Android beats iPhone as Britain's favourite smartphone system

Androids are the most popular smartphones in Britain, with devices running Google's operating system beating out Apple's iPhone, according to new research.

The HTC Desire - one of the reasons everybody loves Android (Getty)

Some 28 per cent of smartphone users have Android phones, 26 per cent use iPhones and 14 per cent own a BlackBerry, a study by digital banking provider Intelligent Environments found. 

More than 4million adults in Britain own an Android phone, with 36 per cent of them aged 25 to 34 - although the research found they are popular with both young professionals and older people, with 25% of retired people who own a smartphone having an Android. 

However, the heaviest users still tend to be iPhone owners - 18 per cent of iPhone users are on theirs for at least four hours a day, compared with just four per cent for Android and BlackBerry.

Android users are most likely to spend time mapping and planning travel - 34% rate this in the top three apps they spend the most time using, compared with BlackBerry and Apple (both 28%).

The research tells the same story as recently released figures for the US, which showed that Android had seen its market share shoot up from 26% to 33% in just three months, with BlackBerry devices falling to 29% and Apple largely flat on 25%.

James Richards, director of mobile at Intelligent Environments, said: 'The top three mobile platforms in the UK certainly seem to attract different personalities. It's fair to say that iPhone and BlackBerry have strong identities but given that Android is on a number of handsets, we are clearly seeing more of a mixed user base.'

R