iOS, Android Accounted for Nearly 96% of All Smartphone Shipments in Fourth Quarter of 2013

Android and iOS accounted for 95.7% of all smartphone shipments in the fourth quarter of 2013, a 4.5% jump from the same period a year ago. Android held 78.1% of market share for 4Q13 shipments, while 17.6% shipments went to iOS.

The smartphone market passed an important milestone in 2013 when worldwide shipments surpassed the 1 billion mark for the first time, driven by continued momentum from Android and iOS. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, Android and iOS accounted for 95.7% of all smartphone shipments in the fourth quarter of 2013 (4Q13), and for 93.8% of all smartphone shipments for the year. This marked a 4.5-point increase from the 91.2% share that the two platforms shared in 4Q12, and a 6.1-point increase from the 87.7% share they had in 2012

"Clearly, there was strong end-user demand for both Android and iOS products during the quarter and the year," says Ramon Llamas, Research Manager with IDC's Mobile Phone team. "What stands out are the different routes Android and Apple took to meet this demand. Android relied on its long list of OEM partners, a broad and deep collection of devices, and price points that appealed to nearly every market segment. Apple's iOS, on the other hand, relied on nearly the opposite approach: a limited selection of Apple-only devices, whose prices trended higher than most. Despite these differences, both platforms found a warm reception to their respective user experiences and selection of mobile applications."


IDC does note that while smartphone market growth was strong in 2013, the days of double-digit growth will be coming to end. Research shows consumer buying is shifting toward products with significantly lower price points, yet marketing campaigns by Apple and Samsung continue to focus on flagship devices like the iPhone 5s and the Galaxy 5s

"In 2013 we saw the sub-$200 smartphone market grow to 42.6% of global volume, or 430 million units," said Ryan Reith, Program Director with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. "While the market moves downstream to cheaper products it makes sense for Samsung and others to continue their marketing investments geared toward high-end products.

You can read the full report here