Why Android Users Spend 20 Percent Less Time in Apps than iOS Users?

Android devices have the lead on the market share against iOS but it doesn't reflect on their app share. A study explained the possible reason of this conflicting status.

Mary Ellen Gordon, lead author of the study and director of Industry Insights & Analysis at Flurry, Inc., tracked the four year data they have to understand which is really leading the OS market between the arch rivals Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS. She also reviewed the weaknesses and strengths of each OS to better project how long it can hold on to the competition.

Market Share Winner: Android

For the past four years, the number of Android device users have doubled up and closed at 564 million in April. The iOS number also increased but not enough to beat Android especially after the release of Samsung Galaxy S2 in July 2011. From S2 to S4 this year, Android retained the top spot for almost two years. Apple had four devices released during the same period but still went below the line.

App Market Share Winner: iOS

Now here comes the interesting part, with Android on top of the market share the iOS happened to have more app time. The Android devices registered 20 percent less time spent on the apps.

Gordon gave three possible reasons for the conflicting data: user preference, fragmentation, and quality.

The idea about user preference greatly affected the numbers. Users buy iOS for the apps; Android users buy devices to use it as a phone. This explains the market share that Android has because people need a smartphone and not a mini-computer on their pocket which Apple prides itself.

Fragmentation or storage space, for Android devices are not enough to hold so many apps which made users opt not to download or use apps if they have any so that they can save space for their phone. Apps are normally stored in the internal storage of the devices and maximizing it will slow down its performance.

Last is quality. The apps that iOS have are far better than the quality of Android so more people would really use apps.

Now based on this argument, who do you think is really leading the game?