Android has overtaken Windows as the most used operating system on the internet

For years the tech industry has believed in the dominance of the almighty Microsoft Windows. Windows is one of the most used operating system in the desktop space with more than 90.45 percent of devices powered by the operating system according to data by NetMarketShare.

However, according to a recent report by StatCounter, Android has dethroned Microsoft Windows as the most popular operating system (OS) for internet usage across product segments such as desktop, tablets, laptops and mobile devices.

Image Credit: StatCounter

The interesting thing is that Android overtook Windows last month with internet usage market share across the world at 37.93 percent in comparison to the 37.91 percent usage on Windows OS.

Aodhan Cullen, the CEO of StatCounter termed this to be a “milestone in technology history” and “the end of an era.” He goes on to say that, “It marks the end of Microsoft’s leadership worldwide of the OS market which it has held since the 1980s.”

This statement might not hold true entirely since we are only talking about the OS preferred to access the internet. Windows is the preferred choice for desktops. But the results do point to a definite trend in the market where PCs are observing a continuous decline in overall market share when compared to mobile devices.

The report notes that Windows holds about 84 percent internet usage market share in the desktop market which includes PC and laptops.

Cullen correctly points out, “Windows won the desktop war but the battlefield has moved on.” Windows 10 Mobile OS is nowhere close to be competitve. It has a minuscule 0.3 percent market share as compared to over 80 percent of Android market share. There is no way Windows is making any inroads in the mobile sector.

One interesting thing to note here is that Windows has maintained its lead in North America and Europe with 39.5 percent and 51.7 percent internet usage market share while Android held around 21.2 percent and 23.6 market share respectively.

Asia was the deciding factor to give Android a marginal bump by holding 52.2 percent as Windows slumped to 29.2 percentage. The reason for Asia being so contrasting in terms of market share can be because of the fact that most people would opt to choose a smartphone rather going for a PC or a laptop.

Publish date: April 4, 2017 5:03 pm| Modified date: April 4, 2017 5:16 pm