iPhone brand loyalty at record high level, with Android users switching
Published: (April 16, 2026 at 10:17 AM EDT)
2 min read
Source: 9to5Mac
Source: 9to5Mac
A smartphone loyalty survey has revealed that Android users are 3.7 times more likely to switch to iPhone than the reverse. More interestingly, iPhone brand loyalty has increased significantly over the past five years.
Survey Overview
SellCell conducted a large‑scale survey of 5,000+ U.S. smartphone users in 2026, asking participants which brand they expected to purchase when they next upgraded. The study examined:
- Whether users plan to stay with their current brand
- What drives those decisions
- Where potential switchers are heading next
Loyalty Findings
| Brand | % Planning to Stay | % Planning to Switch |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | 96.4 % | 3.6 % (to Android) |
| Android | 86.4 % | 13.6 % (to iPhone) |
- iPhone brand loyalty rose from 90.5 % in 2019 to 96.4 % in 2026, with most growth occurring after 2021.
- Android users are almost four times more likely to switch to iPhone than iPhone users are to switch to Android.
Reasons for Loyalty
iPhone Users
- 60.8 % – Prefer iOS itself
- 17.4 % – Invested in the Apple ecosystem (e.g., continuity, iCloud)
- Remaining respondents cited product reliability, ease of use, and trust in Apple’s privacy and security measures.
Android Users Considering Switching
- Price was the overwhelming factor for those who said they would move to iPhone.
Additional Resources
- Full survey results and methodology: SellCell – Smartphone Loyalty Survey 2026