Galaxy S III outsells iPhone 4S in the U.S. for the first time

The Samsung Galaxy S III became the top-selling phone in the U.S. after beating the iPhone 4S in August.

The Galaxy S III, Samsung’s flagship phone, outsold the iPhone 4S during its first full month available on all four of the top U.S. carriers, making August the first month since the iPhone 4S launched last October that it isn’t king.

But the Galaxy S III’s time at the top likely won’t last.

Though an analyst report shows the Galaxy S III was the top-selling phone for Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile and the second-highest-selling phone for AT&T;, this was likely because people are choosing to hold off on buying the iPhone 4S in anticipation of the next iPhone.

“With the iPhone 4S over 10 months old and consumers anticipating the iPhone 5 launch, our August checks indicated weaker iPhone 4S sales at AT&T;/Verizon/Sprint,” the report by Canaccord Genuity says.

At Apple’s latest earnings call in July, the company’s Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer acknowledged this problem, saying rumors and speculation had affected the sales of the iPhone 4S.

And for the last few months there have indeed been reports saying that Apple will likely announce an iPhone this month. The Cupertino company somewhat validated those reports Tuesday, sending out an invitation for an event next week, strongly teasing an iPhone announcement.

And Canaccord Genuity expects the launch of the next iPhone will carry the device back to the top of U.S. sales.

“Our checks indicated strong consumer interest in and likely demand for the iPhone 5, and we believe Apple will return to strong number one smartphone share in the U.S. post the iPhone 5 launch,” the report says.

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