Google's Android Powers 59.5 Percent Of All 'Smart Mobile Devices'
by Joe White
May 10, 2013
Google's Android operating system powers an impressive 59.5 percent of all "smart mobile devices" sold in the first fiscal quarter of 2013, according to recent data from Canalys. Apple's iOS, however, presently holds 19.3 percent of this market, yet nevertheless saw a quarterly increase.
The smart mobile device market, which includes smartphones, tablets, and laptops, grew to 308.7 million users by the end of 2013's first quarter, and saw a yearly increase of 37.4 percent. Out of the three smart devices, tablets enjoyed the most impressive increase, with a 106.1 percent year-on-year rise resulting in 41.9 million units shipped during the quarter. Apple presently dominates the tablet market, with the iPad taking 46.4 percent of the global share.
Despite this, however, Android's popularity as a smartphone operating system is nevertheless significant. Google's mobile OS is shown to power 75.6 percent of the quarter's total smartphone shipments (which clocked in at 216.3 million units), and as such, Canalys estimates that in total, Android runs on 59.5 percent of all smartphones, tablets, and laptops sold in the first fiscal quarter of 2013.
Furthermore, laptop shipments reached 50.5 million - a 13.1 percent drop from 2012's first quarter, which no doubt arose in part due to the continuing rise of the tablet.
To recap, here's a breakdown of the figures:
- 308.7 million smart mobile device users.
- 37.4 percent year-on-year increase for smart mobile devices.
- 59.5 percent powered by Android.
- 19.3 percent powered by iOS.
- 106.1 percent year-on-year increase for tablets.
- 41.9 million tablets shipped during the first quarter.
- 46.4 percent of the tablet market is controlled by Apple.
- 216.3 million smartphones shipped in the same quarter.
- 75.6 percent of the quarter's smartphones were powered by Android.
- 50.5 million laptops shipped - down 13.1 percent from last year.