Mobile browser war: Apple vs Android

Akamai has published its Q1 2014 State of the Internet report, which shows that Android Webkit is the most popular mobile browser in the world on cellular networks. However, Apple Mobile Safari leads when looking at all networks.

The Akamai State of the Internet Report draws data from Akamai IO, which collects data on browser usage across PC and mobile devices, connecting via fixed and mobile networks.

Mobile browser usage on cellular networks

Analysis of Akamai IO data indicates that for traffic from mobile devices on cellular networks, Android Webkit accounted for approximately 37% of requests, with Apple Mobile Safari trailing at just under 29%.

A gap of approximately 7-8% once again separated Android Webkit and Apple Mobile Safari throughout the quarter, with the difference remaining fairly consistent over this period.

Other top mobile browsers connecting to Akamai from cellular networks in the first quarter included: Opera Mini, Microsoft Internet Explorer Mobile, Google’s Chrome Mobile, the Blackberry browser, and Openwave Mobile Browser.

Mobile browsers cellular

Mobile browser usage on all networks

For traffic from mobile devices on all networks (not only cellular networks), Apple Mobile Safari was responsible for just under 47% of requests, while Android Webkit drove just more than 35% of requests.

“We see a gap of approximately 15% between Apple Mobile Safari and Android Webkit at the start of the quarter that gradually narrows to approximately 10% by the end of the quarter,” the report states.

Usage across “Other” mobile browsers remained relatively consistent across the quarter, though it did decline slightly throughout March.

Mobile browsers all networks

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Mobile browser war: Android vs Apple