Apple’s iPhone inspires much greater brand loyalty than its rival devices and platforms, according to market research firm GfK and reported by Reuters.

GfK found that 84 percent of iPhone users would pick the same device again when it came to replacing their phone. In contrast, 60 percent of Android phone users said they would stick with the Google OS when they changed their phone and slightly less than half (48 percent) of BlackBerry users said they would remain loyal to the brand.

While Android has become the biggest shipping smartphone OS,  BlackBerry maker RIM has recently suffered from falling sales, something the GfK research suggests won’t be reversed in the short term.

GfK analyst Ryan Garner said 63 percent of consumers in Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the UK and US plan to stick to same mobile platform when changing their device, suggesting a rapid change in the market is unlikely.

However, Garner added that the continuing rapid growth of Android and the arrival of Windows Phone means there are still opportunities for a shift. "Apple is clearly ahead of the game, but developments next year will challenge that," Garner is quoted as saying by Reuters.