Android vs. iPhone: Smartphone Preferences in Nigeria and South Africa

Over the last decade, the mobile phone market in Africa has grown many times due to increased internet penetration, reasonable mobile phones, and a demography that’s young and technologically keen. Android and iPhone are two of the leading contenders in the mobile phone market today.

While Android phones are perceived as affordable and versatile, iPhones are premium, status-symbol phones. So the question is which of them – Android or iPhone is most used in Nigeria and South Africa, which are the two Africa’s largest economies? Is Android more popular than iPhone in Nigeria or South Africa? Which is most preferred?

In this writing, we will answer these pending questions by taking a quick look at the smartphone preference in both nations; if users in Nigeria and South Africa prefer Android or iPhone.

Smartphone Usage in Africa

The uptake of smartphones in Africa has increased over the past few years, with over 700 million mobile subscribers by the year 2030. The youthfulness and increasing mobile internet consumption on the continent have turned smartphones into a necessity for communication, entertainment, and business.

Smartphones are not just devices but also windows to economic potential, education, and social life in countries like Nigeria and South Africa.

But between Android and iPhone, the decision of which is most used is in terms of affordability, accessibility, and personal choice.

While Android leads by a huge margin in market share because of its range of low-cost phones, iPhones also have their fair share of loyal customers from among the middle and upper class.

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Which Phone is Most Used in Africa?

If we are discussing the use of smartphones in Africa, then Android dominates the market. As of 2023, Android controls over 80% of the African mobile operating system market share, as per data from StatCounter.

It is a fact that affordable Android smartphones from Tecno, Infinix, Samsung, and Xiaomi are reasonably priced for the price-conscious African consumer.

Indeed, high-priced iPhones have far lower market shares. Still, with their social status and brand prestige, iPhones are attractive to high-income groups and are the new status symbol of success in cities like Lagos and Johannesburg.

Is Android more popular than iPhone in Nigeria and South Africa? Absolutely, but with very obvious exceptions among in certain demographics.

Who is the largest smartphone user in Africa?

The largest smartphone markets on the African continent are South Africa and Nigeria. With a population of over 200 million, Nigeria is estimated to have the most users on the entire continent.

According to GSMA, in 2022, it accounted for 15% of smartphone connections in sub-Saharan Africa. This has been propelled by the energetic youthful population coupled with high mobile internet usage in the country.

South Africa, however, leads in smartphone penetration across Africa. The economy is relatively more industrialized and has better incomes per capita, and the population of iPhone users is humongous as compared to any other country in Africa. Even in South Africa, Android takes the lead in market share, though.

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Android or iPhone: Which is More Preferred in Nigeria and South Africa?

Nigeria: Android Dominates

Android is the undoubted market leader of smartphones in Nigeria. With low-priced smartphones and low-cost data plans readily available, android phones are more appealing to most Nigerians. Leading brands are offering feature-rich phones at an affordable price; some as cheap as $50.

As very popular as iPhones are, however, their expense renders them not accessible to the average Nigerian. But for cities like Abuja and Lagos, they come into the cream of society, as well as to new professionals who not only utilize them but do so as status symbols.

Secondhand iPhones also have their clientele-an economy-friendly option nonetheless quite attractive to apple enthusiasts.

Android’s affordability and accessibility make it the go-to choice for the majority of Nigerians.

South Africa: Mixed bag

In South Africa, Android and iPhone usage is somewhat mixed. While Android still controls the market, iPhones are more popular than in any other country in Africa.

This is possible because the country’s higher-than-average income level and well-developed retail system have made iPhones are more accessible to a large segment of the population.

In cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town, upper- and middle-class shoppers use iPhones. Budget shoppers prefer Androids from Huawei and Samsung.

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Android vs. iPhone: Which is most used in Nigeria?

Android leads by a wide margin in Nigeria because it is cheap and everywhere. IPhones might be highly desirable, but their prices put them way out of reach for the average Nigerian.

However, in Lagos and Abuja, for example, iPhones have a great demand among the elites and young professionals who perceive the device as a status symbol. Refurbished iPhones also find a market niche because they represent a cheap entry into the ownership of an Apple product.

StatCounter indicates that Android dominates over 87% of Nigeria’s mobile operating system market share because:

1. Affordability: Android phones sell at different price ranges, even though there are cheap Android phones from various makers such as Tecno, Infinix, and Samsung to suit Nigeria’s huge population incomes.

2. Accessibility: The availability of Android Phones is very effective because they sell at any nearest place in town and country at any authorized retailing shop, even from unauthorized and second-hand stores.

