05/11/2024

Android and iOS: The absolute leaders in the smartphone market

Android and iOS

In the world of mobile technology, the numbers are clear: Android and iOS are the undisputed leaders. According to research by Gartner, these operating systems hold as much as 99.6% of the smartphone market. What does this mean for users, manufacturers, and the world of mobile devices?

Just look at the current numbers – almost every new phone runs one of these two systems. Android with its 81.7% takes the largest part of the cake, while iOS firmly holds 17.9%.

This growth trend has been going on for years: Android and iOS occupied 96.8% of the market.

Android vs. iOS: What’s behind this dominance?

The dominance of these two systems is actually not surprising. Android, an operating system developed by Google, is used on the widest range of devices – from premium models from well-known brands like Samsung and Google Pixel to extremely affordable models designed for developing markets. This adaptability allows Android to cover different price points and performance levels, which is a key advantage.

On the other hand, iOS is used exclusively on Apple devices.

Which allows Apple to create a closed and well-synchronized ecosystem. Regardless of the limited number of models, iOS offers an extremely stable and secure experience. In this quality game, Apple focuses on a specific user base that is loyal to the brand and its ecosystem.

Where are the other players?

While Android and iOS are the absolute rulers of the market, other operating systems barely appear in the statistics.

Windows Mobile and BlackBerry, once significant competitors, are now reduced to a very small percentage share.

Only 0.3% for Windows Phone and slightly less for BlackBerry.

These statistics tell us that practically all operating systems except Android and iOS have left the market.

What is the impact on the smartphone market?

It is interesting that, despite the fact that two operating systems dominate, the smartphone market is growing.

Smartphone sales increased by 7% in the previous quarter, which means that global demand for phones is still growing.

Given the increasing competition among phone manufacturers, we can expect interesting novelties in the coming quarters as well, especially when it comes to innovations and specialized models.

What to expect in the future?

It is clear that iOS and Android will continue to dominate the market, but the question is how their share and functionalities will develop in the future. With increasing competition among phone manufacturers, we can expect Android to continue to target the wider market, while Apple will likely continue to improve its ecosystem, focusing on the user experience.

Although there were once predictions that Windows Mobile or some other operating system could break into the market, the current reality shows that iOS and Android are far ahead. As users, this brings us continuity, but also the ability to choose from a wide range of devices – from the superior performance and personalization capabilities of Android to the stability and ecosystem benefits of iOS.

So, while Android and iOS continue their market dominance, we can ask ourselves – will a third player manage to shake their position in the coming years?