Why Apple dominates Android in app revenue

[Migi2015]

Apple-only devs make 3x more revenue than Android-only devs. I wanted to attach the link but I only have 3 posts. You can google it, it's common knowledge.
What this tells me is most Android phones are glorified cell phones. The real truth is that people who buy "flagship" phones spend money on apps. All iPhones are "flagship" and about 10% of Android phone sales are "flagship". I know that I spent as much money on Android apps as iOS apps(I only ever bought flagship Androids). What it means is Apple has always owned the flagship smartphone market in all aspects:

• unit sales
• app revenue
• web searches

since 2008 when the App Store was opened for business. I really am tired of hearing about 80% Android "marketshare" when most of those Android phones are only used as phones and some stock app usage.

There is every reason to believe based on the actual unit sales numbers in the last quarter(75 million iPhones) that Apple sold 80% of flagship devices.

I'm not trying to stir up crap. Also I believe Apple fans are seriously wrong when they say "Phandroids are poor" because Android fans on forums are even more likely to own flagship devices and spend money on apps/content. So essentially the flame wars on these forums are between people who likely can afford the same stuff. Why mock poor people?

The way I see the 2 markets(unit sales):

Flagship(iOS 80%, Android 20% Windows 0%)
Mid-range and budget(Android 98% Windows 2%)

Apple just doesn't play below the $450 mark(iPhone 5C was $450 when sold). I consider flagship to be anything $400 and above.

 

[nahoku]

So... what's the point? Apple and Android are two different animals. When are people going to realize that and just leave it at that? People are going to buy whatever they want and like. Sales have nothing to do with anything... except after the fact, when some number cruncher puts your references together.

So what? Should I sell my "glorified" Note 4 and go buy an iPhone? Is that the point? I really don't see any point in posting this thread... unless you DO WANT TO

stir up crap.

 

[Migi2015]

So... what's the point? Apple and Android are two different animals. When are people going to realize that and just leave it at that? People are going to buy whatever they want and like. Sales have nothing to do with anything... except after the fact, when some number cruncher puts your references together.

So what? Should I sell my "glorified" Note 4 and go buy an iPhone? Is that the point? I really don't see any point in posting this thread... unless you DO WANT TO

You obviously are not interested in a real debate. I said that most Androids are glorified cell phones. Where did I say a Galaxy Note 4 isn't a flagship device? Of course it is and people who buy those probably spend a good amount of money on apps & content in the Google Play Store. Congratulations, you are wealthy enough to afford a flagship device unlike most people. My point was that Apple is by far the best at going after people with money.

 

[nahoku]

You obviously are not interested in a real debate. I said that most Androids are glorified cell phones. Where did I say a Galaxy Note 4 isn't a flagship device? Of course it is and people who buy those probably spend a good amount of money on apps & content in the Google Play Store. Congratulations, you are wealthy enough to afford a flagship device unlike most people. My point was that Apple is by far the best at going after people with money.

This is not a debate. There is no debate. Apple has been high priced before they even got into phones. It's not that they are good at going after people with money, it's that they overpriced they're hardware (and software) so that you could only buy Apple by spending more money. Back in the day, a Mac monitor costs $2300 vs a PC monitor selling for $600. Foolish mac users, still bought the mac monitors!

The wars of Mac vs PC, and now Android vs iPhone are pointless and will go on forever!

 

[Migi2015]

This is not a debate. There is no debate. Apple has been high priced before they even got into phones. It's not that they are good at going after people with money, it's that they overpriced they're hardware (and software) so that you could only buy Apple by spending more money. Back in the day, a Mac monitor costs $2300 vs a PC monitor selling for $600. Foolish mac users, still bought the mac monitors!

The wars of Mac vs PC, and now Android vs iPhone are pointless and will go on forever!

Guess what back in 1990 when Mac monitors went for $2300 they were hardly selling them! Do you understand what a watershed it was for the $499 entry-level iPad in 2010 was? The idea that Apple is "greedy" is a myth. In fact I'd say that under pre-1997 Apple they were greedy and it cost them.

People say that $3999 Mac Pro is Apple being "greedy", but is there a comparable piece of tech in the world? No, and they can charge whatever they want for unique tech.

Same thing with iPhone 6S 128GB at $900. They can charge that because of having the best SoC, best industrial design, unique feature(3d Touch) and so on. The market decides and Apple sold 75 million iPhones last quarter despite being "over-priced".

