iPhone activation share declines in the US. Android dominates – iPhone Mania

Research firm Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) hasiPhoneand AndroidNumber of activation unitsA comparison report has been published. According to the latest report, in the US smartphone market,last year’siPhoneThe number of new activations has fallen to the lowest level not seen in the past six years.It became clear.

Decreased from 40% to 33% in the past year

CIRP estimates that Apple’s smartphone installed base is based on recent smartphones in the United States.Number of activation unitsHowever, the latter has declined from 40% to 33% in the past year.

In the past, when competing products such as Blackberry and Windows-based smartphones were popular,iPhoneThe activation share remained at around one-third. Apple’s market share had been steadily increasing until the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has now returned to the same level as six years ago, with iPhones at about one-third and Android at about two-thirds. Masu.

Are the rising prices and improved durability of smartphones having an impact?

CIRP points out that the reason for Apple’s share decline is the recent increase in smartphone prices and improved durability. Additionally, iPhone quality improvements are slowing and new features are declining, coupled with a shift from two-year subsidized purchases to more transparent purchasing plans, which means consumers are likely to keep their devices longer. I started using it again. CIRP seems to think that these factors may have more of an impact on iPhone sales than Android.

This report covers the 12-month period ending at the end of each quarter and includes data from CIRP’s quarterly survey of mobile phone customers. According to CIRP, the aim of this approach is to eliminate seasonal fluctuations associated with new model sales and the holiday season, and provide a clearer picture of ongoing trends.

Will there be a turnaround with the arrival of iOS18?

Although the number of new iPhone activations in the US decreased last year, Apple plans to release iOS 18 with artificial intelligence (AI) features in 2024, potentially the biggest update in iPhone history.

Initially, it was expected that the combination of iPhone 16 and iOS 18 would significantly enhance AI functions, but recent reports indicate that AI-related functions of iPhone 16 may not reach user expectations. It has been pointed out that this may cause a decrease in the number of units shipped.

Although drastic improvements in AI-related functions may have to wait until the iPhone 17 series, I personally think that significant enhancements in AI functions will have a significant impact on iPhone sales.

With the enhancement of AI functions, the iPhone activation share may start to rise in 2024 or 2025.

Source: MacRumors via CIRP
Photo: CIRP