The Android operating system has an 83% market share

[wirelessenabled]

So when is there going to be an Android forum?

We have an Apple forum for the 15% market share Apple currently has.

https://www.idc.com/promo/smartphone-market-share/os

 

[v-600]

Hi

https://androidforums.com/

https://forums.androidcentral.com/

https://www.androidauthority.com/community/

https://forum.xda-developers.com/

You're welcome

 

[v-600]

Also, I think the ratio is nearer 1:2 (ios:android) if you look at number of active devices rather than devices shipped. Given that Apple are the only makers of ios devices and you're right, its an Apple subforum rather than an ios one, it would make a lot more sense to have an LG forum for their tiny market share, an HTC forum, a samsung forum rather than an Android forum.

I guess Android being Open Source and fairly flexible means it does end up powering a fair few Mobile Devices and Gadgets so you could check there too.

 

[Commodus]

There doesn't really need to be when it's the majority platform, as far as I'm concerned... if you ask a question here in MD&G, the odds are that you'll find someone to help.

That and the All Things Apple forum covers everything Apple-related, including Macs and Apple Watches. You'd really need an All Things Google section for that to work.

 

[shortylickens]

Theres millions of poor people with cheap crappy phones running Donut and have no real internet access they just like playing Candy Crush.
So dont read too much into it.

 

[hans007]

Also, I think the ratio is nearer 1:2 (ios:android) if you look at number of active devices rather than devices shipped. Given that Apple are the only makers of ios devices and you're right, its an Apple subforum rather than an ios one, it would make a lot more sense to have an LG forum for their tiny market share, an HTC forum, a samsung forum rather than an Android forum.

I guess Android being Open Source and fairly flexible means it does end up powering a fair few Mobile Devices and Gadgets so you could check there too.

that link is for phones shipped in q1 2017, so i would assume they were all brand new phones so they'd all be active.


I'm an android dev, and well depending on the country the android market share can be in the high 90% and its a very economics driven thing. for example mexico is like 95% android from the last time i looked it up. even a relatively more wealthy but not united state level wealthy place like spain is 90% android. Germany is even in the 70s range.

It is kind of weird actually where ios has big share, ..... mostly english speaking countries and wealthier european ones like say the netherlands where its maybe close to 40% ios.

That said.... the company I work for currently is a company that only writes apps for the US currently. We cater to basically a lower income demographic, and I know for a fact our android to ios share on mobile is in the 3:1 range . Its the same with android based platforms for set top boxes vs apple tv

 

[Ryan Smith]

So when is there going to be an Android forum?

We have an Apple forum for the 15% market share Apple currently has.

The Apple forums was created back when Apple only sold computers and iPods. It's a good place for iOS discussion as well, but that wasn't the point when it was created.

Meanwhile we have this wonderful mobile forum, which is a great place for Android-related discussion. If you disagree, we'll listen. But I don't see a dedicated Android forum improving anything when this is already a de-facto Android forum.

 

[Commodus]

that link is for phones shipped in q1 2017, so i would assume they were all brand new phones so they'd all be active.

I'm an android dev, and well depending on the country the android market share can be in the high 90% and its a very economics driven thing. for example mexico is like 95% android from the last time i looked it up. even a relatively more wealthy but not united state level wealthy place like spain is 90% android. Germany is even in the 70s range.

It is kind of weird actually where ios has big share, ..... mostly english speaking countries and wealthier european ones like say the netherlands where its maybe close to 40% ios.

That said.... the company I work for currently is a company that only writes apps for the US currently. We cater to basically a lower income demographic, and I know for a fact our android to ios share on mobile is in the 3:1 range . Its the same with android based platforms for set top boxes vs apple tv

That's what always gets me about the people who claim that Android market share is "proof" that people prefer more OS flexibility, or greater variety in design, or removable storage, or... no, it's frequently because Android is the only option for the phone that costs $150 off-contract. It doesn't matter what you actually want if your bank account dictates otherwise. That's why Apple's market share tends to be much larger in wealthier nations, where a $700 phone won't usually break the bank... especially not if it's paid off through instalments.

Not to say those other factors don't ever come into play (microSD helps when a low-cost phone has very little storage), but enthusiasts tend to think they have more importance than they really do. Much like how some gamers insist that a PC can't be good unless it has a dedicated GPU, they're conflating their personal tastes with those of the rest of the planet. For many, a phone is just an appliance -- they couldn't care less about openness. They're more likely to care that it runs quickly and takes good photos.

 

[v-600]

it's frequently because Android is the only option for the phone that costs $150 off-contract. It doesn't matter what you actually want if your bank account dictates otherwise....They're more likely to care that it runs quickly and takes good photos.

Couldn't agree more - Price is a feature in the same way OS, camera, screen size are.

 

[WelshBloke]

That's what always gets me about the people who claim that Android market share is "proof" that people prefer more OS flexibility, or greater variety in design, or removable storage, or... no, it's frequently because Android is the only option for the phone that costs $150 off-contract.

That is an example of variety in design.

 

[Commodus]

That is an example of variety in design.

I was thinking more of screen sizes, form factors, that sort of thing... but yeah, I know what you mean.

 

[gorcorps]

The last thing this place needs is more friggin forums.

 

[sandorski]

It's like Mac vs IBM PC all over again. Open designs have the advantage in the longterm.

 

[hans007]

It's like Mac vs IBM PC all over again. Open designs have the advantage in the longterm.

I remember saying this back when the iphone and G1 were out. I got a G1, got laughed at by my tech friends in the bay area at the time for buying a ridiculously ugly phone when they all had iphones.

Ultimately I have always though android wasnt that hard to use, and its much easier now especially if you don't switch brands (normal people who switch between say a motorola and a samsung phone... well all the menus and stuff are in different places because touchwiz etc..... )

ios users have always found everything in roughly the same places because ios has barely changed since it came out other than adding a notification bar.

But the cost factor in the vast majority of countries matters. And in rich countries I think apple is so associated with english speaking that if you look at statistics even in rich non english countries apple has less share (i'm talking say germany, france, korea obviously, japan, vs say the UK, new zealand, australia, canada etc which have relatively higher ios usage given they are all roughly equivalent GDP per capita places)

 

[hans007]

That is an example of variety in design.

Part of it is variety of design, and part of it is not.

I mean you could probably get an iphone SE on a wide variety of prepaid carriers like at&t prepaid / gophone and i've seen prices as low as $150-200 at stores.

But... at $150-200 at this point in smartphones android phones are easy enough to use, and for $150 you are getting a 4" iphone vs like say a 5.5" moto G5 etc. For most people, they are both $150, but a phone with a bigger screen is more value for their $150 (and people with only $150 to spend are much more conscious of this)

 

[wirelessenabled]

Thanks for all the comments!