driving forces behind customers’ buying decisions, SellCell found that price and value were the biggest concerns. Technology was the second biggest driver behind their decision whether to switch or stick with their favored brand.
This comes as phone makers are finding it increasingly difficult to differentiate their products. Smartphones have reached a point at which they are largely the same in terms of hardware capabilities.
A potential move to foldable devices could change that, with Samsung the main player in that market. Apple is expected to enter the same market soon, with the iPhone Fold expected to debut this fall.
