Apple's iPhone 5 debuted in September and quickly became the world's most popular smartphone in the fourth quarter of 2012. According to Strategy Analytics, Apple shipped 27.4 million units of the iPhone 5 and 17.4 million units of the year-older iPhone 4S in the fourth quarter, bumping the Samsung Galaxy S 3 to third place with 15.4 million units. Although the numbers speak for themselves, comparing the performance of the flagship devices may be a case of apples to oranges -- the handsets had different launch dates, and Samsung's selling multiple smartphone models. The sales pendulum could swing back in Samsung's favor when the highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S4 is released, possibly as early as next month.
What Else You Need To Know
- Apple, which launches only one new phone every year, reduced pricing of the iPhone 4S to $99 on a two-year contract after the launching of the iPhone 5, which is available for $199 on a two-year contract or $649 outright.
- Samsung has sold 40 million units of the Galaxy S 3 since launching the device in May 2012.
- Notwithstanding the iPhone outselling the latest-generation Galaxy S handset, Samsung's still the world's stop smartphone vendor on account of its wide portfolio of phones.
- According to Gartner, Samsung in 2012 sold 205.8 million smartphones, compared to just 130.1 million iPhones for Apple.
Other sources
Of course, the Korean maker might be throwing down soon with a new contender, and we know how fast you can go from champ to chump in the smartphone game.- Steve Dent, Engadget
Apple’s premium pricing strategy is matched by the use of premium materials in the construction of its handsets — with metal and glass the materials of choice for the iPhone 5 and 4S, rather than the plastic used in the Galaxy SIII.- Natasha Lomas, Mobile Crunch
- Engadget
- Strategy Analytics: Apple's iPhone 5 tops world smartphone sales for Q4 2012
- Mobile Crunch
- iPhone Brand Outshines Samsung’s Galaxy As iPhone 5 Becomes Best-Selling Smartphone Globally In Q4, iPhone 4S 2nd — Analyst
- Phone Arena
- Apple iPhone 5 and 4S are the Q4 bestsellers, followed by the Samsung Galaxy S III
- iPhone Hacks
- iPhone 5 is World’s Best-Selling Smartphone, Takes Back Crown From Samsung Galaxy S3
- Apple Insider
- Apple's iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S are world's two most popular smartphone models
- iPhone Download Blog
- Strategy Analytics: iPhone 5/4S are world’s two most popular smartphones
- Mashable
- Report: iPhone 5 Was the World's Best-Selling Smartphone in Q4 2012
- GigaOM
- The year-old iPhone 4S was world’s 2nd most popular smartphone in Q4
- Venture Beat
- Galaxy who? iPhone 5 & 4S were the two best-selling smartphones in Q4 2012
- BGR
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