The Samsung Galaxy S3 (S III) was recently released and this Android flagship phone is already the big success that everybody expected. The Galaxy S range has such a large user-base already in existence, that for new iterations success is virtually guaranteed. The same can be said for the Apple iPhone 5, due in the fall and it seems that the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3 will lead iOS and Android sales patterns.
We’ve already spoken about how the iPhone 5 is in theory already ‘sold’ to many customers, such is the popularity of this series of smartphones. From news we’ve now heard, it seems that just two smartphones each year, the latest Samsung Galaxy S and iPhone, are responsible for sales patterns that differ at certain times of year, sometimes with Android on top and at other times iOS. Sales of iPhones are already dipping ahead of the anticipated iPhone 5 release and following the release of the Galaxy S3 and it does seem as though long-term sales patterns are becoming established.
Phone Arena tells of a Financial Times report in the UK that illustrates this point as although iPhone sales are still healthy, the market share has fallen to 20% from 25% in Q1. Sales of the Galaxy S3 were responsible for some of this drop as its market share over the first week on sale was 18%, almost as high as that of the iPhone. Of course another reason for the current dip in iPhone sales is that people are beginning to hold off buying the current iPhone in anticipation of the next version. The same pattern occurred last year when potential customers for the iPhone 4S were the reason for Apple not meeting its Q3 sales expectations.
Current sales of the Galaxy S3 and iPhone in the UK are close to 50,000 units for the S3 and almost 55,000 units weekly for the iPhone and so Samsung will regret that not being able to keep up with demand may have robbed the company of gaining top spot at the moment. Interestingly Phones Arena points out that rather than looking at whether Android or iOS is currently gaining ground at any particular time, it might be more important to note that long-term sales patterns are developing instead. If we look at more long-term market share factors and what happened in the previous year then it’s clear to see that customarily Apple and iOS gain share in Q4 and Q1 after a new iPhone release and then Android gains more market share in Q2 and Q3 following a Galaxy S release.
In a nutshell, instead of looking at whether the Android or iOS platform is pushing ahead at any one time, it may be more relevant to just acknowledge that one or the other could be at the most potent stage of its sales cycle. We’re interested to hear your thoughts on this. Does it seem amazing to you that just two smartphones are so significant in Android and iOS sales patterns? Have you recently purchased the Galaxy S3 or maybe you’re holding off buying an iPhone as you’re waiting for the iPhone 5? Let us know with your comments.