Apple back on top in U.S. smartphone market thanks to iPhone 5
Sales of the iPhone 5 helped Apple edge out Google’s Android for the lead in U.S. smartphone market share in the 12 weeks that ended Oct. 28.
Apple managed to grab 48.1% of the smartphone market during the period. That was just enough to beat out phones running Android, Google’s mobile operating system, which took 46.7% of the market, according to Kantar Worldpanel, which measures smartphone sales data.
The numbers are especially impressive for Apple considering the iPhone 5, which launched Sept. 21, was on sale for less than half of the measured period.
According to Kantar Worldpanel, Apple managed the same feat after launching the iPhone 4S last year. Apple was able to hold on to the top spot for 36 consecutive weeks.
“This time we predict that Apple will beat its previous high of 49.3% and achieve its highest ever share of the U.S. smartphone market within the next two periods,” said Dominic Sunnebo, consumer insight director at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.
More than half of all iPhone 5 sales during the period, 62%, came from existing Apple owners who upgraded their phone. An additional 13% came from Android users making a switch and 6% came from BlackBerry owners.
Despite the U.S. success, Kantar Worldpanel points out that Android is still top dog in Europe.
There, Android has a tight grip on the market, particularly in Germany and in Spain, where Android held 73.9% and 81.7% of the market during the period, respectively.
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