Why Africans Favour Android-Operated Smartphones over Apple and the iOS

All mobile devices have an operating system (OS): the software through which the mobile device can operate its applications and programs. They range from present giants like Google-owned Android to Apple’s iOS to the discontinued BlackBerry OS. The former duo – iOS and Android – offer a wide array of features in terms of design, performance, and flexibility, and what a user decides to go with might simply be a matter of choice. Both presently dominate the global smartphone market, but which do Africans prefer? 

According to findings reported by StatsCounter, Android has the most users in Africa, with 83.85% of the continents mobile users opting for Android powered phone. iOS has the second most mobile users in Africa with 13.21% of users choosing Apple operating system over Android. 

A major reason why the Android OS has come to have such an outsized share of the African market is choice. The chart above shows the distribution of mobile phone manufacturers in the African market. Six of top seven manufacturers all use the Android OS, from Samsung to Xiaomi. The iOS is restricted to users of Apple’s iPhone. The large range of options Android comes with — choice of price, choice of hardware and software features, and choice in how you organize and personalize your experience – offers users the ability to choose different brands from Oppo to Huawei. 

iOS-backed iPhones, on the other hand, offer a simpler, more convenient experience. However, the prices and exclusivity which comes with iPhones may take the product out of the reach of many on the continent. Seeing as 42.6% of Sub-Saharan Africans still live below $1.90 per day, pricey iPhones might just be out of reach for many. 

Androids Are Cheaper  

This might be the main reason why the Android OS is such a mainstay: Android-operated mobile phones are patronized more because the vast majority of the world's smartphones run Android, and because so many companies build Android phones, they're available at every price range. Users can choose from pricier options like high-end Samsungs and Xiaomis to cheaper, budget offerings from Tecno and Infinix. 

After all, there are cheap Android phones under the $200-$300 mark, as well as others exceeding $1,000. The same cannot be said for iPhones, which historically have been more expensive. The cheapest Apple phone typically go for $429 to $599, while the Pro versions go for $999 to $1099. Seeing as smartphone prices are unlikely to fall, Apple might have to wait for Africa to catch up to the Global North in terms of wealth before the manufacturer can establish a firm foothold in the region.