Half of Android users considering switching to an iPhone say they are seriously considering the switch. There is a perception that Apple is better at protecting their personal data and privacy. That's because Android users are more likely to face cybersecurity incidents.
That's according to a survey by Beyond Identity (1). A total of 1,003 Americans participated in the cybersecurity firm's survey: 505 Android users and 498 iPhone owners. The average age of respondents was 38.
With a market share of nearly 72 percent, Android is by far the most popular operating system in the world. The remainder is almost entirely accounted for by iOS, Apple's operating system, according to Statcounter. But there are major geographical differences, according to figures from Kantar Worldpanel (2). In some European countries, Android has a share of nearly 90 percent. In continents such as North America and Australia, Google and Apple have almost equal shares.
More and more consumers are concerned about the security of their private data and privacy. Reports of data thefts and ransomware attacks are not doing this any favors. Beyond Identity wanted to know if smartphone users are guided by these developments when choosing an Android phone or iPhone.
The security firm also mapped who is more affected by hackers and cybercriminals. Finally, Beyond Identity asked participants how they feel about security and privacy and whether they feel safe and secure with their current device. Some of the results are surprising.
The first question the researchers asked is how smartphone users feel about operating system security. The proportion who trust iOS and Android is almost the same: 76 percent of Apple users are comfortable with this, while for Android users it is 74 percent.
One in three respondents (32 percent) say they feel safest with the iPhone 13 Pro Max, the most expensive iPhone model Apple currently sells. Android users are less in agreement: about one in eight respondents (13 percent) said they rely on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, the South Korean smartphone maker's flagship device, for their security.
The survey further reveals that more people trust the Apple iCloud Keychain than Google Password Manager. More than half (54 percent) say they have a lot to a lot of confidence in Apple's password manager. For Google's alternative, the figure is 47 percent.
The researchers see a similar difference when they compare Apple iCloud to Google Drive. Respondents are more confident in Apple's cloud service (62 percent) than Google's (58 percent).
The differences are minimal on paper, but potentially have major implications for Android manufacturers. Half of the Android users surveyed who are considering switching to Apple (49 percent) say this feeling is driven by security and privacy concerns. Apple is expected to launch the latest version of its operating system, iOS 16, in early September. As a result, one in three Android users (33 percent) are considering switching to an iPhone.
Both camps see the value of security measures to protect their personal data and information on their cell phones. Android users primarily rely on a four-digit PIN (53 percent), fingerprint scanner (44 percent) or pattern (38 percent). Pin codes are also popular with iPhone users. But unlike Android users, iPhone owners have more confidence in Apple's facial recognition technology (37 percent versus 28 percent).
Password managers are popular with both Apple and Android users. Six in 10 Apple customers (62 percent) use a password manager, compared to 72 percent among Android users. iPhone owners use location tracking more than consumers with Android phones (77 percent versus 68 percent). Monitoring app permissions is done equally by both groups (87 percent with Apple and 88 percent with Android).
iPhone owners generally lose their smartphones more often than Android users. One in five iPhone users (21 percent) say they have lost their phone four times or more in the past year. Among Android users, the figure is 14 percent. A whopping 92 percent of Apple users managed to find their smartphone again. Among Android users, it was only 87 percent.
Both Android and iPhone users report ever having faced digital threats. These include malware attacks, spam campaigns and data breaches. People with Android phones are more likely to report that hackers managed to capture personal information and documents.
The study also shows that money was stolen more often from Android users than from people walking around with iPhones. The average damage amount is lower among the former group, though. Android users suffered an average of $396 in damages. The financial damage among iPhone owners was $458.
"Despite the huge financial success and market share-based success of Android phones, the iPhone was the best in terms of security, according to users. People with iPhones reported fewer breaches and more instances of recovering their stolen or lost information," the Beyond Identity researchers concluded.
That's because Apple users are more careful with their information, they say. They also use stronger passwords and turn on their location services more often.
https://www.beyondidentity.com/blog/battle-of-the-brands
https://www.kantarworldpanel.com/global/smartphone-os-market-share/
