Bigger Smartphone Screens Leading The Android Charge

While only 9% of buyers of the Android platform purchased 4.5-inch to 4.9-inch models a year ago in the second quarter, 40% did so this year. Those wanting the even larger 5-inch-and-up slabs of phone hardware already constitute 15% of the market.

The author contends “Apple may be behind rather than in front of the consumer curve…” by not increasing the iPhone’s screen size options.

But this argument assumes iPhone and Android users hire their phones to do the same job. All research shows this could not be further from correct.

For example, tablet owners tend to be higher income and have more years of education which skews the same demographic towards iPhone ownership. Android users tend to be lower income and have fewer years of education which skews the group away from tablet ownership. As a result, the job many Android owners hire their phone is to act as both phone and quasi-tablet. This may help explain, at least on reason, why Android phone screens are getting larger while iPhone screens are remaining staying put.

As always Android and iPhone users have very different needs, behaviors and demographics. Both groups should be carefully considered and served when trying to understand market data and when planning a brand’s mobile app strategy.