iPhone 7 Devices Selling Well, But Not Effective In Converting Android Users

As expected, the latest iPhone models -- the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus -- emerged victors after the busy holiday shopping season. But like what the previous models (the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus) have experienced the year before, the current flagship devices from Apple were not that effective in attracting Android mobile users. 

According to a report released by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), during the final quarter of last year, the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus captured a pretty remarkable 72 percent share of all iPhone sales in the United States. However, only 15 percent of those who purchased iPhone 7 devices were previously Android mobile users. The remaining buyer population consisted of previously iPhone users.

It should be made clear that officially, Apple has not revealed sales figures for its newest flagship offerings yet. Because of this, industry watchers and market researchers are left with no choice but to conduct retail checks themselves in order to make a reasonable projection how many iPhone 7 devices have been sold so far. Take CIRP for instance -- the research firm conducted a poll on 500 Apple customers based in the US, specifically those who made an iPhone purchase during the last three months of 2016.

Selling iPhone devices is the mission for Apple, but perhaps being able to convert Android users into iPhone owners is a much sweeter endeavor. Despite Apple (and its iOS) being a true global brand, Android remains the most widely used mobile operating system in the world. For Apple, winning over Android users is proof that its products are more favored compared to any device Android phone makers can offer. 

Back in the winter of 2015, a lot of people bought the company’s iPhone 6s devices, but like the recent iPhone 7 models, only 14 percent of iPhone 6s buyers were formerly Android users. Another earlier report from CIRP had shown that Apple’s total share of smartphone activations in America is at 34 percent, barely edging the 33 percent share captured by Samsung, the world’s biggest seller of smartphone devices (and they are powered by Android). This just goes to show that even with Apple’s might, the worldwide smartphone industry really is one competitive industry.

Still, if it is any comfort to Apple, it did manage to have more buyers purchased higher priced iPhone devices compared to cheaper models, such as the iPhone SE.