iPhone 5S in festive gold is still the UK’s most popular handset as Christmas nears
The iPhone 5C is still a top seller, with fans now preferring the white version
Sony Xperia Z1 is the only non-Samsung or Apple handset in the chart
The phone-tablet hybrid, the Galaxy Note 3, is this month’s biggest climber, as the tablet emerges as the number one tech gift this Christmas
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini returns to the top ten, knocking the HTC One out of the chart.
In the race to be top dog for Christmas, there’s very little between smartphone behemoths Apple and Samsung according to the Uswitch.com Mobile Tracker,which is based on live searches, pre-orders and sales. Apple has topped the chart since March 2013 and is holding fast with its flagship 5S and the older 5 in 1st and 2nd places respectively.
However, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is hot on Apple’s heels in 3rd place and the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has kicked the older iPhone 4 into touch – rising three positions to become the UK’s 4th most popular phone. This jump comes as new Uswitch.com researchreveals the tablet as the number one gadget being bought for under 16s this Christmas. But with household budgets still stretched, parents may well be opting for the hybrid device to ensure their child has the tablet that they want, but the phone that they need too.
Meanwhile, the rather garish green iPhone 5C which charted in October, is no longer à la mode with mobile fans preferring the more neutral white model of the handset in November. But the older iPhone 5 is still more popular than its plastic sibling. And, with deals for the iPhone 5 only £2 per month more than the 5C, it appears many would rather pay a bit extra for a piece of Apple that looks superior in quality.
Another interesting change in the chart is the disappearance of the 16GB iPhone 4S, replaced by the smaller 8GB model. This shift towards the smaller, more affordable, model may herald the take-off of iCloud in the UK market. With Apple’s cloud service holding all of their files, savvy consumers can save cash by opting for the smaller model as they no longer need the physical storage they once did.
This month the top 10 chart also waved goodbye to another mainstay – the HTC One. November is the first month in which the Taiwanese phone maker – branded best manufacturer in the 2013 Uswitch Mobile Awards – has not featured since entering the chart in March this year.
Number one handset – Apple’s iPhone 5S 16GB in gold holds its position at the top.
New entries – the Apple iPhone 5C white replaces its green sibling, while the iPhone 4S 8GB and the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini make comebacks.
Biggest losers – both the iPhone 4S 16GB and the HTC One have disappeared entirely from the chart.
Top Ten Handsets for November – correct on 28th November, 2013
|
1
|
Apple iPhone 5S (16GB Gold)
|
iOS
|
No change
| |
2
|
Apple iPhone 5 (16GB Black)
|
iOS
|
No change
| |
3
|
Samsung Galaxy S4 (16 GB)
|
Android
|
No change
| |
4
|
Samsung Galaxy Note 3
|
Android
|
Up three
| |
5
|
Apple iPhone 5C (16GB White)
|
iOS
|
New entry
| |
6
|
Apple iPhone 4 (8GB Black)
|
iOS
|
Down two
| |
7
|
Apple iPhone 4S (8 GB Black)
|
iOS
|
Re-entry
| |
8
|
Samsung Galaxy S3 (16GB Blue)
|
Android
|
No change
| |
9
|
Sony Xperia Z1
|
Android
|
Up one
| | |
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini
|
Android
| |
Source: Uswitch.com
Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com, says: “In the run up to Christmas it’s a two-horse race between Apple and Samsung. And each manufacturer will be looking to its flagship device – the iPhone 5S and the Galaxy S4 – to decide who comes out on top.
“Everyone was thinking it, but the market has shown that the price gap between the 5C and the 5 just isn’t wide enough to earn the 5C ‘budget’ nametag. The status attached to the iPhone 5 and 5S has not translated to their polycarbonate sibling. And with the green iPhone 5C being replaced by the white version, Apple should now be getting the message that its garish colours might not have been a hit with consumers.
“While Samsung’s S4 still trails the iPhone, the Korean giant may have a secret weapon in its armoury with the Note 3. With parents looking for a cash-smart way of giving their children the best of both worlds – a much-desired tablet and a much-needed mobile phone – the latest phablet in the Galaxy range could continue to climb the charts by Christmas.
“At the other end of the table, it’s a shame to see the HTC One leave the top ten. However with the imminent release of a larger storage device in the dual-SIM HTC One and a new gold One to rival the 5S, it’ll no doubt be back.”
Katherine Moss
Phone: 020 3021 5893
Email: katherine.moss@uswitch.com
Twitter: @uswitchPR
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.
Research carried out online with the Uswitch Consumer Opinion Panel amongst 1,748 respondents in November 2013. Of those with children under 16, when asked “Which of the following gadgets will you/ ay you be buying for Christmas?” 13% said ‘Smartphone’; 5% said ‘Mobile phone’; 24% said ‘Tablet (e.g. iPad)’; 9% said ‘Laptop’; 4%% said ‘Computer’; 11% said ‘E-Reader (e.g. Kindle)’; 7% said ‘MP3 player’; 10% said ‘Games console’; 5% said ‘Phone accessories’; 17% said Video games; 11% said ‘Games console accessories’; 6% said ‘Smartwatch’; 9% said ‘TV’; 12% said ‘Digital camera’.
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