I agree the smartphone war is over and Apple won(profits are king). AR/VR is next. I'm not interested in one company winning, I want the best stuff.

 

[nahoku]

Your comments are laughable! Apple profits don't mean they're king of anything. Think about it... iPhones are made in China, as is everything else Apple makes. Do you really think it cost's Apple anything to produce there? If it doesn't cost much, then the rest is profit. Greed? Ahhh yes, I would say greed.

You said you didn't want to "stir up crap", but obviously it's EXACTLY what you wanted to do. I'm sure that anyone else who reads this thread will see that right away. That being said, I'm gone. Good luck loving your Apples!

By the way, this...

I want the best stuff.

... is a matter of opinion!

 

[Migi2015]

Your comments are laughable! Apple profits don't mean they're king of anything. Think about it... iPhones are made in China, as is everything else Apple makes. Do you really think it cost's Apple anything to produce there? If it doesn't cost much, then the rest is profit. Greed? Ahhh yes, I would say greed.

You said you didn't want to "stir up crap", but obviously it's EXACTLY what you wanted to do. I'm sure that anyone else who reads this thread will see that right away. That being said, I'm gone. Good luck loving your Apples!

By the way, this...
... is a matter of opinion!

Let's break apart your statements.

#1 - Cash is king. Having a gigantic cash pile gives your company security for potential dark economic times, market mis-steps, etc... It also enables you to pursue multiple moon-shot projects at the same time. F.e., Project Titan, AR/VR, etc...

#2 - You obviously are not interested in a debate. I never once made a glib remark, everything I say is backed up by facts.

#3 - How is my wanting the best tech a bad opinion? I'm sure Steve Wozniack shares that view along with many other people who aren't fanboys.

BTW - I own an XBox One, Nexus 7 tablet, Nexus 5 phone, OnePlus One and have owned Lumia phones in the past. I am a lover of tech no matter who makes it!

 

[Golfdriver97]

I think Apple dominates in the App revenue due to there are far fewer free apps in the App store. I believe this is partially (if not completely) due to the yearly $99 fee to be an Apple developer, as opposed to Google's one time $25 fee.

Source: https://developer.apple.com/support/compare-memberships/

 

[Aquila]

Moderator note: please, no more fan boy comments, etc. If you want to have this discussion, please do it in a civil and respectful manner. If there are any questions please read the rules and send me a private message.

 

[Migi2015]

I think Apple dominates in the App revenue due to there are far fewer free apps in the App store. I believe this is partially (if not completely) due to the yearly $99 fee to be an Apple developer, as opposed to Google's one time $25 fee.

Honestly any serious developer looking to make $100K/year in app revenue is not going to be swayed by $99 vs $25 annual fee.

 

[Laura Knotek]

You've also failed to take into account that the majority of apps are free, whether used on Android or iOS.

Top 15 Smartphone Apps
December 2015
Total U.S. Smartphone Mobile Media Users, Age 18+ (iOS and Android Platforms)
Source: comScore Mobile Metrix
Top 15 Apps % Reach
1 Facebook 76.8%
2 Facebook Messenger 62.5%
3 YouTube 61.3%
4 Google Play 51.9%
5 Google Maps 50.9%
6 Google Search 50.1%
7 Gmail 45.6%
8 Pandora Radio 44.2%
9 Instagram 39.1%
10 Amazon Mobile 38.7%
11 Apple Music 32.2%
12 Yahoo Stocks 30.6%
13 Apple Maps 29.1%
14 Google Drive 25.7%
15 Twitter 24.5%

 

[dpham00]

I do agree that a large percentage of Android users are more budget conscious and also won't buy as many apps. However I do not agree that the low or mid range are glorified cell phones. Many people do use them for more basic tasks like email, browsing the Web, Facebook, and such... But that is beyond a basic cell phone which I
consider a device that can basically call and text only.

 

[Laura Knotek]

I do agree that a large percentage of Android users are more budget conscious and also won't buy as many apps. However I do not agree that the low or mid range are glorified cell phones. Many people do use them for more basic tasks like email, browsing the Web, Facebook, and such... But that is beyond a basic cell phone which I
consider a device that can basically call and text only.

There are also many people who buy flagship devices, such as high end Samsung or iPhone but never use those devices for much more than basic tasks.

 

[Aquila]

Sorry folks, it turns out this is an attempt at trolling across our sister sites. I guess it is a good thing we have those other dozens of threads to talk ios vs android.