iPhone Loyalty Hits 87% in Q1 2026 as Android Switchers Slip to 12%

Q: Can a $2,300 foldable iPhone convince Android users to switch when cheaper alternatives already exist?

Probably not at scale. A $2,300 foldable iPhone could win over a small, affluent slice of Android users, but the data suggests it is unlikely to drive a broad wave of switching. The biggest obstacle is price. Android users who consider leaving often cite better value and superior technology, while iPhone users who think about switching usually point to cost. That makes a $2,300 device a hard sell when Android already offers foldables across a wide range of prices, including premium models below that level and some clamshell options far cheaper. The loyalty numbers also show how limited platform switching has become. CIRP says iPhone loyalty reached 87% in early 2026, and only 12% of new iPhone buyers came from Android, a figure that has stayed in the 11% to 15% range for years. SellCell’s 2026 survey similarly found strong Android loyalty at 86.4%, with Samsung above 90%. That points to a mature market where most users are already settled. Apple still has some advantages. Its ecosystem, resale value, software support, and brand trust could make a foldable iPhone especially appealing to existing iPhone owners who want a new form factor. If Apple delivers a crease-free design, strong battery life, and polished software, it may also attract some Android foldable users dissatisfied with current options. But the likely effect is niche, not mass-market. The foldable iPhone looks more like a retention tool for Apple’s base than a major Android-conversion machine.

2 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Jul 17

CIRP put iPhone loyalty at 87% in the first quarter of 2026, up 3 percentage points from 84% a year earlier.
Just 12% of new iPhone buyers came from Android in the March quarter, down from 14% a year earlier, while 1% came from feature phones, other platforms or first-time smartphone purchases.
CIRP said Android-to-iPhone switching has stayed in a tight 11% to 15% range in recent periods, suggesting most smartphone users have already settled on a platform.
Apple may reinforce that stickiness with Siri AI in iOS 27 later this year, though winning more Android users could depend more on products like its planned foldable iPhone.