Android vs. Apple Market Share: Leading Mobile Operating Systems (OS) (Mar 2023)

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Did you know that Google’s Android is the most popular mobile operating system around the globe? Apple’s iOS, however, reigns supreme in the United States. Android takes the top spot at 71.95% market share globally, beating iOS by a 43.94% share. Meanwhile, in the US, Apple continues to dominate at 57.78% market share, beating Android by a 15.9% share.

Let’s delve into the market share of our devices’ two major operating systems – iOS, which powers iPhones, and Android, which powers many phones manufactured by many companies.

Operating SystemMarket Share in Q1 2023 (%)
Android71.95
iOS27.42
Samsung0.34
Unknown0.13
KaiOS0.1
Windows0.02
Linux0.01
Other0.02

In Q1 2023, Android remains the most popular operating system in the world, with a 71.62% market share, followed by its main competitor, iOS, with 27.73%. Samsung comes third with 0.35%, KaiOS with 0.1%, Windows with 0.02%, and Linux with 0.01%.

Editors Picks:

  • Android: Android continues to reign in the operating system market worldwide, with a 71.95% market share in Q1 2023.
  • Android: Android generated its highest-ever share with 75.47% and shipped 1.33 billion Android devices with 87.49% smartphone sales in 2019.
  • iOS: Apple’s iOS takes the second largest market share for operating systems worldwide at 27.71% shares. It follows behind Android with a huge 43.94% difference in shares.
  • iOS: In Q1 2023, iOS led with a 57.75% market share in the US, while Android generated 41.88% shares, a difference of 15.87% shares. IOS has dominated the US operating system market since 2009 up until the present.
  • iOS: A 1.32% increase in the US iOS market share in Q3 2022 might have been due to the 51.9 million iOS devices shipped worldwide that quarter, an additional 7.3 million units compared to the previous quarter.

Android vs. iOS Market Share

Which Mobile OS Has the Most Users Worldwide?

Operating SystemMarket Share in Q1 2023 (%)
Android71.65
iOS27.71
Android vs. iOS Market Share
Data Table
Operating SystemMarket Share in Q1 2023 (%)
Android71.65
iOS27.71
Data Graphic
Android vs. iOS Market Share

Android continues to reign in the global market with a 71.65% market share in Q1 2023, while iOS has 27.71% of the mobile operating system users.

Android is an open-source platform owned by Google that can be adapted and used by many smartphone brands. It is one of the reasons why Android rules the mobile operating system market. Meanwhile, iOS is developed for Apple products only.

Android vs. iPhone Market Share Worldwide (2009-2023)

YearAndroid (%)iOS (%)
202371.6527.71
202271.4727.85
202171.8927.34
202073.0626.28
201975.4722.71
201875.4520.47
201772.6319.65
201669.1119.29
201564.220.2
201453.6523.95
201339.2124.03
201227.4124.04
20111922.29
20108.8225.48
20092.4134.01
Android vs. iPhone Market Share Worldwide (2009-2023)
Data Table
YearAndroid (%)iOS (%)
202371.6527.71
202271.4727.85
202171.8927.34
202073.0626.28
201975.4722.71
201875.4520.47
201772.6319.65
201669.1119.29
201564.220.2
201453.6523.95
201339.2124.03
201227.4124.04
20111922.29
20108.8225.48
20092.4134.01
Data Graphic
Android vs. iPhone Market Share Worldwide (2009-2023)

Android started its top position in the global market in 2012, beating iOS by 3.37%. It has continued to dominate the mobile operating system market ever since. Over the last fourteen years, Android grew by 69.24%, while iOS’s market share has shown a decline of 6.3%.

Market Share of Apple vs. Android in the US

Why Does iOS Rule in the US?

Operating SystemMarket Share in Q1 2023 (%)
iOS57.75
Android41.88
Market Share of Apple vs. Android in the US
Data Table
Operating SystemMarket Share in Q1 2023 (%)
iOS57.75
Android41.88
Data Graphic
Market Share of Apple vs. Android in the US

The major mobile operating systems in the US are Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. In Q1 2023, iOS leads with 57.75% market share, while Android took 41.88% shares, a significant gap of 15.87%.

