iPhone Now Makes Up the Majority of U.S. Smartphones
One of the most iconic tech moments of the 21st century is Steve Jobs, in his signature black turtleneck, holding up a small device: the iPhone. Since that introduction at the 2007 Macworld conference in San Francisco, iPhone has gone on to become a global phenomenon, with over 1.2 billion units now sold around the world.
Today, the smartphone market is a fiercely competitive space. On a global scale, iPhone has carved out a respectable 16% of the smartphone market. In the U.S., however, the iPhone has managed to win the hearts and minds of more consumers.
New data from Counterpoint Research via FT notes that iPhones now make up 50% of the overall installed user base* in the United States. With a plethora of smartphone brands available to American consumers—and many at lower price points—what is it that makes this brand so popular?
“Installed user base” is a statistic that is particularly interesting because it looks at all the devices that are still in use, not just those that were sold during a given period.
iPhone: The Apple of America’s Eye
“Installed user base” is a statistic that is particularly interesting because it looks at all the devices that are still in use, not just those that were sold during a given period.
Apple has the highest brand loyalty of any major smartphone maker. 9 in 10 iPhone users in the United States plan to purchase an iPhone as their next device.
iPhones appear to depreciate at a slower rate than other devices. This means that they retain their value better over time.
Broadly speaking, consumers in the United States have less price sensitivity than consumers in many other countries. This means that they are willing to pay more for a product that they perceive to be of high quality.
Apple has been vocal in its messaging about protecting user privacy and data, and that message appears to be resonating with consumers. This is a key issue for many people when choosing a smartphone, and Apple is seen as a leader in this area.
Winning the Privacy War
As concerns about personal data protection and cybersecurity have grown in recent years, so has Apple’s commitment to security. While no device is 100% secure and breaches can happen to any user, a recent survey by Beyond Identity found that iPhone users are less likely to be affected by security breaches and more likely to recover data if a breach does occur.
The survey points out that iPhone users were less likely to have sensitive data, such as images and videos, credit card information, passwords, and personal data compromised when breaches occurred. In light of these findings, Apple has been working to brand its devices as safe and secure. The “Privacy. That’s iPhone.” campaign launched in 2019, and most recently, Apple has put the data broker industry in its crosshairs through a new series of ad spots.
These efforts appear to be paying off, as the latest installed user base numbers show. Whether or not iPhone is more secure than other devices, Apple has managed to sway public opinion on the matter. And in today’s climate, where Americans are more focused on privacy than ever, that’s a big win.