iPhone and Android switchers swayed by privacy, learning, and AI attitudes

Background:
A hotly contested group of consumers and employees includes those switching between using iPhones and Android smartphones. Attitudes about and experiences with AI will likely influence consumer’s choices of ecosystems. Apple recently announced Apple Intelligence, its own adaptation of user-facing AI, beyond the machine learning horsepower in its devices. Google has increasingly developed AI tools, with some being consumer-facing and others further back in the stack.

Approach:
MetaFacts surveyed 12,032 online adults in the US, Germany, UK, and Japan as part of its annual TUP/Technology User Profile 2024 study. Within the survey, along with detailing the smartphones they use, we have them report their purchase plans for the coming 12 months. We also assess their attitudes about AI’s ability to help them be more creative, productive, or to learn new things along with many other positive and negative attitudes about AI.

We analyzed the iPhone/Android switcher market by dividing the market into 16 segments based on their current use of an iPhone or Android smartphone and their intention to acquire an iPhone or Android or not refresh their device.

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The iPhone and Android smartphone switchers, holders, and refreshers

The undecided are scrutinized not only in the political realm. The switchers wavering between iPhone and Android smartphones are a small yet significant group of interest. Add to that the remaining group of users who are (finally) moving from their feature phones to smartphones, and there is much movement in the marketplace.

The smartphone market has evolved into replacement mode. Both Apple and Android smartphone makers know too well that a user beginning with their ecosystem is no guarantee that they will continue.

Many factors also affect whether smartphone users upgrade their smartphones. In China, in particular, a host of influences has affected purchase plans. These include shifts in the economy, nationalistic pressures, and increased challenges from Apple’s rivals based in China, such as Huawei and Xiaomi. Although speeds and feeds have been the fascination of technology media, users have other qualities in mind when they choose a platform. This is especially true for first-time smartphone users.

This analysis reports on the number of adults by their current and planned status, identifying the size of the market for those who intend to switch, plan to hold, are new to the market, and all other combinations of current and intended smartphone platforms.

Approach

To help measure the smartphone switcher market, we divided online adults into 16 groups. These are based on their usage and upcoming purchase plans for acquiring an iPhone or Android smartphone. Our analysis is of all online adults and includes adults who do not actively use smartphones, will be new to smartphones, and those who use more than one type. This TUPdate is based on the surveys of 13,561 online adults in the US, Germany, the UK, Japan, and China in August 2024. As part of the TUP/Technology User Profile questionnaire, we asked respondents to identify each smartphone they actively use, including its brand, operating system, and many other details. We also gathered their technology purchase plans for the upcoming twelve months, including purchase intentions for iPhone and Android smartphones.

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Usage guidelines: This document may be freely shared within and outside your organization in its entirety and unaltered. It may not be used with a generative AI system without separate licensing and express written permission. To share or quote excerpts, please contact MetaFacts.

The shock undermining monoculture or ecosystem dominance

The recent cybersecurity event involving Microsoft and Crowdstrike garnered much attention. It also renewed concern among consumers who may worry their Windows devices will be next to fail.

This TUPdate double-clicks on the devices people use in addition to a single computer, smartphone, or tablet. It splits out the share of online adults around the world (in the US, Germany, UK, Japan, and China) who use a computer, Windows 11 PC, Windows 10 or earlier PC, or Apple computer by the percentage of those who use other devices such as iPhones or Android tablets. It splits out the share of smartphone, iPhone, and Android smartphone users who use computers with Windows 11, 10, or earlier versions, Apple computers, iPads, or Android tablets. It also reports the multi-year shift in how many devices people use regularly. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0723_mono] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; Mobile Phones; Tablets; Technology Ecosystems

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Usage guidelines: This document may be freely shared within and outside your organization in its entirety and unaltered. It may not be used with a generative AI system without separate licensing and express written permission. To share or quote excerpts, please contact MetaFacts.

Remote workers continue paying own phone bills

Smartphones have become a workhorse for many workers, facilitating their ability to work remotely. However, the share of employers who help pay the phone bills is nominal. In 2020, employers paid for a higher share of workers, and that share has declined since then.

This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of workers who have their phone service charges paid for or reimbursed by their employers, split by country. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0316_empt] in TUP Lenses: Mobile Phones; Work/Life Balance

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Usage guidelines: This document may be freely shared within and outside your organization in its entirety and unaltered. It may not be used with a generative AI system without separate licensing and express written permission. To share or quote excerpts, please contact MetaFacts.