According to new information presented by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), there is evidence suggesting that mobile users who own Android powered devices display better brand loyalty than their iOS counterparts. CIRP also took the opportunity to point out that loyalty among Android using consumers has been remaining consistently high since the first half of 2016, and seems to show no sign of decreasing soon.
As indicated in CIRP’s report (you can view the PDF version here), the Android mobile operating system currently possesses a stunning 91 percent loyalty rate. While it is true that the iOS platform’s 86 percent loyalty rate is nothing to scoff at, Google’s platform is certainly enjoying a clear edge over rival Apple’s, at least when based on CIRP’s findings. By the way, CIRP evaluates mobile users’ loyalty rate by measuring the percentage of consumers based in the United States who have decided to stay with their mobile operating system when they upgraded their handset last year.
Within the two year period that stretched from January 2016 to December of last year, Android’s loyalty rate never dipped below 89 percent. By the time the year 2017 had wrapped up, Android’s loyalty rate was at a confident 91 percent. CIRP’s report shows that it was a bit of a different story with iOS -- in the same period, iOS’ loyalty rate ranged from 85 percent to 88 percent, before finally settling at 86 percent as of December 2017.
Still, it appears that most of today’s mobile users have clearly made up their minds already with regards to which mobile platform to choose and maybe for the long term. Sure, Android’s 91 percent loyalty rate may have one upped iOS’ 86 percent, but that 86 percent is still a very high loyalty rate regardless.
As elucidated by Mike Levin, the co-founder of CIRP, the high loyalty rate in both mobile operating systems is helped immensely by the fact that consumers basically only have two clear options -- pick Android or iOS. Of course, both Google and Apple will have to continue to explore new ways in which they can keep their respective customers happy, or contented enough not to consider going to the other side, so to speak.
And it seems that one key to achieving just that is through an increased focus on services, not only on hardware or software offerings. Apple is certainly starting to reap the benefits of recent efforts to boost its services division. Around four months ago, the iPhone maker saw its revenues from services reach new heights, buoyed by its customers continuing to avail of brands such as Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, AppleCare, and the App Store.
