Android Users Flock to iPhone as Upgrade Rates Soar to 87%

Recent data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) reveals that a significant 87% of iPhone buyers in the US during the March quarter were existing iPhone users. This marks the highest loyalty rate in the past three years, surpassing 2025’s 84% and 2024’s 85%.

Apple has also been successful in persuading some Google users to make the switch to an iPhone. In the same quarter, 12% of iPhone sales were attributed to former Android owners, a slight decrease from 14% in 2025 and 13% in 2024. Additionally, 1% of iPhone customers were first-time smartphone buyers, either transitioning from a basic feature phone or entering the smartphone market for the first time.

These trends underscore the importance for companies to focus on retaining their current user base and encouraging them to upgrade to newer models of the same smartphone. The familiarity with apps, stored data, and accessories tied to a specific platform plays a significant role in users’ reluctance to switch.

It’s worth noting that CIRP’s data is platform-based rather than specific to hardware vendors. Unlike the iPhone, loyal Android users have a variety of smartphone brands to choose from.

Despite the relatively small percentage of Android users transitioning to iPhone, Apple saw a notable increase in iPhone revenue in the US, even as the overall market experienced a decline.

The loyalty of existing iPhone owners to the iOS platform, along with the seamless integration with other Apple devices, contributes to the company’s sustained success in the smartphone market.

While the competition intensifies for new smartphone buyers, the primary battleground remains the existing smartphone user base for both Apple and Android manufacturers.

Although CIRP’s survey provides insights into buyer behavior, it focuses solely on existing iPhone buyers rather than tracking overall platform-switching trends.

Apple’s extensive reach was highlighted when the company announced surpassing 2.5 billion active devices globally, indicating a substantial number of iPhone owners worldwide.