Report: iPhones Leading Android Phones for Mobile Gaming

A larger percentage of iPhone users in the Arbitron Mobile U.S. smartphone panel-85.7 percent-played mobile gaming apps in December 2012 compared to Android-using panelists-76 percent. iPhone mobile gamers in the panel also accessed gaming apps more often with an average of 151.5 sessions each month than Android gamers, who accessed gaming apps an average of 94.6 sessions a month.

iPhone gamers in the panel spent an average of 12 hours, 23 minutes using mobile gaming apps in December. In contrast, game-playing panelists with Android smartphones spent an average of 8 hours, 4 minutes with game apps.

Mobile gaming apps	iOS users in panel	Android users in panel
Percent any use/month	85.7%	76.0%

Mobile gaming apps	iOS gamers in panel	Android gamers in panel
Average minutes spent/month	743.1	484.0
Average # of sessions/month	151.5	94.6

Source: Arbitron Mobile Trends Panels Service; United States; December 2012

Gaming garners the most time spent for any smartphone functions

Mobile gamers, who account for 78.8 percent of the U.S. panel, spent more time with their gaming apps-9 hours, 54 minutes-than smartphone users spent with other apps and functions such as social networking, messaging, browsing, and voice calls.

Smartphone function (all OSs)	Users of the function: average time spent/month (minutes)	Percent of panelists using the function
Gaming	594.1	78.8%
Social Networking	477.0	84.5%
Messaging (SMS and MMS)	447.9	96.4%
Browsing	447.8	99.3%
Calls	418.6	96.0%

Source: Arbitron Mobile Trends Panels Service; United States; December 2012

Top games vary by platform

Words With Friends was the most popular game among all Arbitron Mobile smartphone panelists in December. The game has a larger proportion of fans among iPhone users than among Android users.

Game Title	User share of Apple iPhones in panel	Game title	User share of Android phones in panel
Words With Friends	26.1%	Words With Friends	16.0%
Scramble With Friends	11.4%	Angry Birds Star Wars	16.0%
Temple Run	11.1%	Scramble With Friends	9.6%
The Simpsons: Tapped Out	10.8%	Drag Racing	7.3%
Draw Something	10.6%	Fruit Ninja	6.3%

Source: Arbitron Mobile Trends Panels Service; United States; December 2012

For selected top games that are available to users of Apple iOS and Google Android, different platforms delivered the most avid fans in terms of users, time spent with the games, and user sessions.

Game	Platform	Share of platform users	Gamer time spent/month (minutes)	Average # of sessions among gamers
Words With Friends	All	19.6%	235.0	71.1
	iOS	26.1%	279.9	78.9
	Android	16.0%	182.0	62.0
Scramble With Friends	All	10.0	107.2	25.7
	iOS	11.4	136.3	31.4
	Android	9.6	82.1	20.7
Draw Something	All	7.2	89.4	22.5
	iOS	10.6	85.3	21.7
	Android	5.2	95.4	23.6
Slotomania SM	All	7.1	92.7	27.4
	iOS	9.6	70.4	25.7
	Android	5.6	120.2	29.5
SongPop	All	6.1	88.4	20.5
	iOS	7.8	113.8	25.5
	Android	5.2	60.6	15.0