---
title: "Android Market Share Hits a Record High: Nine in Ten People Use Android Phones"
locale: "en"
language: "en-HK"
published: "2016-11-11T14:56:27+08:00"
updated: "2026-03-17T23:05:05.900Z"
canonical: "https://accordhk.com/blog/android-market-share-hits-a-record-high-nine-in-ten-people-use-android-phones-207"
---

# Android Market Share Hits a Record High: Nine in Ten People Use Android Phones

Android's global market share reached 87.5% in the third quarter of 2016, with shipments of 328 million phones. Its low-cost services and user-friendly software supported its lead, though manufacturer profitability and Google's Pixel launch raised questions about the future.

## In brief

Android reached 87.5% global market share in Q3 2016, while iOS fell to 12.1%. Android's low-cost services and user-friendly software helped sustain its lead, but few manufacturers profited, and Google's Pixel brought direct competition with its hardware partners.

When asked about smartphones, most people might say [iPhone](<http://app-develo­per-hk.com>), but when it comes to market share, the leader is [Android](<http://app-develo­pment-hk.c­om>). According to the latest report from research firm Strategy Analytics, Android's market share has reached a record high, surpassing 87.5%.

The figures were compiled for the third quarter of this year. [Android](<http://app-develo­per-hong-k­ong.com>)'s global market share reached 87.5%. In other words, nine out of every ten people have an Android phone. Rival [iOS](<http://app-develo­pment-hong­-kong.com>), meanwhile, saw its usage share decline steadily over the past three months, matching the continued decline in iPhone sales reported in Apple's financial results.

According to Strategy Analytics, Android phone shipments totalled 328 million units this quarter, up 10.3% from the same period last year, while Apple shipped 45.5 million units. iOS's global market share fell to just 12.1% this quarter, down 1.5% from the same period last year.

Analysts at Strategy Analytics said Android's leading position in the global [smartphone](<http://appdeveloperhk.com>) market currently appears unshakable. Its low-cost services and user-friendly system software are highly attractive to hardware manufacturers and consumers worldwide.

However, Android is not without its drawbacks. More than a hundred phone manufacturers currently choose Android for their devices, yet very few actually make a profit from it. Google's launch of its own Pixel phone also puts it in direct competition with its hardware partners. Although Android currently holds a substantial lead, the situation could still change in the future.  

http://www.bnext.com.tw/article/41680/2016-q3-android-worldwide-share

## Frequently asked questions

### What was Android's global market share in Q3 2016?

According to the Strategy Analytics figures cited in the article, Android's global market share reached 87.5%. The article describes this as roughly nine out of every ten people using an Android phone.

### How many Android phones and Apple phones shipped that quarter?

Android phone shipments totalled 328 million units, up 10.3% from the same period a year earlier. Apple shipped 45.5 million units.

### How did iOS perform during the period covered by the article?

iOS's global market share fell to 12.1%, down 1.5% from the same period a year earlier. The article also reports a continued decline in its usage share over the preceding three months, alongside falling iPhone sales in Apple's financial results.

### Why was Android attractive, and what challenges did it face?

Strategy Analytics analysts highlighted its low-cost services and user-friendly system software as attractive to manufacturers and consumers. However, few of the more than a hundred manufacturers using Android made a profit from it, and Google's Pixel launch put Google in direct competition with its hardware partners.