By Research firm iGR did some studies and crunched some numbers and came up with not a lot that we didn’t already know here in the United States. Android’s leading (47%) iPhone’s trailing (24%) and everyone else is competing but aren’t exactly worthy of mention.
The most interesting thing they found out, however, was who the most preferred Android smartphone brand in the United States. That little Korean company that goes by the name of Samsung (you may have heard of them) earned those honors, followed by Motorola, HTC and LG, in that order.
They found that 45% of Android buyers researched the phones they wanted to buy before they bought them. 27% of buyers bought Android devices based on Google’s reputation alone – the biggest search engine ever is a powerful thing to have on one’s resume, I suppose. iGR did not disclose their sample size. Take a look at the press release below. [via VZ Buzz]
New iGR Research Shows Samsung as Most Preferred Android Device Brand Among Consumers
Consumer Surveys Also Show That 45 Percent of Android Users Researched the OS Prior to Purchase and Specifically Wanted an Android Device
AUSTIN, TX, Jan 20, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — The popularity of the Google Android smartphoneoperating system (OS) has increased significantly in the last few years. New iGR research shows that, at present, 47 percent of U.S. smartphone users have an Android device, followed by 24 percent who own/use an Apple iPhone. Of the major brands supporting Android, Samsung has the highest brand preference among consumers, followed by Motorola, HTC and LG. ZTE and Huawei ranked toward the bottom of the brands studied, although note that these brands currently sell comparatively lower volumes in the U.S. market.
iGR’s new research also shows that 45 percent of Android users researched the OS prior to purchase and specifically selected an Android device when they bought a new smartphone. It also appears that Google’s reputation is driving Android sales — 27 percent of Android users said that they selected an Android smartphone because they believed that Google was a “reputable company” and therefore inferred that Android must also be reputable.
These findings, as well as others relating to consumers’ Android brand preferences and impressions, are presented in iGR’s new market study Android Brand Preferences: U.S. Consumers, published in January 2012.
“Understanding why consumers select specific brands and certain smartphones is critical to the success of OEMs in the highly competitive U.S. handset market,” says iGR Research Analyst, Sarah Thoman, who authored the study. “While a user’s current handset brand influences the selection of a new Android smartphone, many other factors also come into play. For example, handset display quality and functionality also highly influenced the smartphone purchase decision.”
iGR’s new study, Android Brand Preferences: U.S. Consumers, addresses several key topics:
- The number of Android smartphones sold in the U.S. in 2011 (by
- quarter)
- Why consumers buy Android smartphones
- The profile of the typical Android smartphone user
- The handset features users like on Android smartphones
- How consumers rank Android OEM brands and why
- How the user’s current device brand impacts that user’s Android
- smartphone purchase
- Which Android OEM brands are associated with the major mobile
- operators
About iGR iGR is a market strategy consultancy focused on the wireless and mobile communications industry. Founded by Iain Gillott, one of the wireless industry’s leading analysts, in late 2000 as iGillottResearch, iGR is now entering its twelfth year of operation. iGR continuously researches emerging and existent technologies, technology industries, and consumer markets. We use our detailed research to offer a range of services to help companies improve their position in the marketplace, clearly define their future direction, and ultimately improve their bottom line.
iGR researches a range of wireless and mobile products and technologies, including: smartphones; tablets; mobile applications; bandwidth demand and use; small cell architectures; DAS; LTE; WiMAX; VoLTE; IMS; NFC; GSM/GPRS/UMTS/HSPA; CDMA 1x/EV-DO; iDEN; SIP; macro-, pico- and femtocells; mobile backhaul; WiFi and WiFi offload; and SIM and UICC. iGR is a member of the Rural Cellular Association.
That figures, my last 3 devices have been made by Samsung. It would take quite an amazing device to get me from not choosing Samsung again next year.
I don’t even know what the GS3 will be but I already know it will be my next phone.
lol! Same here
+1 can’t wait for Galaxy S II
I think their track record may have improved, but as the owner of a T-Mobile Vibrant, I certainly wouldn’t have voted for them.
As a day one Vibrant owner, I moved on to a much better phone(GSII).
I’m not sure where the negativity is coming from. I’m still using my Vibrant, and I’ve had no complaints (since flashing CM7).
