Following previous research suggesting that Android’s growth may be leveling off, a new report from Strategy Analytics reveals that Apple’s smartphone market share continues to rise, while Android’s market share declined last quarter.
From the report:
The Android operating system lost ground to Apple iOS as Android’s market share fell four points on an annual basis to 56 percent. […] its market share is peaking as Apple iOS gains ground. Apple’s US market share has risen by ten points from 23 percent in Q2 2011 to 33 percent in Q2 2012.
The report also notes that overall smartphone shipments fell five percent, which Strategy Analytics states is due to a “volatile economy, maturing penetration of smartphones among contract mobile subscribers, and major operators tightening their upgrade policies to enhance profits were among the main causes of the slowdown.”
Apple’s growth and Android’s decline are especially significant considering that Android represents hundreds of different devices, while Apple only three iPhones. It’s also interesting that Apple is significantly outpacing Apple even mid-cycle, as consumers anxiously anticipate the next iPhone.
It’ll be especially interesting to see what things look like when Apple launches their next iPhone, which is expected to debut in September!
