The competition between Android and iOS continues to heat up. On one side, manufacturers like Samsung, Xiaomi, vivo, and OPPO, led by Google, strive to win users’ favor with dozens of models catering to every budget. On the other side, Apple stands alone, battling all its rivals. Sao, have you ever wondered about the current state of this race? Let’s take a closer look together…
Users Don’t Want to Pay $1,000 for an iPhone
The latest report from CIRP indicates that Apple is gaining the upper hand in the contest between Android and iOS. According to the report, 17% of users who purchased a new iPhone in June 2024 were former Android users. Given that this number was 10% last year, this is quite a significant achievement for Apple. Therefore, the entire company, especially Tim Cook, should be happy, right? Not quite.
The report reveals that the models preferred by users switching to iPhone are not the latest and most expensive iPhone 15s, but rather older iPhones released a few years ago that can be purchased at a more affordable price. This, of course, means a decrease in the company’s profitability. Moreover, this trend is not limited to those coming from Android.
Reports show that the number of existing users upgrading their iPhones is also decreasing. So, what is the reason for this situation? The answer actually lies in Apple’s success. Although it may sound cliché and subjective, the reason older iPhones are being preferred is because they are great.
Performance and Longevity
Apple has long been at the top in terms of performance. Additionally, factors such as camera quality and extended update support contribute to iPhones having a significantly longer lifespan compared to Android devices. However, this doesn’t prevent the company from releasing new models every year and the “older” models on the market from becoming cheaper.
As a result, any user looking to buy a phone for under $500 is turning to affordable Apple products like the iPhone 13. The satisfaction among current users also reduces the need to buy a new one. For example, I use an iPhone 14 Pro Max and probably won’t be changing my phone anytime soon. Reports show that many users feel the same. So, what will Apple do about this?
Apple’s Strategy
In fact, there isn’t much Apple can do to resolve this issue. However, the company can capitalize on volume by making iPhones more accessible. To achieve this, Apple introduced the iPhone SE series a long time ago. Now, they are working on the iPhone SE 4, which is expected to be the most notable model in the series. This affordable phone is anticipated to attract significant interest from both Android users and those using older models like the iPhone 11-12, who find the newer models too expensive.