3. Localized Features: Companies like Tecno and Infinix have localized their phones to address the unique needs of the Nigerian consumer market for long battery life, dual SIMs, and cheaper data plans.

Android vs iPhone: Which is most used in South Africa

A more balanced state of affairs exists in South Africa compared to Nigeria. Android remains the driving force of the country, but iPhones are seen here more so than anywhere else on the African continent.

1. Android Dominance: With nearly 83.1% market share, according to StatCounter, Android is continuously leading the roost in South Africa. Some of the brands that give a set of gadgets across all levels of income, starting from low to high, are Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi.

2. IPhone Popularity: Relatively higher income, coupled with an advanced retailing sector, makes iPhones more accessible to a higher proportion of the population. IPhones are highly desired by the middle and upper-income classes in major metropolises such as Johannesburg and Cape Town.

3. Second-hand Market: Much as it is the case in Nigeria, there is a considerably huge second-hand iPhone market in South Africa that further makes the gadgets accessible to price-sensitive consumers.

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Top 10 Most Used Smartphones in Africa

The African mobile phone market is among the fastest-growing markets in the world, driven by increasing internet penetration, affordable handsets, and a young population hungry for technology.

While there is some visibility of international brands like Samsung and Apple, Chinese and indigenous brands are leading the market as they are affordable and have localized products. The top 10 most used smartphones in Africa are as follows:

1. Transsion

Transsion Holdings makers of Tecno, Infinix, and Itel, is the top-selling smartphone brand on the African continent. Their Phones are particularly popular for its affordability, long battery life, and feature sets with consideration of the African consumer in the area of dual SIM support and camera improvements for darker skin tones.

They currently dominate the African phone market with over 9.5 million units shipped in Q1 2024 and a market share of 52%.

2. Samsung

Samsung is considered a balance between price and quality. Samsung Galaxy A10, A20, and A50 are quite popular smartphones on the continent for their nice performance, good cameras, and support of the Samsung ecosystem.

3. iPhone (Refurbished Models)

While the newest iPhones remain unaffordable for the average African, refurbished iPhones of older versions like the iPhone 7, 8, and X-are in high fashion. They introduce people to Apple’s high-end ecosystem at a fraction of the price, hence becoming an urban status symbol.

4. Xiaomi

Xiaomi has greatly penetrated the African market due to its impressive value for money. Devices such as the Redmi Note and Redmi Go provide high-end features at an affordable cost: from AMOLED displays to fast processors, without the lofty price tag.

5. Oppo Series

Oppo A series is also trending in Africa for its slim look, great cameras, and reduced price. Phones of this nature are very trendy among young consumers who prioritize appearance and photography.

6. Nokia Series

Nokia is back in Africa with the most affordable Nokia series. The devices have been valued for their durability, stock Android experience, and general battery life, hence becoming a reliable choice for the majority of Africans.

7. Huawei Y Series

Despite global setbacks, Huawei is a behemoth in the African smartphone industry. Huawei Y series boasts a dependable performance, quality camera, and battery, which makes it a bestseller among budget users.

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Are Smartphones Cheaper in Africa?

Prices of smartphones vary widely in Africa by country, model, and brand. While affordable Android smartphones are readily available on the African continent, expensive smartphones such as iPhones remain unaffordable for many reasons, including taxes and import duties.

 For people who wish to use a high-end smartphone, trade-in shops are somewhat less unaffordable. A more detailed analysis of the determinants of smartphone prices on the continent is presented in more detail below:

1. Cheap Android Smartphones: Africa is the region where the cheapest smartphones in the world are made. Tecno, Infinix, and Itel produce smartphones as low as $50, making them affordable to the majority of people. The features included are such as longer-lasting batteries and dual SIM.

2. Refurbished Market: There is an enormous market for second-hand phones in Africa. The refurbished Android phones and iPhones are very cheap, hence a cheaper alternative in comparison to new phones.

3. Import Duties and Taxes: The high import taxes and duties on some countries increase the price of smartphones, especially high-end brands such as Apple. It is one reason why iPhones in Africa are outrageously priced in comparison to the rest of the world.

4. Local Assembly: Brands such as Tecno and Infinix have established local assembly plants in countries such as Ethiopia and Kenya, thus reducing the cost of production and making the phones more affordable.

FAQs

Conclusion

The Android-iPhone war in Nigeria and South Africa only reflects broader trends in the African smartphone market. Android’s affordability and flexibility are what the masses want, and iPhones are for the niche, premium market. It boils down to the question of your income, livelihood, and preferences.

References

• gs.statcounter.com/Most used smartphone in Africa
• consultancy.africa/Most used smartphone in Africa
• pulse.ng/Most used smartphone in Africa

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