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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [TECHNOLOGY]

2 clusters · 5 sources · 12 days · First seen · Last updated

Japan smartphone market and usage trends

Overview

Market research in Japan indicates a shift in the smartphone operating system landscape, with Android overtaking iPhone. Data from MMD Laboratory shows Android reached a 54.1% market share, while iPhone declined to 45.6%. This change is attributed to rising prices for new iPhone models. Among Android users, the AQUOS series is the most popular, followed by Google Pixel, Galaxy, and Xperia.

Further research by NTT Docomo’s Mobile Social Research Institute highlights increasing smartphone usage among students, particularly junior high school students, with approximately 40% using devices for more than three hours daily. A generational divide in device preference has also emerged; while younger demographics favor iPhone, users aged 40 and older show a strong preference for the AQUOS series.

Entities

AQUOS · MMD Laboratory · Android · NTT Docomo · Google Pixel

Timeline

  1. [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Japan smartphone trends show rising student usage and Android market lead

    New research in Japan shows rising smartphone usage among students and a shift in OS market share, with Android leading at 54.1% and older demographics favoring AQUOS devices.

  2. [TECHNOLOGY] 3 sources
    Android reaches 54.1% smartphone OS share in Japan

    A MMD Laboratory survey shows Android's smartphone OS share rising to 54.1% in August 2026, while iPhone's share fell to 45.6%, marking a significant six-month decline for Apple.

Sources

ebook.itmedia.co.jp · iussp.org · mmdlabo.jp · orefolder.jp · webtan.impress.co.jp