Nielsen: iOS Narrows Gap Between Android

[Michael Essany]

On Wednesday, venerable research firm Nielsen published new data showing that the popularity of Apple’s iPhone 4S continues to help narrow the once extremely wide gap between iOS and Android market shares.

Recent smartphone buyers (defined by Nielsen as people who bought a new device within the past three months) are all about the iPhone 4S. 44.5 percent of these new smartphone buyers surveyed in December said they chose an iPhone. Only 25.1 percent picked the iPhone in October.

What's more, 57 percent of new iPhone owners surveyed said they got an iPhone 4S last month. As a result, among recent smartphone acquirers, the race for leading smartphone operating system share is a virtual dead heat with Apple claiming 44.5% to Android's 46.9%.

Although Android continues to retain the lead among all smartphone users, the dominance Android once enjoyed is quickly dissipating as iOS-device ownership surges into 2012.

Source: Nielsen

[The6uest]

Poor RIM.. they been around since the time of pagers and now they're going down.

[AUZambo]

Poor RIM.. they been around since the time of pagers and now they're going down.

Yep...they're a great example of what happens when you don't progress with the technology. I do vaguely remember a touchscreen blackberry a while ago, but it was too little too late.

I have to admit, I get a wry grin on my face when I see these market share numbers....not too long ago the apple haters hung their hat on the fact that Android had a huge, insurmountable lead in market share.

What now, suckazzzzzzz?

[towboattrash34]

And the fact most Free phones are android

[duromega]

Yep...they're a great example of what happens when you don't progress with the technology. I do vaguely remember a touchscreen blackberry a while ago, but it was too little too late.

I have to admit, I get a wry grin on my face when I see these market share numbers....not too long ago the apple haters hung their hat on the fact that Android had a huge, insurmountable lead in market share.

What now, suckazzzzzzz?

hahahaha

[redstar299]

That's some fair race; Andriod has dozens of phones, a lot of them free and they're on 4 major networks and Apple is only on 3

[Johnnytucats]

Ahh...this graph is per-month purchases and not the cumulative numbers. Wonder what the overall looks like.

[fleurya]

Interesting. I thought Android would just continue to pull away. I wonder how much of this surge is due to the older models that are cheaper/free vs the 4S on its own.

In a way I'm glad Apple is offering cheaper options to shore up it's market share and keep the competition lively, but I'm also concerned how this will effect development of future apps and capabilities or future versions of iOS. I don't want to be handicapped by older handsets.

[celeron]

That's some fair race; Andriod has dozens of phones, a lot of them free and they're on 4 major networks and Apple is only on 3

Yea, agree

[Painkiller006]

Yep...they're a great example of what happens when you don't progress with the technology. I do vaguely remember a touchscreen blackberry a while ago, but it was too little too late.

I have to admit, I get a wry grin on my face when I see these market share numbers....not too long ago the apple haters hung their hat on the fact that Android had a huge, insurmountable lead in market share.

What now, suckazzzzzzz?

Android still has the lead, What now, suckazzzzzzz?

[Cheesey123]

Android still has the lead, What now, suckazzzzzzz?

Attachment 561348

1 manufacture (apple) v at least 6 others that I can think of so apples IOS being so close to android is an accomplishment in its self,like I always say each to there own its preference.

[Painkiller006]

1 manufacture (apple) v at least 6 others that I can think of so apples IOS being so close to android is an accomplishment in its self,like I always say each to there own its preference.

The graph is only from Oct till Dec for new acquirers, overall Android still has the lead. Agreed, to each their own. Give me an iphone with a keyboard, and with the ability to have as much customization as Android and ill buy it! Also, a larger screen like that beautiful screen the Galaxy S II has xD

[albo23]

I actually never knew Android had such a huge margin.

[Moreno53]

The graph is only from Oct till Dec for new acquirers, overall Android still has the lead. Agreed, to each their own. Give me an iphone with a keyboard, and with the ability to have as much customization as Android and ill buy it! Also, a larger screen like that beautiful screen the Galaxy S II has xD

Your not familiar with reading graphs are you. An the phone you just described sounds absolutely depressing....a slide out keyboard? Welcome to 2005.

[NegativeBeef]

Your not familiar with reading graphs are you. An the phone you just described sounds absolutely depressing....a slide out keyboard? Welcome to 2005.

Actually it is you who can't read graphs. That graph clearly shows the the percentage share for recent acquirers. Android still has a huge lead over iOS.

[Painkiller006]

Your not familiar with reading graphs are you. An the phone you just described sounds absolutely depressing....a slide out keyboard? Welcome to 2005.

An iphone that can be greatly customize, and a larger screen sound depressing.....wow, guess you like dull things. Have you seen the screen on the Galaxy S II, and not everyone likes touch screens btw. Like the above poster said, I think you are the one who can't read the graph or are the letters too small on that tiny iphone screen you have?

[AUZambo]

Android still has the lead, What now, suckazzzzzzz?

Attachment 561348

Sometimes the momentum or current trend is more important than the actual score. If you're a sports fan you are well aware of this.

Of course, as has been pointed out, this only represents purchases in the last few months. It will be interesting to see if the trend continues, and if so how long it will take Apple to take the overall lead in market share.

Having done no research whatsoever, I'm guessing Android built that huge lead because the iPhone was only sold through AT&T. Now that Verizon and Sprint users have that option the gap will narrow, as it already has in the past 3 months.