Andrew O'Hara
There are countless reasons users may opt to jump from one mobile operating system to another, but the results of a recent poll suggest hardware pricing and user experience are key factors in making such decisions.
PCMag recently conducted a survey of 2,500 U.S. consumers to shed light on the mobile switcher phenomenon as it pertains to iOS and Android, the segment's two dominant platforms.
Only 29 percent of respondents actually admitted to swapping sides, while the rest remained steadfast with their platform of choice. Interestingly, more traded in Android for iOS (18 percent) over those that went from iOS to Android (11 percent). Of those polled, 54 percent had an iPhone, while 27 percent had a Samsung handset running some flavor of Android.
According to the poll, 47 percent of those who moved to iOS (which comes to around 202 people) said they moved to iOS for a better user experience, while 30 percent of those switching to Android said the same thing. Android's biggest benefit over iOS was cost, where 29 percent of those who went to Android cited the lower prices, presumably attached to hardware.
Other features were less compelling, including better features, better apps, better customer service, and faster software updates.
The survey included a few other bits of information, including the fact that 56 percent of those polled don't care about the release of new smartphones, while 34 percent buy a new phone when their contract expires. Over half said they only replace their phone when it breaks.
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21 Comments
I bet the people who switched to knockoffs because of OS updates did so at the recommendation of some blogger or youtuber spitting anti Apple BS.
1) How could anyone think that Android has faster updates? Not just one percent, but even one person. All Apple devices get the update the same day. No carrier or HW vendor-pushed update that comes filled with crapware. Even if we look at the Nexus or Pixel products how is that faster than what Apple offers?
2) If this was a US poll then what Andriod-based vendors offer better customer service than Apple? Do any Android-based vendor have anything that resembles the Apple Store?
Here in Oz I've had two friends (one female, one male, one a professional 50yo one a retired 70yo) go into different 'shops' (in different suburbs) to ask about getting a new iPhone as an upgrade to an ageing iPhone. In both cases they were told that it'll cost them over AUD$1,000. In both cases they qualify for a 'free' iPhone SE if they sign a two year contract - but the sales assistant didn't mention this. Of course that was my advice when they contacted me later. It seems to me that the Android vendors must be offering some nice sales commissions... There's a lot of phoney (pun intended) advice going around about price...
We need some more affordable premium Apple smartphones. And we need a 4.5 - 5” small size iPhone with all the high end features on iPhone X, for all of us SE lovers who want the premium Apple experience and feel these features shouldn’t be exclusive to the beasties.