iPhone loyalty rises to 87%, fewer people switch to Android

The latest survey from market research firm CIRP shows that the loyalty of iPhone users reached 87% in the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 3 percentage points from the same period last year. The data points out that only 12% of new iPhone buyers come from the Android platform, with the remaining 1% coming from feature phones, other smartphone platforms, or first-time smartphone buyers. That means iPhone users' willingness to stay on the platform continues to grow, with the share of Android switchers remaining in a narrow range of 11% to 15%, well below the massive influx of users in the early years of iPhone expansion. Loyalty reaches new heights CIRP tracks platform switching trends over time by accessing the device types of new iPhone buyers before purchasing. At the beginning of 2024, Android conversion rate was 13% and loyalty was 85%; while the latest data shows that loyalty has climbed further to 87% and Android conversion rate has dropped to 12%. The agency pointed out that most smartphone users have long been fixed on a certain platform, and only a few people change camps every year. This phenomenon is consistent with the conclusions of other research reports. Future strategy implications Apple will launch its overhauled artificial intelligence assistant Siri AI in iOS 27 later this year, a move that is expected to further entrench existing users. On the other hand, attracting Android users to switch is still a separate challenge, but Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone will bring a new form factor that may attract some existing Android foldable phone users.