AfterDawn: News

Survey: Developers prefer iOS over Android

Although it is a relatively well known fact, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster conducted a recent survey to see what mobile operating system is most popular with developers.

After surveying 100 developers at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), the consensus was that iOS was the most preferable.



"iOS was the clear favorite in two categories: ease of development and future revenue growth," said Munster. "Among the 55 developers who work with both operating systems, 84% said iOS was best for ease of development, with Android at 5%, Windows at 2% and 9% unsure."

While all the devs at the event (unsurprisingly) coded for Apple, 55 percent also coded apps for Android, with 14 percent coding for Windows and another 9 percent writing BlackBerry software.

Most importantly for the devs, 64 percent believed iOS offered the highest future revenue potential, with only 5 percent saying the same for Android.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 18 Jun 2012 17:07

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• 9 comments

• Tazer247

  LOL at biased data.
  

  18.6.2012 17:35 #1

• Jackal1234

  if you go to an android conference, i bet the majority of the devs there prefer it over apple! surprise, surprise

  18.6.2012 17:42 #2

• greenacre

  It makes sense somehow given that android programmers have to test their apps on different mobile devices with different configurations while ios programmers have to program to only a few resolutions/hardware. Still, even if they prefer ios, it doesnt mean that they wont produce apps for android anyway since its still money.

  18.6.2012 21:49 #3

• KillerBug

  Android really is harder...so many different hardware configurations, resolutions, and custom distros...it's practically impossible to test for everyone. Plus, Apple users are not savvy consumers, so they are more likely to buy bad apps for high prices.
  

  
  

  18.6.2012 23:18 #4

• 2001team

  You also have to remember that Apple users are more likely to pay for apps whereas Android users usually do not. I have had both devices and had to pay for Angry Birds and with Android, it was free but ad supported. Its also so much easier developing apps for iOS as there is so little variables to consider such as skins and hardware differences.
  

  19.6.2012 13:36 #5

• LordRuss

  Originally posted by KillerBug: Android really is harder...so many different hardware configurations, resolutions, and custom distros...it's practically impossible to test for everyone. Plus, Apple users are not savvy consumers, so they are more likely to buy bad apps for high prices. Kinda like feeding the console market as apposed to the PC market.
  
  I just know I'm gonna take heat for this one...
  

  http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

  19.6.2012 14:22 #6

• xnonsuchx

  Part of the issue is that Android is geared more towards web developers while iOS is geared more towards 'traditional' programmers. I've talked to a few people that develop for both who've said between an iPhone and a Android phone w/ similar specs, their iOS version of an app runs faster than the Android version.

  19.6.2012 17:07 #7

• yussef

  "at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC)"
  
  talk about biased data...
  
  I have to go 'wow' to the fact this actually classifies as news these days...
  

  20.6.2012 07:54 #8

• Lethal_B

  iOS is where the money's at.
  
  The Play Store is good for making a name for yourself, (that is, of course, if your app isn't complete codswallop), but a decent app can yield a decent return for you (and Apple) over at the App Store.
  

  21.6.2012 04:18 #9