iOS App Launches Twice As Many As Android’s, Per New Study

What is the difference between iOS users and Android users? Well, according to a new study, iOS users appear to install, use, and even pay for more mobile apps compared to Android users.

The said study was conducted by Adobe Digital Index, which collected new data from more than 700 million apps sessions. The results of its study suggests that out of all app launches, 65 percent of them are iOS, while only 34 percent are of Android. The study further offered that on average, an iOS app is used twice as long as an Android app.

But before you die-hard iOS fans celebrate, the study also noted that the usage growth of Android apps is exceedingly high. According to Adobe Digital Index's findings, use of Android apps has increased 80 percent over the year. As for the iOS app usage growth, it has been estimated at 40 percent. This could mean that in a few years, Android apps may catch up with their iOS apps after all. 

The information presented by Adobe Digital Index is not exactly surprising. In terms of usage, iOS has been lording it over Android in both app usage and overall smartphone usage. Not only that, iOS also leads in mobile Internet surfing, and the iOS App Store also makes more money for developers. But despite all these, Android still enjoys the biggest market share in the world.

What gives? Unfortunately, Adobe Digital Index's study does not offer any explanation. It is possible that early iPhone owners were not as budget-conscious compared now in purchasing iOS apps here and there. And when they had already acquired the apps, they must have realized that it would be better to make full use of the apps they paid good money for.

As for Android's near-universal popularity -- well, suffice it to say that the range of devices that run on Android is immensely diverse. Whether your handset has high-quality specifications, or low-end parts, it is bound to run on Android (unless it is made my Apple or Microsoft). 

But why the low app usage on Android? Perhaps those who get low-end Android devices never think of using its apps. Maybe they just need an Android handset for minimum mobile requirements, i.e. call, text, and nothing much else. 

Another thing that Adobe Digital Index's study looked into is the more than 18 billion visits made to over 10,000 US websites and apps. In the process, it managed to shed light on shopping from smartphones and tablets.

For instance, Adobe Digital Index found out that 23 percent of purchases made via smartphones were done through alternative payment methods such as Apple Pay, Google Wallet, or PayPal. Also, the findings show that only 16 percent pay using digital wallets on desktops, and only 19 percent do it on tablets. On top of all that, cart completion increases by 10 percent when digital wallet payment options are present.