When looking at brand loyalty in the smartphone market, it’s hard not to be impressed by how loyal Apple fans are to the iPhone. The company has retained one of the most loyal subscribers over the years and continues to grow its ecosystem of devices that work together, making owning an iPhone even more useful if you already own a Mac or iPad. And while some might argue that Apple’s iPhone has stagnated, the company’s fans remain devoted, with a recent survey of 5,000 smartphone users revealing that they are 3.6% less likely to switch phone brands than Android users.
The survey, conducted by SellCell.com, compares user data in 2026 to previous surveys conducted by the company in 2019 and 2021. According to the survey data, iPhone user loyalty has increased over the past few years, from 91.9% in 2021 to over 96% in 2026. This may seem like a small margin, but compared to Android’s loyalty rating of 86.4 %, that’s a pretty stark difference.
Of course, there are a number of reasons why users stick with their iPhone. Chief among them is the overall value that devices like the iPhone 17 offer, especially if you’re already fairly integrated into the Apple ecosystem.
Why more and more users are sticking with the iPhone
Beyond the overall value that iPhones tend to offer, most respondents say they stick with Apple because they prefer it, with 60.8% of Apple users saying this. 17.4% say they are too invested in the Apple ecosystem to leave it, which makes sense given how many devices Apple offers at this point and how they work together. This is something Apple continues to improve with its Continuity features on iPhone and Mac. 8.7% of users say they have never had a problem with their iPhone, making them unlikely to switch.
Finally, 10% of users say they stay because their Apple phone is simply easy to use, while the remaining 3.1% say they stay because they trust Apple’s approach to privacy and security overall. That’s not surprising, especially since Apple continues to pursue positive changes, like the company’s recent patching of an iPhone flaw that allowed the FBI to read deleted notifications.
This is why some might switch to Android
While many users are happy to stick with Apple and the iPhone, some have indicated they will switch brands the next time they upgrade. However, among the 3.6% of users who say they might switch devices, more than 25% say they would because another brand offers better value, and 24.7% say the iPhone has become too expensive. Smartphone prices are also expected to rise, so the latter reason could certainly become more prevalent in the coming years.
Of course, it’s important to note that of those percentages, less than 15% say they would switch because they prefer Android, while 12.4% say they simply want a change. As such, it doesn’t seem like Android has much to offer to lure users away from Apple, as the main reasons to switch mostly depend on the price and overall value of the phone. With more Android models available, thanks to the different brands creating Android phones, those looking to save money on their next smartphone might find some good cheap smartphone options to invest in instead.
Overall, Apple loyalty remains in top form, although these results are far from a complete collapse of the Apple community.