14 DAY TRIAL // New data provided by BankMyCell shows that a growing number of Apple customers make the switch to Android when purchasing a new phone.
The study, which analyzed the choice of some 38,000 customers who traded in their old phones for a new phone, shows that the Apple loyalty collapsed over the record level that it reached in 2017.
Specifically, BankMyCell says (via CNET) that Apple brand loyalty dropped from 92 percent to 73 percent this year. This is the lowest score the Cupertino-based tech giant ever had since 2011, the data shows.
The Apple retention rate dropped no less than 15.2 percent versus March 2018, and more than 1 in 5 (26 percent) iPhone X customers who traded-in their phones switched to Android. On the other hand, 92.3 percent of the people who stepped in a mobile phone store with an Android phone stayed with Android.
In the Samsung world, only 7.7 percent of the users made the switch to iPhone, while 18 percent of the customers made the switch the other way around.
Cheaper iPhone on its way
The data, however, shouldn’t necessarily be worrying for Apple, as the company is working on several new models, at least one of which could help compete against the Android push more effectively.
Rumor has it that Apple is developing a more affordable iPhone that could go live as soon as 2020. This particular model wouldn’t come with the latest and greatest, especially when compared to its more premium sibling, but on the other hand, it’ll try to capitalize on the Apple brand to counter the growth of Android devices.
People close to the matter said this cheaper iPhone could even bring back Touch ID, albeit this is something that’s still uncertain given how hard Apple is pushing for Face ID these days.