According to a new report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), the iPhone‘s share of new smartphone activations in the US has dropped to levels not seen since 2017.
iPhone Activations in US Hit 6-Year Low
The data shows that in Q1 2024, only 33% of new smartphone activations were iPhones, compared to a peak of 40% in Q1 and Q2 2023. This means two out of every three new smartphones activated were Android devices.
CIRP believes several factors have contributed to this decline in iPhone activations. Firstly, while the overall installed base of iPhones remains high, the lack of major new features in recent iPhone releases has made users less compelled to upgrade.
Another is the increased quality and longevity of newer iPhone models means users can go longer between upgrades compared to several years ago.
Additionally, more transparent phone financing plans have motivated many to extract maximum value from their current phones before upgrading, impacting iPhone upgrades more than Android.
FAQ:
Q: Why has iPhone’s activation market share dropped according to CIRP?
A: Factors like lack of major new iPhone features, increased iPhone quality/longevity, and more visible phone financing plans have discouraged frequent upgrades.
Q: How does iPhone’s 33% activation share in Q1 2024 compare to previous years?
A: It’s the lowest level since 2017, down from a 40% peak in Q1 and Q2 2023.
Q: Does this mean Android has overtaken iPhone’s total installed base?
A: No, CIRP believes iPhone’s total installed smartphone base remains higher than this activation share, which only measures new device activations.
Emman has been writing technical and feature articles since 2010. Prior to this, he became one of the instructors at Asia Pacific College in 2008, and eventually landed a job as Business Analyst and Technical Writer at Integrated Open Source Solutions for almost 3 years.
