Android users defect to iPhone 6s at unprecedented rate

Android users seems to love iPhone 6s. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Android users seems to love iPhone 6s. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Apple’s iPhone family becomes even more successful every year, and the latest models aren’t just a hit with faithful fans. According to new research, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus are attracting Android switchers at an unprecedented rate.

The latest figures from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) suggest that 26 percent of people buying an iPhone 6s during its first month of availability were switching from an Android device. That’s more than double the rate of switchers to iPhone 6, which was just 12 percent.

“The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus launch attracted a greater percentage of Android owners compared to a year ago,” said Mike Levin, co-founder of CIRP.

“This says a little more about the very hot iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launch, which motivated more iPhone upgrades than in previous years. The share of buyers coming from the Android platform for this launch more resembles the long-term trend in Android and iOS switching.”

CIRP expects this trend to continue, then, and for the iPhone to slowly but surely eat away at Android’s market share. It seems unlikely to think that iOS could ever take over, given the sheer number of affordable devices running Android — but it could steal the high-end market.

That might be a slightly easier mission for Apple with Samsung’s smartphone sales falling, but the Galaxy maker — and many other Android vendors — will be working to ensure that doesn’t happen.