Samsung’s Galaxy S3 overtook Apple’s iPhone 4S to become the world’s best-selling smartphone model for the first time ever in the third quarter of 2012, a research by global, independent research and consulting firm Strategy Analytics reveals.
To keep up with the chase, Samsung anticipated that some 300 mobile carriers in 147 countries would sell its Galaxy S III, which hit the South African stores in May this year, and in late June in Kenya, to consumers before Apple’s iPhone 5’s debut in September.
According to Neil Shah, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, 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.
“Samsung’s Galaxy S3 smartphone model shipped 18.0 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.
Strategy analytics however is of the opinion that 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.” Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, explained.
As global smartphone shipments surged +38 percent annually in Q2 2012, top 12 families of models are said to have accounted for almost three-quarters of the worldwide smartphone market with Samsung and Apple topping.
