14 DAY TRIAL // One thing that Apple fans are known for is their extreme brand loyalty. Or at least this used to be the story a while back. But according to a recent report surveying user loyalty, Android might be catching up with Apple's platform in this regard.
Market researcher Consumer Research Partners (CIRP) revealed that, between July 2013 and June 2015, 82% of the Android owners continued to stick with an Android device when it was time to purchase a new one.
iOS was not far behind, with 78% of the users opting for another handset from the Apple garden when they decided to purchase a new one. The data included in the study was based on quarterly surveys including up to 4,000 individuals across the United States.
While Android and iOS were at the top, other operating systems didn’t boast the same encouraging results. BlackBerry, for instance, managed to keep only 4% of its user base loyal to the brand. The Windows Phone platform, on the other hand, managed to capture 19%. But with Windows 10 Mobile coming out towards the end of the year, things might change in the near future.
Android and iOS loyalty is comparable in the present
The analysis claims that the dynamic involving users switching between iOS and Android platforms is not fully understood. Traditionally, we’re told that Apple products sustain brand loyalty, while Android users are most of the time willing to make the plunge into the iOS camp.
On the other hand, during the most recent earnings call in July, CEO Tim Cook painted a different picture. He claimed that Apple registered its highest-ever switch rate from Android to iOS devices in the three-month period ending on June 27.
CIRP doesn’t say anything about the reasons why users would want to switch from a platform to another in their report, but they do analyze whether switching carriers is an important aspect to be factored into the equation.
The research firm says that 79% of previous Android users would continue to use the platform even when requesting the services of a new carrier, while only 51% of iOS users would stick to the same platform after finding a new service provider.