> However, if you could get iOS on hardware from different manufacturers, loyalty to Apple for hardware would inevitably be lessened

The word "if" is doing a lot of heavy-lifting in this sentence because we both know that isn't the case and isn't happening (though the usage of Hackintosh supports this idea), but the counterpoint is that this is exactly the case with Android, ergo, you will see less loyalty if your apps and data carries on without fuss, regardless of which manufacturer you choose for your next device.

People switching away from Apple isn't the topic at hand, why people don't stick with the Pixel in terms of "loyalty" is. The bigger picture is that they're likely still "loyal" to Android as that's what they're invested in when it comes to apps purchased, accessories et al.

Anecdote: I use a Pixel. I don't give a shit what manufacturer makes my next device and seldom stick to one brand, but I will be sticking to Android for the foreseeable just to avoid being subjected to the whims of a single manufacturer, which has felt bad in the past when I was an Apple user.

Brand loyalty is for suckers because it eschews objectivity.

Is brand loyalty the same as vendor lock-in if the end result is the same?