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The Android-Apple Mobile App Gap

The mobile app gap between Google and Apple continues.

Google leads in downloads and Apple leads in revenue, according to the second quarter report from App Annie Intelligence, which tracks downloads and revenue in the iOS App Store and Google Play.

Google Play downloads globally were 85% higher than those on the Apple Store, a further increase from the 70% gap found in the first quarter.

Android downloads were driven by emerging markets like Vietnam, Brazil, India and the Philippines where more inexpensive but powerful Android devices proliferated.

But the revenue side paints the opposite picture.

Apple’s App Store revenue was 70% higher than Google Play, the same situation in the last quarter.

But not all markets are the same. For example, Germany became one of the few countries where Google Play revenue topped that of Apple’s App Store.

The big app development this time around is the increase in video streaming.

Led by HBO Now and Hulu, video streaming apps moved to fourth place in iOS revenue. And this is before HBO Now hits Android devices this month, so watch that space.

But the amount of time spent on iOS and Android apps in the U.S. is not identical. Here are the top categories of time spent by iOS app users:

  • Social networking
  • Photo and video
  • Utilities
  • Games
  • Music

Here are the top categories of time spent by Android app users:

  • Social networking
  • Communication
  • Games
  • Media and Video
  • Entertainment

By session duration, the top category for both operating systems is entertainment.

The depth of Apple distribution comes through in the China numbers, as that country tops the list by iOS downloads, followed by the U.S.

When it comes to overall revenue, the U.S. tops that list, followed by Japan, China, the U.K. and Australia.

Android is totally different, with the U.S. leading in downloads, followed by Brazil, India, Russia and Mexico. China didn’t even make the top five.

Android revenue also differs by country, led by Japan and followed by the U.S. South Korea and Taiwan.

While there may be an app gap, there is no shortage of app activity.

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