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Mark Zuckerberg says there are now 100 million WhatsApp users in the USA. That’s a major milestone.
Traditionally, Americans were never fans of WhatsApp. Being predominantly iPhone-dominated territory, iMessage has been the preferred instant messaging app in the US. So, while the Meta-owned instant messaging app ramped up huge numbers elsewhere, its initial adoption in the United States was abysmal. But that looks to be changing.
Yesterday, Mark Zuckerberg shared via his WhatsApp channel a one-line announcement that there are now 100 million WhatsApp users in the USA. That is big news. For context, the population of the United States as at 26th of July 2024 is 342 million. About 300 million of them own a smartphone.
This means that one third of Americans now use WhatsApp messenger. That’s massive. Finally, WhatsApp is gaining traction in God’s own country.
About half of all smartphone users in the US are iPhone users. That’s about 150 million users. Not all of them use iMessage, so iMessage does not have 150 million users there. As a matter of sct, Statista says that only 26% of iPhone users are iMessagers. That sounds off; I’d have expected the share of iMessage users to be higher.
If Statista’s figures are accurate, then there were only 39 million iMessage users in the US in 2022. Interesting. Even if we generously assume that the number has grown to 50 million now in 2024, WhatsApp Messenger has twice that number now.
If we assume, again generously, that all iPhone users in the United States use iMessage, then we can peg the number of iMessage users in the country in 2024 to about 150 million. The fact that WhatsApp has clocked 100 million users means that it is catching up fast and will likely overtake iMessage soon.
It looks like WhatsApp is on the path to winning the instant messaging war in the US, however we slice things.
References
Share of smartphone users that use an Apple iPhone in the United States from 2014 to 2022: source .
Author:Mister Mobility
Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004
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This list of the best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 alternatives will help you narrow down your options for a large foldable device in 2024.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is a phenomenal top-of-the-line foldable device that was released in 2024. If you are looking for a cutting edge, modern smart device that can do it all, the Z Fold6 will be named among them.
In the United States (US), you can find it for as low as $1,900. It will set you back by C$2,549 in Canada. Be ready to spend £1,770 in the United Kingdom (UK), and €1,999 in Germany, Norway, Sweden and other European Union markets.
You might be interested in looking around to see what else is on the market before making that choice. Thankfully, there are a number of options available in the market, as other phone brands have large foldable devices in the market, too. This list of the best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 alternatives will help you narrow down your options.
OnePlus Open
The OnePlus Open is where I recommend that you look first for a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 alternative, as I consider it a better value-for-money purchase than other options.
We are talking about US$ 1,199.99 in the United States, CAC$ 2,313.90 in Canada, and £ 2,081 in the United Kingdom.
The OnePlus Open also leaves its mark with better battery life and much faster charging. And then, believe it or not, the camera performance is better than the Galaxy Z Fold6’s.
You will miss the versatility of having the S Pen, especially if you are an artiste or love to doodle. So keep that in mind. For everyone else, the OnePlus Open is an outstanding Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 alternative.
Google Pixel Fold
I wish that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold had been released as at the time of this article, because the original Pixel Fold is a poor alter active to the Galaxy Z Fold6. It is so poor that I would not even recommend it. Still, I owe it a duty to our readers to mention it.
It has a weaker processor, unimpressive battery life, and slow charging. But it is also cheaper. In the US, you can buy it for $850, just £709 in the UK, and €1,139 in the European Union.
If you really want a Pixel Fold, I say wait for the next one – Pixel 9 Pro Fold. That model is a more credible Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 alternative with more competitive, up-to-date specs and features.
Xiaomi Mix Fold 4
The Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 is new in the market and is an excellent Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 alternative, if you ask me. One, it is handier, thus closer to the dimensions of a normal smartphone when in closed mode. It is also super thin when unfolded. I’m a fan of 7-inch thin phones and I use one right now, but this guy is 5-inch thin. That’s amazing engineering there. Lastly, it is lighter.
The Mix Fold 4 has IPX8 water protection and a super capable set of cameras (including a periscope lens ) that are at par with the Galaxy Z Fold6’s, if not better. The battery capacity is also bigger and battery charging is much faster.
I am not sure that the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 will make it to the United States and Canada, though you can always order it online and get it shipped to you. If you are in the European Union zone, though, it is available for €1140.
vivo X Fold3 Pro
Another Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 alternative is the vivo X Fold3 Pro, but it is only on sale in China, India, and Indonesia. Which is a pity because it packs a solid punch. If you are resident in those markets, though, you should have a look. It has some advantages over the Samsung, including a better display, better water resistance, better battery life, and much faster battery charging.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
If cash is an issue for you and you really want S Pen functionality, the option for you is the older sibling to the Fold6, the Galaxy Fold5 .
It has pretty much 95% of the features of the Fold6, but a less powerful processor and older hardware. As far as software is concerned, Samsung is keeping it up-to-date with the latest versions of Android and OneUI, so you are good. The Galaxy Z Fold5 will set you back by $1,200 in the US, €1,257 in Europe, and £1,041 in the UK.
Author:Mister Mobility
Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004
