Following its report that showed Android users pivoting to iPhone at a 5-year high, CIRP is out today with a study that reveals why people are making the switch. Have a guess at the number one reason? Hint, it’s not iMessage.
The last report from CIRP showed that 15% of new iPhone buyers in the US are coming from Android. Now the firm has published a follow-up on its Substack that reveals why Android users in the US are jumping ship.
While iMessage’s blue bubbles are often talked about as a driving force for iPhone (as well as lock-in), interestingly, that was the least cited reason for switching.
The top reason was actually an issue with the Android experience. Over 53% of respondents said they moved to iPhone because of problems with their Android smartphone. Specifics cited were “their old phone did not serve them, because it was aging, needed repair, or had some deficiency that affected their user experience.”
The second most common reason to switch was for new features on iPhone like “a better camera, enhanced accessory options, or a more intuitive user interface.”
Top comment by Hector DeJesus (Default UserOne)
I switched because of the issues with the Note 7 and how I was treated. Carrier gave me a temporary Galaxy phone while the Note 7 was being recalled. Since the Note 7 was discontinued, they failed to honor what they said and I ended up with a used, mid-tier phone with a cracked screen for the next two years. No option to upgrade to the Note 8.
After that, I switched to the Pixel XL and had mic issues with ALL 5 units that I received. The response from Google was to "use a BT headset"... Even with that, I still bought a Pixel 3 XL and had random reboots and eventually an update bricked two of three phones that we had.
Switched to iOS and never looked back.
While mid and low-tier Android smartphones can be purchased for less than iPhones, 15% of those surveyed said they believed they spent “less on a new iPhone than they expected or than on a comparable Android smartphone.” CIRP says that was thanks to customers finding discounts on iPhones.
Finally, just 6% of those who switched from Android to iPhone said they made the move because of iMessage and FaceTime.
While this could be a relatively small sample compared to the big picture of US users, it suggests that the issue of blue bubbles could be exaggerated among the tech community and average users don’t see it as much of a problem.
However, while it may not be a draw to switch to iPhone, iMessage may become a compelling reason to stay once new users get used to it.
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