iOS activation rate rose 8% in Q1, new high since 2016

Compared with the same period last year, the new activation rate of iOS devices in the US market jumped by about 8% in the first quarter of 2020, a new high since 2016, according a report by market research company CIRP released on Friday.

iOS devices account for 44% of the US smartphone market activation rate, and Android accounts for the remaining 56%.

It is worth noting that Apple's market share has been growing in the past two years. As of the first quarter of 2018, iOS accounted for 32% of new smartphones, while Android devices accounted for nearly 70%.

The adoption rate of iOS has increased by 12% in two years, and the proportion of 44% also exceeded the 41% recorded in the 2016 report.

This is good news for Apple, but CIRP data also shows that iOS and Android operating system user loyalty is up to about 90%.

This means that only a small percentage of consumers are willing to switch operating systems.

Therefore, even if there will be slight changes over time, the situation of OS duopoly may continue.

Michael Levin, Partner and Chief Financial Officer, added: "At a very high level, user loyalty to the operating system is stable.

In the past four years or so, about 90% of newly activated mobile phone users have chosen to use the previous operating system.

Although Apple strives to attract Android users to use iOS, and Android phone manufacturers are also striving to attract iPhone users, the use of the operating system is the least likely to change among all consumer preferences. "

Although Apple and Google maintain a "stable duopoly" pattern in smartphone user share, the balance is slowly tilting towards iOS.

CIRP claims that since the low of about 32% in the first quarter of 2018, iOS has steadily regained market share in the last 3 months.

Josh Lowitz, Partner and Co-Founder of CIRP said: "In the past few years, the US operating system market share has been slightly different, but it has been very stable.

Android usually holds a larger share, but the share has not changed much. "

Today, Apple and Google rarely announced that they will join forces to establish a new coronavirus contact tracking function in both operating systems, while continuing to focus on privacy and security issues.