iPhone loyalty rates reached a record 87% as fewer Android users switched.
Data from CIRP shows that the Apple ecosystem is becoming increasingly robust with a record loyalty rate of 87%, while the number of Android users switching to iPhone is gradually decreasing.
According to the latest data from research firm Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), the percentage of iPhone users who continue to use their devices reached 87% in the first quarter of 2026. This is the highest figure in the past three years, a significant increase from 84% in the same period last year and 85% at the beginning of 2024.
This increase shows that smartphone ecosystems have become extremely stable. Instead of constantly switching platforms, the majority of users now tend to be loyal to the operating system they are familiar with, reinforcing Apple's leading position in the premium customer segment.
Reasons behind the decline in the wave of switching from Android
The CIRP report also highlighted a noteworthy fact: only 12% of new iPhone buyers in the March quarter were users switching from Android devices. This figure was slightly down from 14% the previous year. The remaining 1% were either basic phone users or first-time smartphone buyers.
Analysts believe the smartphone market has entered a saturation phase, where switching between platforms is becoming increasingly less common. The main reasons lie in the technical barriers and the inconvenience of transferring data, applications, accessories, and digital transactions already performed on the old operating system. Consumers tend to stick with the operating system they are familiar with to avoid the time and effort of switching.
Apple's future strategy and the challenge for its competitors.
Based on these figures, experts believe that Apple's future growth will depend more on encouraging existing users to upgrade to newer models, rather than relying on a large influx of new customers switching from Android. Its closed ecosystem and user engagement are the biggest competitive advantages of the American tech giant.
Conversely, for competitors like Google, convincing long-time iPhone users to switch to models like the Pixel 10 remains an extremely challenging task. Although Android flagships are increasingly sophisticated in terms of features, the ecosystem "wall" that Apple has built seems incredibly difficult to penetrate.
However, it should be noted that CIRP does not disclose the sample size or margin of error of these figures. Nevertheless, the results clearly reflect the polarization and stability trends of the global smartphone market at present.
