User profile by operating system ecosystem

Dan Ness, Principal Analyst, MetaFacts, October 13, 2021

Apple for youngest adults and Windows for the middle

  • Windows has the broadest overall market penetration of any OS family
    • Globally, Windows is strongest among adults who are employed, in larger households, working from home, and neither the oldest nor youngest
  • Apple OS devices have their strongest market penetration among younger adults, especially those employed and working from home
    • Apple’s global market penetration is supported in three ways: iPhones, Macs, and iPads
    • The global penetration of Google OS devices is primarily supported by Android smartphones.
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Technology ecosystem device penetration by country, age, and employment status

One measure of an ecosystem’s breadth is its market penetration. This MetaFAQs splits out the percentage of online adults using major OS families and form factors – such as Windows PCs and iPhones – by country and by age and employment status.

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Windows leads what Apple and Google divide [MetaFAQs]

Windows, Apple, and Google (Android, Chromebook) are each stronger or weaker by form factor and country. This MetaFAQs reports on the share of each OS ecosystem by country and within the US, by age group.

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Key ecosystems penetration [MetaFAQs]

The market penetration of Windows OS, Apple OS, and Google OS devices varies considerably by country. This MetaFAQs reports on each OS ecosystem’s active market penetration and splits out American users by age group.

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For most, PCs are first for connecting

Worldwide, smartphones have grown to be the primary device used the most by nearly half of online adults. Among American adults, PC usage continues to lead, although the gap has narrowed.

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Demographics profile of smartphone users [MetaFAQs]

While smartphone adoption has grown to dominance, market penetration has not been equal across all demographic groups. This MetaFAQs reports on the penetration of active smartphone use by employment status, age group, and work-from-home status for the US and globally (US, Germany, UK, Japan, China-upper-educated).

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Shifts in Apple and Windows penetration among Americans [MetaFAQs]

Apple’s PC/Mac penetration has grown while Windows has shrunk. Globally, iPhone penetration has grown as Androids have subsided – both have been stable among online Americans. Globally, iPad penetration has withdrawn as have non-Apple tablets.

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