Only The EU Can Save Android In The US Now
Robert Triggs/Android Authority
The latest US smartphone market share report from Counterpoint Research takes a grim reading of the battle between Android and iOS. Apple's iPhone held a massive 55% market share in the second quarter of 2023, up 10% from a year earlier. This dominance is especially notable because the quarter was a quiet time for Apple with no new phone launches. Meanwhile, Samsung launched the Galaxy S23 series and several Galaxy A phones in Q1 and Q2, but only accounted for 23% of the market (down 5% year-on-year).
This latest report suggests that major alarm bells are ringing in the Android and OEM market. However, there is a possibility of salvation: the European Union.
win hearts and minds
Robert Triggs/Android Authority
Apple's increase in market share comes as the iPhone continues to cement its position as a status symbol. But that has sparked a growing wave of dissent, as some iPhone owners in the US see Android as cheap and inferior.
You do not believe me? Look at the iMessage saga; Apple insists on treating Android owners like second-class citizens in group text messaging. Android owners can't take advantage of many modern messaging features like high-quality media sharing, read receipts, etc. with iPhone owners. Although there is a workaround available in RCS, Apple is disappointing in handling the problem. Chief executive Tim Cook dismissed the issue last year, suggesting it was no longer a priority for the company.
The iPhone's dominance in the US comes as iMessage dwarfs Android users, forcing consumers to buy an iPhone to match.
But perhaps the biggest driver is the phenomenon of green bubbles, where Android owners are marked in green instead of the standard blue bubble. Unfortunately, many cases of Android users have been forced to buy an iPhone or simply refused because of the green bubble.
Even NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo has been mocked online after being infected with a 2022 Google Pixel. But it doesn't stop there; A 2019 New York Post article confirmed that some iPhone owners are not connecting Android users due to the green bubble. A contestant from The Bachelor was also mocked with an Android phone.
While people suggest that an Android phone is a deal breaker for potential mates, this horrible elitism continues to use the old meme: "It's a 10, but it's got Android."
While the rest of the world uses WhatsApp, people in the US don't care that they don't have an iPhone or instant messaging.
Apple has clearly won over consumers by making it cool and unique. But it maintained that status in the United States by fostering that culture of gentrification and allowing users to view Android as a no-frills platform.
The best Android phones can be more expensive than the more popular iPhones, so it's ridiculously ignorant to consider Android a budget option. There are also more expensive foldable phones like the Google Pixel Fold, which sells for $1,800. But the strategy seems to have legs.
You can log in at any time, but you can never log out
Ryan Haines/Android Authority
Apple doesn't support OEM Android devices, which makes it extremely difficult to exit the ecosystem or switch platforms. For starters, the company's services are either limited to their own platforms (iMessage) or less Android-ready (see Apple TV Plus and Face Time).
Apple's restrictive NFC policy has also drawn attention, as it doesn't allow third-party apps to use NFC for wireless payments. This means Google Pay users switching to iOS are forced to use Apple Pay to pay. And no, Apple Pay is not available on Android.
The company's longstanding decision to use Lightning over USB-C has created more friction for smartphone owners looking to switch platforms. This means that anyone looking to switch from iOS will need to buy a new USB-C cable and/or adapter (if they don't already have a charger/cable) if they want to jump on the Android bandwagon. Fortunately, this will soon change. But if Apple cared about the environment, it would have made this change long ago.
In any case, the iPhone maker is rightly praised for its environment, but not for dirty or blatantly anti-competitive measures.
No Android update will help.
Ryan Haines/Android Authority
Unfortunately, I don't think a major Android innovation will convince most Apple customers to switch. And it's not for lack of trying.
Android makers have often released cutting-edge devices before Apple, but none of them have really made a difference in the US. For example, periscope cameras, one-inch main cameras, high-refresh-rate screens, 5G, ultra-wide cameras, super-fast charging and wireless charging. And these are just hardware innovations, not to mention the first Android software innovations.
History has shown us that all the Android innovations in the world aren't enough to convince many iPhone owners in America to switch.
We will actively see this trend continue in 2023 with foldable phones. Samsung's previous foldable devices failed to catch on to the trend in the US, and that doesn't seem to be changing with the fifth-generation Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5. I suspect that holy grail folding innovations like dust resistance, crease-free screens and glass/mirror screens will also vary.
Instead, most iPhone-obsessed American consumers, fascinated by foldable devices, seem ready to wait for Apple to finally jump ahead.
Part of the indifference of all this Android creation can only be followed by fans. But you have to admit that some status-conscious iPhone users will simply see Android phones as inferior, regardless of the innovations that come their way. And finally, we're sure that many Apple fans simply prefer iOS and the Apple ecosystem.
A possible lifeline
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
However, there is a way for Android OEMs to regain some of Apple's US market share, or at least stop the bleeding. Ironically, this may be the EU's lifeline.
The EU has hammered Apple (and Google) over the years. One of Block's most notable initiatives has been to mandate interoperability between major messaging platforms, including iMessage.
This represents Apple's best chance yet to break Apple's iMessage dominance in the United States. Or at least, Apple is finally forcing it to play with Android and third-party apps in the messaging space. This doesn't necessarily mean the green bubbles will go away, but it does mean a more efficient messaging experience for Android users when messaging iPhone users. And it could go a long way in solving a major problem for Android and iOS users.
Do you think Android can bring back IS in the United States?
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As part of the European Union's push for Apple to switch to USB-C to provide manufacturers with a common charging standard, the iPhone 15 series is expected to use the port for the first time. Finally, the ban takes a closer look at Apple's restrictive NFC policies, opening the door for more touch options on the iPhone.
There will always be a market for Android phones in the United States, as these devices can reach prices and points that the iPhone simply cannot. But the United States seems too far away for Android to threaten Apple's market share in the short to medium term.
However, a series of attacks in Europe and the United States will make it easier to switch from Android to iOS in the future, forcing Apple to downgrade to Android. And these steps will be key to Android's long-term survival, if not its revival in America.
