iPhone owners are far more loyal than Android users
These days, it's not a stretch to argue that the best Android phones are out-designing the iPhone. Devices like Samsung's Galaxy S8 have features that just aren't available on Apple's flagships, for example.
When it comes to the metrics that matter most, though, Apple is in front. Not only does it take the lion's share of the smartphone industry's profits, iPhone owners remain far more loyal than any Android counterpart.
According to a recent Morgan Stanley survey charted for us by Statista, 92% of iPhone owners who plan to get a new phone in the next 12 months say they're "somewhat or extremely likely" to stick with Apple. That's up from last year, when that number was 86%. Samsung comes in second with a 77% retention rate, which is easily the highest for an Android brand, but still a ways behind. The likes of LG, Motorola, and Nokia are closer to 50/50, if not lower.
There are many ways to explain this: The Android market is defined by competition, while iOS is Apple's alone; Apple has done very well to fashion itself as an aspirational lifestyle brand; iPhones themselves are just great devices; transitioning away from iMessage is an absolute nightmare, and so on. Whatever the case, Apple can feel confident that its grip on the high-end phone market isn't slipping anytime soon.
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