- 85% of South Korean smartphone users younger than 30 had an Android as their first phone
- Now, 55% of those users are using iPhones
- 32% of switchers cited performance as the reason for switching, and 31% cited “brand image”
New research from Counterpoint has revealed that over half of South Koreans aged under 30 who initially bought an Android phone have since switched to an Apple iPhone. The iPhone is already a popular choice in South Korea, which is the home of Apple’s largest rival, Samsung.
Counterpoint notes that 85% of South Korean smartphone users younger than 30 had an Android as their first phone. However, in their survey, 55% of those users are now using iPhones. The reason for the high number of Android first-time purchases is likely due to the preference of those with real purchasing power, such as parents.
When asked why they decided to switch, 32% cited performance and 31% cited “brand image” as their priority. On the flip side, 92% of those with an iPhone as their first-ever phone said they still use Apple, with 76% saying they would not switch to Android. Design was the primary reason for this, with performance also playing a factor.
However, those who switched from iPhone to Android cited easy-to-use features such as Samsung Pay and Android’s user interface as the primary reasons. Over half of these users said they were certain they would not switch back.
