Ahmed Sherif
Research expert covering IT services and gaming hardware
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital infrastructure, operating systems emerge as the unsung architects — meticulously designing the framework upon which our technological symphony unfolds. An operating system (OS) is the software that manages all other software and hardware on a computer, ensuring they work together harmoniously, and generally allows a computer to run. Today, almost every device — from graphical calculators to smartphones to personal computers — requires an operating system to function, some of which are created for specific hardware, such as game consoles, and others that are intended to run on a wide variety of devices, such as Microsoft’s Windows. Whether you’re typing a document, playing games, or browsing the web, the operating system quietly ensures everything stays in tune.
Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS are poised to maintain their dominance in the global mobile and tablet markets in the coming years, with no clear competitor in sight. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Windows remains a leader in desktop operating systems, and although it is trailed closely by Apple’s macOS, the latter is not expected to lead the desktop OS market anytime soon. Overall, the future holds steady for these giants, with no imminent shifts on the horizon.
Android leads the global mobile market
Among smartphones, Google's Android and Apple's iOS are the leading mobile operating systems in the world. Android's share is estimated at 70 percent of the market, while iOS's share is around 29 percent. Symbian OS, once a mobile market leader as recently as 2012, has seen its market share drop to less than one percent, while Nokia’s “Series 40” and Samsung OS have followed suit. Mobile operating systems are also an important indicator in the smartphone market, reflecting shifts in handset sales. Sales of Android smartphones exceeded 960 million worldwide in 2023, while Apple shipped around 225 million units.Apple tops the tablet market worldwide
Similar to the smartphone market, Android and iOS also dominate the global tablet market. Apple is considered a pioneer in the industry, having not only brought tablet devices to the consumer market but also dominated the market in its early years. Nonetheless, with the introduction of a wide range of competitive products, Apple iOS’s market share dropped dramatically, while Android’s share increased steadily. Since the second quarter of 2022, Apple iOS has reemerged as the tablet market leader, with a nearly 55 percent market share as of the fourth quarter of 2023. During the same quarter, Apple’s dominance in the tablet market was evident in tablet unit sales, having shipped nearly 15 million tablet units that quarter, with Android sales split between various manufacturers. Apple’s lead in OS market share and tablet unit shipments solidified its position as a dominant force in the global tablet market.Windows remains the top desktop OS
Microsoft’s Windows holds the greatest share of the global PC operating system market, at 68 percent. Windows 10 is the most popular Windows version currently, accounting for around 68 percent of all Windows desktop PCs. Apple’s macOS, previously OS X, runs on most Apple personal and enterprise computers and occupies around 15 percent of the market, with macOS Catalina leading the pack in global macOS market share. In September 2023, Apple released macOS Sonoma, the most recent version operating system for its computers.Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS are poised to maintain their dominance in the global mobile and tablet markets in the coming years, with no clear competitor in sight. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Windows remains a leader in desktop operating systems, and although it is trailed closely by Apple’s macOS, the latter is not expected to lead the desktop OS market anytime soon. Overall, the future holds steady for these giants, with no imminent shifts on the horizon.
