Predicting smartphone operating system from personality and individual differences

Android and iPhone devices account for over 90% of all smartphones sold world-wide. Despite being very similar in functionality, current discourse and marketing campaigns suggest that key individual differences exist between users of these two devices; however, this has never been investigated empirically. This is surprising, as smartphones continue to gain momentum across a variety of research disciplines. In this paper we consider if individual differences exist between these two distinct groups. In comparison to Android users, we found that iPhone owners are more likely to be female, younger, and increasingly concerned about their smartphone being viewed as a status object. Key differences in personality were also observed with iPhone users displaying lower levels of honesty-humility and higher levels of emotionality. Following this analysis, we were also able to build and test a model that predicted smartphone ownership at above chance level based on these individual differences. In line with extended self theory, the type of smartphone owned provides some valuable information about its owner. These findings have implications for the increasing use of smartphones within research particularly for those working within Computational Social Science and PsychoInformatics, where data is typically collected from devices and applications running a single smartphone operating system

Individual differences between iPhone and Android smartphone users

Background: Android and iPhone devices account for over 95% of all smartphones sold world-wide, but individual differences between these two groups has never been investigated empirically. This is surprising given that many other purchasing decisions can predict individual traits. Methods: In this paper, we considered stereotypes and actual individual differences between these two groups. Study 1 required participants (N=240) to circle adjectives they associated with iPhone and Android smartphone users. Study 2 then tested these stereotypes against ‘actual’ personality traits in a larger sample (N=530). Findings: Applying these adjectives to a standard model of personality, Android users were perceived to have greater levels of Honesty-Humility, Agreeableness, Openness but be less Extroverted than iPhone users. While these stereotypes were largely inaccurate, we were able to build statistical models that predicted smartphone ownership at above chance level based on key individual differences between the two groups. Discussion: In line with extended self theory, a smartphone provides some valuable information about its owner. These findings are discussed in relation to the growing number of smartphone research designs that only collect data across a single smartphone platform