According to a Financial Times article, younger Americans, especially those who were born after 1996 and are known as "Gen Z," prefer Apple devices by a large margin over Android devices.
According to the FT report, younger consumers are concerned about being socially excluded for failing to have an iPhone. This drives Gen Z'ers to purchase an iPhone, which leads them to purchase other Apple products and services.
iPhone is preferred by Gen Z members.
Gen Z'ers account for 34% of iPhone owners in the United States, compared to just 10% for Samsung. Older consumers split their handset purchases 50/50 between the iPhone and Android devices. Younger people are also more likely to purchase AirPods, Apple Watches, and Macs.
"It really makes it difficult to alter the trajectory." Apple is just going to continue to grow its share over time.
According to Canalys, for every 100 iPhones sold around the globe, Apple sells 17 Apple Watches, 35 AirPods, and 26 iPads.
The Fear of a Green Text Balloon
According to FT, Gen Z'ers spend up to six hours a day on their smartphones, the most online time of any age group. This is due to iMessage's importance as a social signal, as well as the green text balloons in group chats with Android users.
When iPhone users in the group send videos or photos, they often appear smaller than they would appear through iMessage.
Annelise Hillman, a 24-year-old chief executive of a men's grooming business, said she's been thrown off the whole chat by a green message. "The social pressure to get an iPhone is pretty great."
Apple's focus on establishing a "closed" environment that allows users to stay in the company's ecosystem, ultimately resulting in customers buying other Apple devices and accessories.
What Does Europe Have to Do With It?
As iMessage is less prevalent in Europe, because Android has a larger market share. However, the same trend is evident in western Europe. According to Canalys research, 83% of Apple users under 25 years old intend to continue using an iPhone in the future.
