While the battle between Android and Apple for the hearts and minds of smartphone users is far from over, according to a new study, Apple is dominating a key demographic: teenagers.
This past week, Piper Jaffray released its twice-a-year report on businessinsider.com relating to smartphone usage, and they found that more than 80% of American teenagers prefer Apple iPhones over Android-powered devices. The report, which questioned 6,000 people, found that 82% of teens — who had an average age of 16 — own an iPhone. This is up from the 78% of teenagers who owned an iPhone the last time the report was issued at the end of last year, and it is the highest percentage of iPhone teen ownership Piper Jaffray has ever witnessed.
Even more ominous news for Google and Android manufacturers is the fact that the report found that 84% of teenagers are planning on buying an iPhone for their next smartphone purchase. This number is also the highest Piper Jaffray has ever witnessed.
While teenage ownership of iPhones has increased a significant amount in the last few years, it is not known whether this increase came because the devices have become more popular among teens or whether it is because of the fact that less expensive iPhone options have become readily available. The rise may also have something to do with the fact that kids have begun to acquire smartphones at an earlier age.
Regardless of which, the report shows that Apple — despite a recent slump in sales — is still well positioned to compete with Android in the smartphone market.
Piper Jaffray’s report further demonstrated that the Apple Watch is also popular with teens. According to the report, 20% of teenagers own at least one Apple Watch, which is double the number of teens who owned them back in the fall of 2016. Some estimate that Apple Watch sales this year may increase by a third over sales a year ago. However, Apple will not release official sales numbers of the devices. On May 1, though, Apple is expected to release financial numbers for the quarter that ended at the close of last month.
