I don't know what it's like in the US, but the rise of Android in Australia is overwhelmingly because the telcos and phone stores are pushing Android over iOS.

I don't know what it's like in the US, but the rise of Android in Australia is overwhelmingly because the telcos and phone stores are pushing Android over iOS. Sure, they have the marketing posters in the shop window and the inkjet printed signs confirming they have stock of iPhone 5S in gold. But walk in the store, and it's a completely different story: Android everywhere, and salespeople that seem to universally push alternatives. It's understandable. Whenever a new model is released, Apple's constrained supply means these store's daily profits are dictated by whatever supply Apple decides to give them. They're likely getting much smaller margins than other brands, and therefore limited in their ability to lure customers with discounts. -- As far as I can tell, Android owners fall into these categories: 1. Educated customers that genuinely want an Android-only advantage (e.g. oversized screen) 2. Uneducated customers who bought whatever the salesperson recommended. 3. People with tight budgets or low expectations that might otherwise have purchased a feature-phone. 4. Counter-trend hipsters who think Apple is too mainstream. Seriously. I know quite a few people who fit this category. 5. Stupid Google fanboys who are convinced Android is amazing open source nirvana, and probably haven't ever owned an iPhone anyway... because they're not an stupid Apple fanboy.