Gen Z Shunning Android Phones in Favor of the iPhone’s Camera
New data suggests that Generation Z’s adoption of Android phones is shrinking at a startling rate as younger consumers increasingly prefer iPhones.
According to a report by The Financial Times, Generation Z makes up 34% of all iPhone owners in the U.S. and only 10% of U.S. Samsung users.
The publication reports that Generation Z users, meaning those born after 1996, might be pushing Apple toward the level of dominance that it has in the U.S.
According to market research firm Counterpoint, Apple increased its overall U.S. market share of actual phone usage from 35% in 2019 to more than 50% in 2022.
Even outside the U.S., iPhone adoption among Gen Z is growing. In Europe, 83% of Apple users under the age of 25 say they plan to keep using an iPhone.
The percentage of Android users of the same age who plan to stick with Android is less than half that percentage.
The ramifications of this trend toward Apple devices among Generation Z extend beyond iPhones, with these users being much more likely to purchase other company products like AirPods, Apple Watches, and Macs.
Research by market intelligence firm Canalys shows that for every 100 iPhones Apple sells around the world, it also sells 26 iPads, 17 Apple Watches, and 35 pairs of AirPods.
For Samsung, every 100 smartphone sales lead to fewer than 11 tablets, six smartwatches, and six pairs of wireless earbuds being sold.
This shift among Generation Z is despite the fact that the average $1,000 price of an iPhone is almost three times that of an Android device.
Inherently ‘Cooler’ and a Better Camera
According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple’s strong gasp over Generation Z buyers is down to how much younger users prefer the iPhone’s design, AirDrop feature for sharing photos, and — importantly — its camera.
The current high-end iPhone and Samsung Galaxy smartphones both have similar camera components and take high-resolution photos. However, some Generation Z users prefer the color expression of the photos on an iPhone and believe that Apple offers a better camera for everyday settings.
There is also the general attitude within Generation Z that iPhones are inherently “cooler” than their Android counterparts. This belief was perhaps witnessed by the unexpected comeback of the 2009 iPhone 3GS among younger TikTok users last year.
The Green iMessage Bubble
Another prevalent reason behind Apple’s dominance among Zoomers is the exclusivity of iMessage to iPhones and the social status younger users assign to “blue iMessage bubbles.”
Apple made iMessage exclusive to iPhones. Therefore, when an Android user sends a text to an iOS user, the message defaults to using the SMS standard which has reduced quality for photos and videos.
More significantly, iMessage turns outbound messages into green bubbles instead of Apple’s blue bubble, letting iPhone users know that they received an Android message.
Young people’s preference for the iPhone in the U.S. is largely to avoid being the “uncool” individual in a chat with a green iMessage text bubble.
According to Android Authority, there has even been a phenomenon in which iMessage users will deliberately exclude Android users from chats.
Despite Apple’s dominance among Zoomers, there are some bright spots for Android. According to International Data Corporation’s research, Samsung is still the biggest smartphone manufacturer in the world. It is also leading the foldable-smartphones category which is steadily growing in popularity.
But if Generation Z continues to shun anything but the iPhone at such an alarming rate, it could spell trouble for Android.
Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.