Financial Times reported that a strong trend of Android users migrating to iOS gives Apple an edge to rule the smartphone market in the US. The active installed base, which is the number of smartphones in use, also accounts for the large market share of Apple in the country.

iOS vs. Android Market Share in the US (2009-2023)

YeariOS (%)Android (%)
202357.7541.88
202256.7442.94
202158.5841.11
202059.5440.27
201955.2344.51
201854.8244.73
201753.8945.23
201653.1945.2
201550.8546.42
201452.342.58
201352.7939.25
201249.4840.63
201138.3335.32
201038.3118.71
200957.96.16
iOS vs. Android Market Share in the US (2009-2023)
Data Table
YeariOS (%)Android (%)
202357.7541.88
202256.7442.94
202158.5841.11
202059.5440.27
201955.2344.51
201854.8244.73
201753.8945.23
201653.1945.2
201550.8546.42
201452.342.58
201352.7939.25
201249.4840.63
201138.3335.32
201038.3118.71
200957.96.16
Data Graphic
iOS vs. Android Market Share in the US (2009-2023)

iOS has dominated the US smartphone operating system market since 2009 up until the present. Despite dominating the operating system market share worldwide, Android only came second to Apple in the US. Android came close by 3.01% in 2015, but the gap widened again over the years.

Android Market Share

The Leading Mobile Operating System Worldwide

In January 2023, Android dominated the mobile OS market share in the world with 71.65% shares, ahead by 43.9% compared to its competitor, Apple’s iOS. The Google Play Store, where Android users can download and purchase apps, generated US $47.8 billion in 2021, an increase of 9.1% from the previous year.

Who Owns Android?

Google LLC, the search engine company in America, acquired Android from its developer Android Inc. in 2005. Initially developed for digital cameras, Android is now an operating system for smartphones, tablets, and many more devices.

Which Mobile Brands Carry Android?

  • Samsung
  • Xiaomi
  • Oppo
  • Vivo
  • Huawei
  • Realme
  • Motorola

And more…

With a $261 average selling price (ASP) in 2021, mobile brands that carry Android sell their smartphones to consumers cheaper than Apple, one of the significant reasons Android dominates in the smartphone market worldwide.

Android Market Share Worldwide by Quarter

QuarterAndroid Market Share (%)
Q1 202371.65
Q4 202271.75
Q3 202271.64
Q2 202271.72
Q1 202270.78
Q4 202170.62
Android Market Share Worldwide by Quarter
Data Table
QuarterAndroid Market Share (%)
Q1 202371.65
Q4 202271.75
Q3 202271.64
Q2 202271.72
Q1 202270.78
Q4 202170.62
Data Graphic
Android Market Share Worldwide by Quarter

Android remained the top mobile operating system globally in the first quarter of 2023, with a 71.65% market share. It is currently ahead of iOS by 43.9% shares. It was consistent in the last six quarters, with its market share not falling below 70%.

Android Market Share by Year (2009-2023)

YearAndroid Market Share (%)
202371.65
202271.47
202171.89
202073.06
201975.47
201875.45
201772.63
201669.11
201564.2
201453.65
201339.21
201227.41
201119
20108.82
20092.41
Android Market Share by Year (2009-2023)
Data Table
YearAndroid Market Share (%)
202371.65
202271.47
202171.89
202073.06
201975.47
201875.45
201772.63
201669.11
201564.2
201453.65
201339.21
201227.41
201119
20108.82
20092.41
Data Graphic
Android Market Share by Year (2009-2023)

Google’s Android has maintained its high market share for operating systems worldwide over the years. From 2.41% shares in 2009, it has consistently taken at least 70% market share since 2017 up to the present.

In 2019, it generated its highest-ever share, with 75.47% shares. Around 1.3 billion Android devices were shipped that year. In 2021, 83.32% of mobile devices sold had the Android operating system installed.

Android Market Share in the US

In 2023, Google’s Android operating system generated a 41.85% market share, coming in second at 15.93% shares behind iOS. These mobile operating systems are the main competitors in America.

Android Market Share Trends in the US by Quarter

QuarterAndroid Market Share (%)
Q1 202341.88
Q4 202244.32
Q3 202243.78
Q2 202242.49
Q1 2022 41.2
Q4 2021 41.33
Android Market Share Trends in the US by Quarter
Data Table
QuarterAndroid Market Share (%)
Q1 202341.88
Q4 202244.32
Q3 202243.78
Q2 202242.49
Q1 2022 41.2
Q4 2021 41.33
Data Graphic
Android Market Share Trends in the US by Quarter

In the United States, Android’s market share fell 2.44% in Q1 2023 compared to the previous quarter. Android had 44.32% shares in Q4 of 2022.

In the second quarter of 2022, Samsung, the leading company that manufactures Android devices globally, garnered a 30% market share of smartphone sales in the United States.