It was only about 1 year ago when phandroid and other forums were flooded with “Samsuck?! Never again!” comments because of the flagship SGS1’s crappy GPS and Samsung’s slow update policy.
Oh how things change.
Though, knowing how some people (girls) like to hold grudges, I’m sure there’s still some who will still never buy Samsung.
(And, yes: light, strong & cost-efficient PLASTIC is better than heavy METAL. Where did people get it in their heads that only metal can be the indicator of “premium build quality”? Apple? :)
Thankfully the “Behold II fiasco” comments have all but gone away. I don’t see how anyone in Q1 2012 can still resent a Q4 2009 device but I actually heard that within the last month.
Nah, they use glass now. Its even stronger than metal….
Same as LG now
As an previous owner of a samsung captivate and current owner of a samsung focus and an htc thunderbolt, I have to say the thunderbolt feels like it’s made better, and it sure has taken licks better than my samsung phones.
Is plastic a deal breaker, NO. I would buy a plastic samsung phone as my next android phone if I liked the specs and reviews better than an equivalent htc model.
But all things being equal, I’d choose HTC metal over Samsung plastic every time.
boooo you barista
What a surprise.
The launch of the Galaxy series made that pretty obvious.
Having a samsung i730 then a samsung omnia and now having a samsung Galaxy nexus, I have to say they are hands down THEE best! little niggly things here and there but, nonethless the best.
I loved my Vibrant when I bought it, then hated it when the GPS was not working and was laggy. Then fell in love with it again after I rooted it and discovered Team Whiskey. I recently started looking into getting an sgs2, then discovered ICS passion 10.6 on XDA with fully working GPS as well as everything else. (Exception of deep sleep issues but that went away) I am in love with my Vibrant for a third time. It is known in the rooting community as one of the hardest phones to brick and it just keeps chugging along!
That made me miss my Vibrant ;-) Team Whiskey carried me over until October 12th.
I had a Captivate. I waited for the Froyo update. Then waited some more. Then some more. Samsung told us the update would be out in Sept. 2010. It didn’t. It didn’t come till I think April or May of 2011. By that time I got an Atrix and never looked back.
Sure, Samsung makes nice phones. But I’ll never forget the BS they fed us Captivate owners. Motorola got the Gingerbread update for Atrix users out when they said they would. Much appreciated and doubt I’ll get another Samsung because of their inability to update their phone when they said they would.
So you blame Samsung instead of AT&T? I bet you anything the slow update process was AT&T’s fault and not Samsungs. If AT&T didn’t have to load all of their crap onto your Captivate, and decide when they wanted to send out the update, you wouldn’t have been waiting.
But the Atrix 4G is also on AT&T and it got the update in August, as per Motorola’s promise. So, I guess AT&T is simply playing favourites *insert sarcasm*
I totally agree with you. I purchased a Samsung Infuse 4g in May of 2011. It had Froyo on it, and we were promised a Gingerbread update by August 2011. I have not even had this phone a whole year yet and I am already behind 2 OS. The Gingerbread and the ICS update. I doubt it will get the ICS. I have clearly made up my mind that this will be the last Samsung I own.
You have got to be kidding me. Samsung users are the first to complain when they don’t get their updates. Previous reports also indicated that Samsung is the worst when it comes to updates. I’ll give it to Motorola for quality, HTC for the customer adherence, and Samsung for business strategies and that’s it.
GS2 and MIUI, a winning combination I love using every day.
I dont know who they polled but they didn’t ask me, and I definately don’t buy Samsung……
I have the Samsung Galaxy Nexus but that’s only because htc didn’t get to make the latest Nexus. I had an awesome experience with my Droid Incredible and would have liked to purchase another htc product but I couldn’t be sure the Rezound at the time would have an unlocked bootloader.
What’s with all the cheesy samsung commercials on tv?
I was in the survey :)
Newest figures for after December 2011, with release of Galaxy Nexus and iPhone 4S….. Android still leaving the way but iOS gaining traction….
http://m.ign.com/articles/2012/01/18/nielsen-apple-ios-gains-ground-on-android
Samsung is on a roll, but they threaten to screw it up when they naively believe they are also an OS innovator. Android is the best game in town, so why try to start from scratch in an uber-competitive marketplace ?