CIRP: iPhone activations in the US fall to 33% of all smartphones

Smartphone activations in the US are seeing the lowest share of iPhones in six years, according to data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP). The analysts report the numbers each quarter but use a 12-month period to eliminate seasonality (iPhone sales are always the weakest just before the new generation launches and the strongest just after).

For most of 2023, Apple held steady at around 40%. However, it share began to slip at the end of the year and is now down to 33% at the beginning of 2024.

CIRP compares this to six years ago when it wasn’t just an Android-iOS duopoly, but Windows Phone and even BlackBerry OS devices were still hanging on. Now, it’s just Android on the other side of the fence.

The analysts point to changes in the smartphone market – phones costs more, but last longer. This is both in terms of durability, as well as in terms of upgrades since the rate of revolutionary new features has slowed down.

The move away from carrier-subsidized phones has also encouraged buyers to hold onto their old phones for longer. These factors are affecting Apple phones slightly more than Androids, according to CIRP.

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