Gust of iPhone 5s
Hong Kong-based market research firm Counterpoint Research announced on November 20 that Apple’s 2013 flagship phone became the world’s best-selling smartphone in September, even though it was on the market for just 10 days.
Starting on September 20, the iPhone 5s became available in nine countries including the US, and it outsold any other smartphone. The launch of the iPhone 5s made the Samsung Galaxy S4 drop to second place. The next spot was taken by Apple’s iPhone 5, followed by the cheaper 5c.
However, Samsung’s handsets dominate the top 10 global smartphone rankings compiled by Counterpoint Research. The fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth spots were taken by Samsung’s products. The fifth most popular one was the Galaxy S3, followed by the Galaxy Note II, the Galaxy S3 mini, the Galaxy S4 mini, the Galaxy Note 3, and the Galaxy S Duos. In particular, the Galaxy Note 3 was in the rankings despite its launch on September 25. Its five-day sales period is shorter than that of Apple’s iPhone 5s and 5c.
The market research firm said that twelve of Samsung’s handsets were in the top 20 rankings. Apple’s smartphones were middle- high priced products, while Samsung’s mobile phones were in the low-high price range.
The Hong Kong-based firm commented on this by saying, “Samsung Electronics have the most balanced product portfolio in the global smartphone industry,” adding, “The Galaxy Note 3 is not going to be the most popular handset because of the iPhone 5s. However, it is highly likely that sales volumes of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 will rise dramatically.”
Aside from Apple’s and Samsung’s models, Huawei’s Ascend P6 and Nokia’s Lumia 520 were in the top 20 rankings.