Android US Market Share by Year (2009-2023)

YearAndroid Market Share (%)
202341.88
202242.94
202141.11
202040.27
201944.51
201844.73
201745.23
201645.2
201546.42
201442.58
201339.25
201240.63
201135.32
201018.71
20096.16
Android US Market Share by Year (2009-2023)
Data Table
YearAndroid Market Share (%)
202341.88
202242.94
202141.11
202040.27
201944.51
201844.73
201745.23
201645.2
201546.42
201442.58
201339.25
201240.63
201135.32
201018.71
20096.16
Data Graphic
Android US Market Share by Year (2009-2023)

Although Android is only the second most popular mobile operating system in the US, its market share has stayed at 40% over the last ten years.

Market Share of iOS Worldwide

Apple’s iOS mobile operating system held around 27.71% of the global smartphone market share in January 2023. It is lagging behind Android by 43.89% shares. Android has continued to dominate the operating system market share at 71.65% shares.

iOS Market Share Worldwide by Quarter

QuarteriOS Market Share (%)
Q1 202327.71
Q4 202227.64
Q3 202227.71
Q2 202227.58
Q1 2022 28.46
Q4 2021 28.66
iOS Market Share Worldwide by Quarter
Data Table
QuarteriOS Market Share (%)
Q1 202327.71
Q4 202227.64
Q3 202227.71
Q2 202227.58
Q1 2022 28.46
Q4 2021 28.66
Data Graphic
iOS Market Share Worldwide by Quarter

iOS generated a 27.71% market share for Q1 2023, which falls by about 0.75% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Q3 2022. Apple’s operating system in Q1 2023, however, saw a 0.13% increase from the previous quarter.

Over the previous six quarters, iOS had the highest market share of 28.66% in Q4 2021. This quarter also reported a significant increase in iPhone production from Q1 2018 to Q1 2022.

iOS shows a slight increase in Q1 2022 due to high demand for the iPhone 13, the flagship device of the year in the premium segment, and the launch of the iPhone SE, which provides a budget-friendly option to iOS users. However, data show a drop beginning in Q2 2022.

iOS Market Share by Year (2009-2023)

YeariOS Market Share (%)
202327.71
202227.85
202127.34
202026.28
201922.71
201820.47
201719.65
201619.29
201520.2
201423.95
201324.03
201224.04
201122.29
201025.48
200934.01
iOS Market Share by Year (2009-2023)
Data Table
YeariOS Market Share (%)
202327.71
202227.85
202127.34
202026.28
201922.71
201820.47
201719.65
201619.29
201520.2
201423.95
201324.03
201224.04
201122.29
201025.48
200934.01
Data Graphic
iOS Market Share by Year (2009-2023)

The largest market share of Apple iOS was way back in 2009 with 34.01%, beating Android by 27.85% worldwide. However, Apple’s iOS started coming up second to Android starting from 2011 onwards. iOS had its lowest market share in 2016, with 19.29%.

iOS Market Share in the US

In January 2023, iOS generated a 57.78% market share in the US, leading by 15.9% shares against Android at 41.88%. More than half of smartphone users in the US own iPhones.

iOS Market Share Trends in the US by Quarter

QuarteriOS Market Share (%)
Q1 202358.35
Q4 202258.5
Q3 202257.23
Q2 202255.91
Q1 2022 55.31
Q4 2021 57.51
iOS Market Share by Year (2009-2023)
Data Table
QuarteriOS Market Share (%)
Q1 202358.35
Q4 202258.5
Q3 202257.23
Q2 202255.91
Q1 2022 55.31
Q4 2021 57.51
Data Graphic
iOS Market Share by Year (2009-2023)

There’s been a slight dip in iOS’ market share in the US for Q1 2023. This comes after a continuous increase from the last four quarters before 2023. The highest quarterly growth for iOS in the US in the last six quarters is 1.32% in Q3 2022. Shipment of Apple iPhones for the third quarter of 2022 was at 51.9 million units worldwide, an increase of 7.3 million devices from the previous quarter.

iOS US Market Share by Year (2009-2023)

YeariOS Market Share (%)
202327.71
202227.85
202127.34
202026.28
201922.71
201820.47
201719.65
201619.29
201520.2
201423.95
201324.03
201224.04
201122.29
201025.48
200934.01
iOS US Market Share by Year (2009-2023)
Data Table
YeariOS Market Share (%)
202327.71
202227.85
202127.34
202026.28
201922.71
201820.47
201719.65
201619.29
201520.2
201423.95
201324.03
201224.04
201122.29
201025.48
200934.01
Data Graphic
iOS US Market Share by Year (2009-2023)

Apple’s iOS has remained the leading operating system in the US since 2009. Android couldn’t outperform iOS in the country throughout the years, even though it continues to dominate worldwide. The largest market share of iOS, accounting for 59.54% of shares, was in 2020. It was the year when the iPhone 7 became one of the most popular phone models.