New figures from Strategy Analytics show that the Samsung Galaxy SIII overtook Apple’s iPhone 4S in the last three months to become the world’s best-selling smartphone, knocking the iPhone off the number 1 position.
However, the company also says the Galaxy SIII’s lead is unlikely to last for long, with the new iPhone 5 predicted to out-ship the Galaxy SIII in the current quarter.
Neil Shah, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, said “Samsung’s Galaxy SIII smartphone model shipped 18.0 million units worldwide during the third quarter of 2012. The Galaxy S3 captured an impressive 11% share of all smartphones shipped globally and it has become the world’s best-selling smartphone model for the first time ever. A large touchscreen design, extensive distribution across dozens of countries, and generous operator subsidies have been among the main causes of the Galaxy SIII’s success. Apple shipped an estimated 16.2 million iPhone 4S units worldwide for second place, as consumers temporarily held off purchases in anticipation of a widely expected iPhone 5 upgrade at the end of the quarter.”
| |
Q2 2012 |
Q2 2012 |
Q3 2012 |
Q3 2012 |
| |
Shipments (million) |
Market share |
Shipments (million) |
Market share |
| Samsung Galaxy S3 |
5.4 |
3.5% |
18.0 |
10.7% |
| Apple iPhone 4S |
19.4 |
12.7% |
16.2 |
9.7% |
| Apple iPhone 5 |
0 |
0% |
6.0 |
3.6% |
| Others |
128.0 |
83.8% |
127.6 |
76.0% |
| Total |
152.8 |
|
167.8 |
|
[Report]