Android’s Fanbase Grows in 3 Countries While iPhone Suffers Decline

Apple is often quick to tout that its considerably larger, 4.7- and 5.5-inch iPhones, are doing a bang-up job in terms of attracting customers looking to make the switch to iOS from Google’s Android.

However, many recent assessments of the actual extent to which that claim is valid have revealed that the Cupertino, California iPhone maker, unfortunately, is perhaps doing a bit too little, too late.

After all, even the iPhone SE — which the company believed would appeal to a much broader audience of consumers looking for a smaller, more compact device, has been met with somewhat lackluster response. Though, in the munchkin’s defense, it has so far performed well in emerging markets like China and Russia.

All things considered, though, the iPhone SE — albeit an attractive option in certain markets — certainly won’t be enough to reverse the tides that are currently washing up on the shores of Apple’s Silicon Valley neighbor, Google. Indeed, as demand for Apple’s iPhone continues to taper off from its all-time high, Google’s Android has come to the table, in full force, attracting an increasing share of the market in certain locales — and thus, pouring a heaping dose of salt on Apple’s wounds.

One of these assessments, for instance, which was carried out by the research firm, Kantar Worldpanel, shows us in its latest smartphone platform figures report (closing at the end of February, 2016), that Google’s Android has expanded its reach in several key markets around the world.

In the competitive U.S. market, in particular, Android’s share rose a modest 3.3 percent, year-over-year, while iOS and Windows Phone saw their shares decline by 0.5 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively. To that end, in the Chinese market, Android also grew by 3.4 percent, whereas the iPhone’s share fell a near equitable 3.2 percent.

That should come as somewhat of an alarm, since China is often seen as a booming opportunity for Apple — especially now, with the affordable iPhone SE hot-off-the-presses.

Android saw its biggest growth spurt in Europe’s five biggest markets — Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, however, where it increased by a whopping 6.7 percent, year-over-year. As such, Apple’s iPhone share fell by 1.8 percent during the same timeframe, and Windows Phone fell 4.2 percent.

Rounding out the list, is Australia — where the iPhone’s share grew by just 0.3 percent, Android trounced that with an incomparable 3.8 percent increase. However, Apple’s iPhone, was able to best Android in Japan — where it grew by 0.4 percent to Android’s 0.3 percent increase, respectively.

Kantar is holding steadfast to its belief that the iPhone SE can make a big difference in China, though — where the more affordable smartphone offerings often succeed the most. Most Chinese users simply can’t afford the $650-750 base price of Apple’s iPhone, so the $399 price tag for the 4-inch iPhone SE is, for many, a way to finally hop aboard the iOS bandwagon after many years of not being able to because of economic limitations.

As Kantar notes: “This represents a unique opportunity for the newly launched iPhone SE, which, at a $399 price point, will likely appeal to more cost-conscious, first-time smartphone buyers who might otherwise be more inclined to pick up an Android smartphone.”

What exactly the future holds for Apple’s iPhone is still a bit up in the air at this point. However, with high-expectations for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus — which should be coming to market sometime this fall, Apple could potentially swing the pendulum back in its favor by delivering a device that far exceeds the expectations of most users, as we are anticipating that it will.

Learn More: 5 Things You’re Doing Wrong on Your iPhone

Have you given Android a try? What brought you back to iPhone? Let us know in the comments below.