Apple's iPhone overtakes Android in the US for the first time since 2012
Apple is now the top smartphone provider in the United States for the first time since the end of 2012. During the holiday quarter, Apple was responsible for 47.7 percent of all smartphones shipped. This compared to 47.6 percent for Android-based devices, 3.8 percent for Microsoft’s Windows Phone, and just 0.3 percent for BlackBerry, according to Kantar Worldpanel.
Between October and December 2014, the iPhone 6 was the top selling smartphone in the U.S., and also the most popular smartphone to give as a gift. Though not specifically addressed, we assume that Kantar included both iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus shipments in the company’s analysis. Samsung’s Galaxy S5 was ranked No. 2.
One year ago, Android-based devices accounted for 50.6 percent of smartphone shipments in the U.S. At the time, iOS took 43.9 percent.
December 2014
According to Carolina Milanesi, chief of research at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech:
While the success of the iPhone 6 and 6Plus is unprecedented, this quarter’s performance also points to Apple having its strongest portfolio ever. With a range of devices available at different price points in both contract and pre-pay Apple was able to take advantage of a weaker Android offering at the premium end of the market.
Last week, Apple announced that they had sold a record 74.5 million iPhone units during the holiday quarter. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2015, Apple reported revenue of $74.6 billion and a net profit of $18 billion, making it the best quarter ever for the company.
I’m not surprised to see iOS overtake Android in the U.S. Nonetheless, I expect that Android will regain the lead very soon, as new low-cost devices make it to market. Of course, anything is possible.
