Following Apple’s earnings call on Tuesday in which Tim Cook stated the company “saw more new customers to iPhone than we’ve ever seen before,” research firm Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) today released (via Fortune) a report delving into the specifics of the Android-to-Apple switching statistics revealed by Apple.
Expectedly, the report – which surveyed 500 Apple device customers inside the U.S. only – notes most Apple iPhone users returned to the company with the newest iteration of the iPhone last year. But the rate of Android switchers migrating platforms to the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus wasn’t much changed.
CIRP notes that the rate of Android switchers has “varied seasonally, yet remained relatively consistent,” and this quarter’s U.S. numbers have the firm speculating the biggest rate of Android-to-Apple switching occurred outside of the U.S.
“Apple CEO Tim Cook indicated the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus ‘experienced the highest Android switcher rate in any of the last three launches.’ The US switch rate for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launch did increase relative to the iPhone 5S/5C launch a year ago, and was about the same as the iPhone 5 launch in 2012. This week, Apple emphasized the international strength of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launch, so it appears that Apple enjoyed a much higher rate of Android switching outside the US than in the more mature US market,” said Mike Levin, Partner and Co-Founder of CIRP.”
Given Apple’s strong position in the smartphone market in the U.S., where there is a strong base of iPhone-to-iPhone upgrades and fewer from Android-to-iPhone, CIRP’s report probably isn’t too far off from fact. Apple’s smaller presence in emerging markets like China, where it has been seeing very strong growth thanks to a few notable partnerships and store openings in the country has likely fueled some overseas brand switching among previously loyal Android users.
