Back in front: iPhone 5S is UK’s number one handset but Android popularity is gaining faster than iOS
After being knocked off its perch last month by the cheaper 5C, the iPhone 5S has reclaimed the top spot as Britain’s number one handset
But live searches, pre-orders and sales for iOS handsets have risen by just 3% over the past 12 months – while Android’s popularity has soared by 40%
Apple continues to dominate the chart’s top five with the 5S, 5C and 4S but its reign seems threatened by the success of the HTC One M8, which has risen two places, forcing the iPhone 4S into 5th place
The LG G3 retains its position at a respectable 7th place following its launch.
In July, the iPhone 5S was knocked into 2nd place after nine months as the UK’s bestselling phone by its cheaper sibling the 5C. However, in August, the 5S clawed its way back to number one, according to the Uswitch.com Mobile Tracker, which is based on live searches, pre-orders and sales.
The iPhone’s monopoly of the top two selling handsets bodes well for the much-anticipated launch of its newest model, the possibly named iPhone 6, in early September, following the tech giant’s typically mysterious invitation to an event on ‘09.09.2014’.
However, Apple shouldn’t count its chickens. Looking at traffic, pre-orders and sales across Uswitch.com and its partner sites, Android devices have experienced a significant gain on their iOS competitors. Over the past 12 months, interest in Android devices has soared by 40% while interest in iOS handsets rose by just 3%. Meanwhile, the popularity of other operating systems like Windows Phone have increased by 60%.
However, as the table below shows, 58% of traffic across the board is still for Apple devices, compared to 42% for Android. Other operating systems make up 8% of the market:
This rapid growth in Android’s popularity over the past year can be seen in this month’s chart, with the HTC One M8 up two places, knocking the iPhone 4S from 4th to 5th place. Whilst Apple devices have claimed three places in the chart’s top five since the beginning of 2014, HTC’s flagship phone has risen three places up the chart over the past two months, posing a real threat to Samsung Galaxy flagship phones and Apple too. Should the HTC build on its success in September, Apple’s monopoly in the chart will hinge on the success of its newest release.
Following its launch at the end of July, the LG G3 retains its position at 7th in the chart. The critically-acclaimed handset entered the top 10 chart almost as soon as it had launched, and with the Samsung Galaxy S4 experiencing a steady decline this year, going from 4th place in April, to 5th place in July, and now down to 6th place, next month could see LG gaining on Samsung.
Number one handset – The iPhone 5S is back to being Britain’s most popular phone after being briefly overtaken by the cheaper 5C model
Biggest Winner – The HTC One M8 is up two positions, closing in on Apple and Samsung
Biggest losers – The Samsung Galaxy S4 continues to slip down the chart, from 4th place in June, to 5th in July, and now down to 6th
Top Ten Handsets for August – correct on 29th August, 2014
Source: Uswitch.com
Rob Kerr, mobile expert at Uswitch.com, says: “Interest in handsets that run Android and other operating systems is gaining far faster ground than iOS. Could we be witnessing the slow decline of Apple? Given what we’re expecting to be presented with on the 9th of September – a large screen phone and wearable tech – I wouldn’t write Apple off just yet. Brand-wise it’s still aspirational, and it’s staked its reputation on staying one step ahead of consumers – dictating what we want before we know we want it, rather than simply catering to demand.
But our data does reveal that there’s a growing appetite for Android devices with specs that rival, and even out-do the iPhone. The LG G3 and Samsung Galaxy S5 are good examples of this, with the G3’s QuadHD screen and the S5’s heart rate monitor.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Maja Hauke
Phone: 0207 148 4663
Email: maja.hauke@uswitch.com
Notes to editors
1.The Uswitch.com Mobile Tracker data is derived from Omio's (www.omio.com) network of comparison sites, which includes uSwitch.com and a number of leading consumer technology websites which total in excess of 10 million monthly page views. The data is a result of an aggregation of all of the clicks and all of the sales from these partner sites.
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