Roughly nine in 10 Nigerians (88%) used Android-powered smartphones as of 2025, while Apple's iOS accounted for the remaining 12%, according to a new study that underscores Android's continued dominance of the country's mobile market.

The findings come from a September2026 KPMG x Orange Group report titled “Nigeria Smartphone Study: A Nationwide Analysis of Smartphone Ownership and Digital Application Usage,” which drew on responses from more than 13,000 active phone users.

Surveying 12 Nigerian cities — including Lagos, FCT Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, and Kano — the joint report found that smartphone penetration stood at 75% in 2025, up from 64% in 2023. Over the same period, the share of feature phone users fell from 36% to 28%, a shift consistent with steadily rising internet penetration among Nigeria's young population.

The data arrives at a time when internet access is fueled by technological exploration and changing patterns of work — a time when a phone without internet connectivity functions largely as a device for voice calls. From digital payments to social messaging apps, the mobile phone has become a workspace, particularly for remote workers. The operating-system split gives that shift a distinct shape: with roughly nine in 10 Nigerian smartphones running Android, the digital payment and messaging tools at the center of this workspace operate predominantly on Google's platform, while iOS serves a smaller, premium-focused segment.

Industry data as of July 2026 shows that 157 million Nigerians out of 195 million telecom users can now access the internet, underscoring the continued transition away from feature phones.

Among leading telecom operators, MTN Nigeria holds the largest share of internet users at 84 million, followed by Airtel with nearly 59 million. Globacom, owned by Mike Adenuga, ranks third with 15.6 million, while T2mobile holds the smallest share at 810,010 internet users. Taken together, MTN and Airtel account for the overwhelming majority of the country's internet connections.

Within the Android segment, the 88% share spans leading brands such as Tecno, Infinix, Samsung, Itel, and Xiaomi, while Vivo, Nokia, and Lenovo together captured 5% of Android users. Established players ceded ground: Tecno slipped from 29% to 25%, and Infinix from 26% to 24%. The biggest gainers were Samsung, which rose from 10% to 12%, Itel, which climbed from 7% to 10%, and Xiaomi, which jumped from 3% to 8%. Apple's iPhone market share declined from 14% to 12%. Whether that reshuffling proves durable, and whether penetration climbs beyond the 75% recorded in 2025, remains to be seen.

The report indicates that Android's dominance — and iOS's level of adoption — is driven largely by affordability rather than consumer preference. While iOS devices continue to attract buyers with premium offerings, advanced camera capabilities, and strong ecosystem integration, pricing remains a decisive factor, particularly in countries with low per capita income.

Android's appeal extends beyond entry-level devices, where competition among brands is fiercest. The platform also allows for extensive and flexible integration, supporting broad home screen layouts, custom launchers, alternative app stores, and deep file-system control — all of which appeal to users who want freedom over how their devices look and work.