Ahmed Sherif
Research expert covering IT services and gaming hardware
Mobile operating systems - statistics & facts
Have you ever considered the immense power that your smartphone or tablet holds? It's all thanks to the mobile operating system that powers your device. With a mobile operating system, you can hold the world in your pocket and manage your device while on the move. The mobile OS is responsible for managing the device's design and how users interact with it. It shapes the user interface, determining its appearance, design, and functionality. Each element plays a crucial role in creating a user experience that is enjoyable and efficient.
Apple’s iOS is a closed-source platform and runs exclusively on its iPhones and iPads. Its share of the smartphone operating systems market remains stable worldwide, without much growth. Still, strong relationships with existing customers have been formed through the brand – particularly in the United States – and loyalty to the iPhone proves valuable in terms of Apple’s revenue.
All in all, Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS are set to continue leading the mobile OS industry globally, with market shares accounting for nearly the entire mobile OS market worldwide.
Android and iOS dominate the global market
Google’s Android system and Apple’s iOS are the most used smartphone operating systems worldwide, by a considerable margin. Much of Android’s success can be attributed to its commitment to openness. It was established as an open-source platform in 2007. Many smartphone vendors – such as global smartphone giant Samsung – take the opportunity to use the freely available software, resulting in Android possessing a far greater share of the global market.Apple’s iOS is a closed-source platform and runs exclusively on its iPhones and iPads. Its share of the smartphone operating systems market remains stable worldwide, without much growth. Still, strong relationships with existing customers have been formed through the brand – particularly in the United States – and loyalty to the iPhone proves valuable in terms of Apple’s revenue.
Update cycles differ from OS to OS
Mobile OS updates are released constantly, primarily deployed directly onto the device without connecting to a computer. OS updates provide upgrades in functionality, security, and overall stability and ensure a common standard to which developers can create apps. The vast majority of iPhone users have installed the latest version of iOS. Still, the schedule of Android updates varies by device, manufacturer, and mobile carrier, meaning many users are not running the most up-to-date version of Android. The latest software developments from both Google (Android 14) and Apple (iOS 17) were released in the fall of 2023.Mobile OS market, once crowded, now streamlined
Android and iOS have not always dominated the mobile OS market; Symbian and RIM were major competitors in 2009. Symbian software most notably ran on devices manufactured by Nokia, while RIM (Research In Motion) operated on the popular BlackBerry devices. However, both were slow to react to the increasing importance of software operating systems, allowing Android and iOS to capitalize. Their innovative technology has paved the way for the market we have today.All in all, Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS are set to continue leading the mobile OS industry globally, with market shares accounting for nearly the entire mobile OS market worldwide.
