Amidst ragging smartphone battle between Samsung and Apple, Samsung’s Galaxy S3 has pipped Apple’s iPhone 4S to take the smartphone crown during third quarter of this year.
Samsung has knocked off Apple from its throne becoming the best-selling smartphone model for the first time, according to a report by Strategy Analytics.
According to the Strategy Analytics analysts, large touchscreen, extensive distribution and generous operator subsidies have worked to the South Korean company’s advantage.
Strategy Analytics senior analyst Neil Shah said Samsung’s Galaxy S3 smartphone model shipped 18 million units worldwide during the third quarter of 2012.
"The Galaxy S3 captured an impressive 11 percent share of all smartphones shipped globally and it has become the world’s best-selling smartphone model for the first time ever," Shah said.
"A large touchscreen design, extensive distribution across dozens of countries, and generous operator subsidies have been among the main causes of the Galaxy S3‘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."
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During the second quarter Samsung had shipped 5.4 million Galaxy S3 smartphones while there were 19.4 million smartphone iPhone 4S smartphones during the period.
iPhone 4S market share has dropped from 12.7% during second quarter to 9.7% during third quarter.
Strategy Analytics executive director Neil Mawston said Samsung’s Galaxy S3 has proven wildly popular with consumers and operators across North America, Europe and Asia. "However, the Galaxy S3’s position as the world’s best-selling smartphone model is likely to be short-lived."
"The Apple iPhone 5 has gotten off to a solid start already with an estimated 6.0 million units shipped globally during Q3 2012.We expect the new iPhone 5 to out-ship Samsung’s Galaxy S3 in the coming fourth quarter of 2012 and Apple should soon reclaim the title of the world’s most popular smartphone model."
Earlier this month, a report by Juniper Research said that Samsung has expanded its lead in smarphone market, shipping about 56.3 million smartphones during the third quarter of this year, according to a new report.
Another report from Korea Investment & Securities had given a forecast that Samsung is anticipated to sell 284 million units globally, that would further allow it to have a 37% share of the worldwide smartphone market in 2013, over Apple’s 20.4% to 157 million units.
