( Mashable ) -- Android smartphone market share trails iPhone market share by a scant 9 percentage points in a recent study from analysis giant Nielsen . According to statistics on overall U.S. market share , Android is the single fastest-growing mobile platform . By contrast , Apple 's iOS shows an ever-so-slight decline . Other operating systems , including BlackBerry and Windows Mobile , show sharp declines over the past quarter . Still , BlackBerry is the top mobile OS by the numbers , with around 30 percent of the total market share . Last month , Nielsen 's stats showed that Android was the preferred platform of new smartphone buyers , suggesting that big-budget marketing campaigns for devices such as the Droid lineup and HTC 's Evo were paying off . In fact , Androids outsold iPhones for the first time ever in the first half of 2010 . Nevertheless , these stats still show iOS devices as the leading smartphones in the Android-versus-iPhone battle . Today , Android has 19 percent of the mobile OS market , while Apple 's iOS smartphones have 28 percent . Age also plays a role in which device a given smartphone user is likely to choose . Members of the under-35 crowd were more likely to be seen with an Android than were older folks . And BlackBerry held sway with users over 45 . Apple dominated when it came to smartphone users ages 44 and under . Based on these trends , we fully expect BlackBerry devices to sink below iPhones in popularity within the next quarter . And we 're sure it wo n't be too long before Android and iOS are neck-and-neck in competing for smartphone dominance . Do you think the consumer actions behind these trends are based more on device performance and facts or more on personal bias and marketing ? We 'd love to get your opinions in the comments . © 2010 MASHABLE.com . All rights reserved .
Android market share trails iOS by scant 9 percent , says Nielsen . Apple 's iOS shows an ever - so - slight decline . Android is the top mobile OS , with around 30 percent of total market share .