Apple versus Android
ComScore’s recent study of 234,000 mobile phone users over the age of 13 has revealed that mobile devices using the Apple iOS outnumber those using the Android operating system by 59%.
Comscore reports that devices studied include all Apple iOS devices (iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches) have a combined platform reach of 37.9 million while Android has 23.8 million.
The study claims that “Apple iPad ownership extends beyond just ‘Fanboys’” and that the 25-34 year old demographic has the highest number of Apple users.
Charting the data
Because ComScore is not forthcoming with their methodology other than to say they used MobiLens to conduct the study, we cannot independently verify the data but it is clear that Android and Apple operating systems are in high demand which is growing, and although Apple has enjoyed a longer time on the market, Android is catching up. Some studies claim one will triumph over the other in the coming years, but the current status is that they both matter to marketers and should both be accounted for in app development.
What do you think of the data points? Do they validate your own tech choices?
Sam Trevino
April 20, 2011 at 3:51 am
Since ComScore won't release details on how to replicate this study it's not really valid.
Dylan Schleppe
April 20, 2011 at 8:20 am
It's a little more interesting if you remove iPods from the data.
Apple's iOS Beats Android? Not Exactly news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20110419/tc_pcworld/applesiosbeatsandroidnotexactly
Benn Rosales
April 20, 2011 at 9:30 am
We debated all of this in our pitch session yesterday and there are inherent problems with comparable products, as well as time on market for the OS compared to android. However, we would consider an ipod touch a carrier of the Apple OS.
We've actually already reported what we believe to be the case as far as market share goes in other reports on android versus apple, but we can't completely endorse or debunk this one as of yet so we decided to let the public be the judge (for the moment).
Comscore has been very good to AG in getting source data for verification purposes, and they are meticulous, honest, and blunt.
Rainer
April 20, 2011 at 8:28 am
59% more is a bit off from double the reach. And you should have pointed out that Apple had a 2 year head start on phones and about 9 months on tablets. To me that means Apple is following the same path it did when Microsoft beat it to a pulp in the late '80's for being too restrictive on third party innovation. Watch Apple lose its lead by 2013. It's still a good product, but Android has caught it and exceeds it in a few ways.