More Smartphone Buyers Choose Android Over iPhone [STATS]

[JimMariner]

In the past six months, smartphone buyers in the U.S. were more likely to choose Android-powered devices over any others, including iPhones.The Android platform has been strongly challenging Apple’s mobile offerings for quite some time now, and the release of the shiny new Froyo (a.k.a Android 2.2) OS leaves little to be desired.

Software aside, Android-powered hardware is as diverse as it is impressive.
Android phones range from affordable models suitable for families with kids (e.g., Motorola’s Charm, a surefire winner for the teen girl set) to high-powered, 4-inch, 8-megapixel superphones fit to satiate the geekiest of gadget fiends (Droid X and Galaxy S, anyone?).


All of those reasons, coupled with network diversity and relative affordability, have catapulted Android phones to a leading position for new gadget-buyers this year — no mean feat, considering that the iPhone 4 produced the “most successful iPhone launch ever” — which was accompanied by as much media hype as fan frenzy.
Data from Nielsen shows that despite a successful launch for the iPhone 4, Android devices still rose to capture 32% of the market of new smartphone buyers between January and August 2010.

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Now, that’s not to say that Android is the number-one mobile OS just yet. While it’s popular as a choice for new devices, the iPhone predated Android phones by a few years, and Android phones didn’t truly become competitive with iPhones until recently.
For all smartphones, Android still holds third place (behind iPhone and BlackBerry); however, these numbers are likely to shift, given consumer purchasing trends.

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In the end, it’s hard to tell which mobile OS will come out on top, but we’re surprised that the diaspora of Android devices has made such strides in such a relatively short amount of time.
Have you bought an Android phone, an iPhone or a BlackBerry in the past six months? In the comments, let us know what prompted your decision and whether you’re happy with your choice.





Authored Jolie O'Dell
Header image courtesy of Flickr, jesusbelzunce.
Source

 

[furbearingmammal]

May 6. I got it because I needed a phone I could tether and I was told the Android OS was the next big thing. So I did my pricing and settled on the Droid 1 (the ads helped). In the store they were offering the Palm Pre Plus with free WiFi tethering at the same time I was getting my Droid but I'd already made up my mind. Also, I'd heard the Palm OS was dying. Am I happy with my eventual choice? Oh yeah..... Randy Savage style!

 

[Varking]

In theory, Android should be higher than iOS and is competing more with RIM than Apple. iOS devices are only on one carrier where as there are many Android and Blackberry devices on all networks. Android should pass RIM next year and that will truly be an awesome milestone.

 

[crackedvenom]

it just looked like a kick ass phone, and sure enough it was. i needed a upgrade from my crappy little dumb phone. i def made a good decision.

 

[Bilgediver]

In retrospect, its comparing apples and oranges (yuk yuk). iOs is technically only on one device (iPhone), whereas Android is on multiple devices. Its pretty telling that iOs has so many users when there is only one device and one carrier. Now granted a lot of that is to the over-hype that is Apple (especially the over-hypeness of Mac fanboys/girls who swear up and down by anything made by Apple, but its impressive nonetheless.
[youtube]9BnLbv6QYcA[/youtube]
[video=youtube;9BnLbv6QYcA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BnLbv6QYcA[/video]

That being said, its nice to see Android taking up so much share, especially against Blackberries (while they are all from the same manufacturer, at least they feature across different carriers and multiple phones). What about the Windows Mobile phone Share? I don't mean 7, but I mean 6.

 

[0chilly]

I'd be more interested in seeing the graph of Android phones sold versus iOS phones sold by AT&T only. Since iOS is only available from apple (right now), a graph showing those items would be much more meaningful than what we have here imo.

 

[czerdrill]

I'd be more interested in seeing the graph of Android phones sold versus iOS phones sold by AT&T only. Since iOS is only available from apple (right now), a graph showing those items would be much more meaningful than what we have here imo.

Yep.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[Hot Sauce]

Not to sound like a dissenter, I love my Droid. But are these numbers taking into account the huge number of devices running Android OS versus the One device running iOS? This large number of Android devices sort of fixes the market to lean towards Android more since there are more of them to choose from. I'm dont for a second regret buying my Droid last December and I like seeing new devices that can truly compete with the iPhone both in software and hardware. Just playing devils advocate

 

[Hot Sauce]

0Chilly beat me to the punch! damn, I should have typed faster

 

[jroc]

For the 1 vs many argument......if 1 vs many was the only reason Android is growing so fast....Win Mo wouldnt be lower....in fact Win Mo and Android would be neck in neck if 1 vs many was the only reason for the rapid growth...

Lets just accept the fact that Android is good. The hardware it runs on is good. Especially since the iPhone overtook Win Mo a few times since Dec 2008...Win Mo was on many phones and carriers. In that case was it still apples to oranges?

Smartphone numbers are in: iPhone sales exceed Windows Mobile sales for first time -- Engadget

More People Now Use iPhones Than Windows Mobile

I wish when we do the one vs many argument that we remember that the iPhone passed by Win Mo a few times and kept them in their rear view before Android came on the scene.

 

[czerdrill]

winmo vs android is an example of why one is better than the other...android vs iOS isn't.

 

[jroc]

iPhone vs. Android | Nielsen Wire

Another chart. Check out the 2nd one...even starting 2010 the iPhone was ahead of Win Mo.

 

[jroc]

winmo vs android is an example of why one is better than the other...android vs iOS isn't.

But the 1 vs many argument....ppl always say its cuz its one vs many that Android is growing so fast.......but 1 vs many didnt help Win Mo the last few years...

 

[czerdrill]

winmo vs android is an example of why one is better than the other...android vs iOS isn't.

But the 1 vs many argument....ppl always say its cuz its one vs many that Android is growing so fast.......but 1 vs many didnt help Win Mo the last few years...

yeah i know what you mean, i think i'm just biased....i know that winmo sucks, and nothing could possibly save them hahaa...android vs iOS i'm a little bit more reserved, i love android, but TONS of people love iOS. If the iphone comes to VZW, i'm pretty sure android would be affected negatively

 

[jroc]

And the iPhone passing Win Mo the past few years, and Android now nipping at the iPhone heels?

That doesnt say anything about Android vs iOS?