iPhone Achieves Highest Ever U.S. Smartphone Market Share

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Apple's smartphone accounted for more than half of U.S. smartphone market from September through November, but Android and Samsung dominates European and worldwide market.

According to data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, Apple's iPhone has achieved its highest ever U.S. market share.

The 12 weeks ending November 25 saw Apple accounting for 53.3 percent of the U.S. smartphone market, which was spearheaded by sales of the iPhone 5. The figure represents an increase from 35.8 percent during the same period last year.

"Apple has reached a major milestone in the U.S. by passing the 50 percent share mark for the first time, with further gains expected to be made during December," said Dominic Sunnebo, Kantar's global consumer insight director.

During the same period, Android's U.S. market share decreased to 41.9 percent from 52.9 percent in 2011. It's a different outlook worldwide, though. Android accounted for 72.4 percent of the entire global smartphone market during 2012's quarter three.

Over the same 12-week period in Europe, Samsung, who was recently named the worldwide cell phone market leader, continued its top smartphone manufacturer with a 44.3 percent share across Europe's top five countries. Apple settled for second place with a 25.3 percent share the market, while HTC, Sony and Nokia trailed behind.

Android-powered smartphones enjoyed a 61 percent share of the European market in the same time frame, which is an increase from 51.8 percent for the same period a year ago.

Sales of Nokia's Windows phones, meanwhile, remained quiet in the U.S., Kantar added. "Over the past six months, just 28 percent of Nokia Lumia 800 sales have come from under 35's, compared with 42 percent of all smartphone sales," Sunnebo said. "With the Nokia Lumia 920 being one of the few handsets available on [mobile carrier] EE 4G, new tariffs may help to change this by attracting early adopters in the coming months."

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Zak Islam
43 Comments Comment from the forums
  • rwinches
    Sales market share, not owner market share.
    Reply
  • halcyon
    Well, it just tells us what we already know. ...that us Americans are more simple-minded than the rest of the world. We're also behind in math and science. Coincidence? Maybe not. We also lead the world in gun violence. :(

    Well, at least I corrected my part of the mistake and have an S3 and Note 2. Zak, thanks for reminding us that America ain't doing so good.
    Reply
  • dead on point, have a note 2 also. Boring apple UI left swipe right swipe and you are done.
    Reply
  • sacre
    HalcyonWell, it just tells us what we already know. ...that us Americans are more simple-minded than the rest of the world. We're also behind in math and science. Coincidence? Maybe not. We also lead the world in gun violence. Well, at least I corrected my part of the mistake and have an S3 and Note 2. Zak, thanks for reminding us that America ain't doing so good.
    Give it a rest bud, its an easy to use phone that supplies you with applications that assist you. Its fast, responsive and does exactly what you want of it.

    I've owned an Android phone and yea, lot more customizable, loved it, but the program "lagged" behind. When switching screens or swiping it would at times chop up, lower frame rate. Yet this thing was supposed to have better hardware than the iPhone.

    I own an iPhone now, and at first it bugged the hell out of me without its "customizability" but now I overlook that. Being in an AMT course at Canadore College (Aircraft Maintenance Technician) I just need a phone that works properly and quickly.

    The iphone does that. Just because everyone is buying one doesn't make people stupid, they just want a good looking phone that works.

    I am switching back to the Galaxy when my contracts up - but only because I don't like supporting a company that sues everyone. This phones been good to me, always fast, RARELY crashes, no viruses. But it also pissed me off sometimes, no flash support, can't do jack with it, can't "link" it to more than 1 computer, etc, etc.

    And Zak, for the love of christ every Ad you have is either APPLE ROCKS or ANDROID SUCKS. Why is Toms allowing a fanboy to spread the news?

    Boot Zak.
    Reply
  • Kami3k
    otacon72Zak reports news for Apple... it's unfortunate some of you are too stupid to figure that one out.
    His "news" is news the same way Fox is "fair and balanced"
    Reply
  • STOP THESE USELESS AND IRRELEVANT 'NEWS'.

    It's all about iphone this, iphone that. STOP
    Reply
  • excella1221
    9440041 said:
    And Zak, for the love of christ every Ad you have is either APPLE ROCKS or ANDROID SUCKS. Why is Toms allowing a fanboy to spread the news?

    Boot Zak.
    http://www.tomsguide.com/us/BlackBerry-10-Browser-iOS-6,news-16488.html
    http://www.tomsguide.com/us/iOS-6.0.2-iPhone-Apple-Battery,news-16496.html
    http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Google-Cheap-Nexus-7-Tablet,19914.html
    http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Samsung-Cell-Phone-Smartphones-Nokia,19891.html

    Of course, haters will only see what they want to see right?
    Reply
  • new line
    Buying a smart phone should be left to smart people. Not the other way around. Otherwise only justification we have is a smart marketing strategy towards masses who doesn't even know what a smart phone is capable of. Intelligence is simply defined as ability to make a distinction. After apple claimed at the court that "consumers wouldn't know the difference between a samsung and an iphone at a retail envoranment" I really felt sorry for ios device owners because I suspected that they may not have realized that how insulting that statement is in terms of blatantly saying " a potential iphone customer does not have the brain capacity to understand the difference between two different brands, two different operating systems and most importantly wouldn't even read samsung logo printed all caps on front of the screen. What a shame. No wonder how the seeds of this corporate philosophy was actually planted in 1984 mac commercial throwing hammer on the movie screen BS. Fast forward 29 years now and I see all Isheep audience sitting on those theater chairs having android guy coming and smashing the screen of their brainwashed perception of what apple is all about. In terms of europe and US comparison, I guess other commentators already made the point, no need to harp on over and over again the same fact.
    Reply
  • halcyon
    I've baught every model iPhone sold (baught the 5 for my wife). None of them is on par with the S3 or Galaxy Note 2 unless you just prefer a super-simple UI or something much smaller. It does take ICS or JellyBean for Android to effectively compete IMO, but that's just my opinion. I know its easier for the America majority to look to the iPhone rather than figure out which Android devices are truly superior (as not all are). I just kinda feel bad for the ignorant iPhone crowd. ...and No, that is not to say that all iPhone users are ignorant. ...many are just simple-minded and believe the Apple logo offers some superiority.
    Reply
  • keither5150
    Not surprising considering it is about 10 weeks from launch, and then you throw in pre orders. Once the faithful has their iphone 5 it should go back to normal android domination. My wife had an iphone 4 and now has a Galaxy S2. She won't be going back. I have a note 2. Why there is any debate over iphone vs Samsung is puzzling. Apple surley is a different breed. I saw a protective iphone case that had a big hole cut in it so one could see the apple logo. That is funny. Reminds me of that commercial " if it looks the same, how will everyone know that I've upgraded?" Apple is still trying to hold onto "if you don't have an iphone..... well you don't have an iphone" bullshit marketing. Good luck with that when the competition is producing a superior product. I have a note 2 and now have stopped letting iphone owners look at or touch my phone. I am not rude or anything, I just tell people that I am getting over a cold.
    Reply