Despite the iPhone range of handsets from Apple enjoying almost universal success across the globe it seems as though the devices are not quite as popular as expected in some areas of the world. Figures have been released for Chinese phone sales during Q3 2012 and not only is Apple outside of the top five but their biggest rivals Samsung are enjoying huge success thanks to great models such as the Samsung Galaxy S3.
Figures have been released by analyst company Canalys that relate to phone sales in the Chinese market during the third quarter of 2012 and Apple’s name does not feature in the top five. The Chinese market is one of the fastest growing and is now said to rival the United States. This makes it an important territory for manufacturers and the absence of an iPhone from the top 5 will concern Apple executives. To rub salt into the wounds their biggest rival, Samsung, came in at number one with a fourteen per cent share of the market thanks to high profile releases such as the Samsung Galaxy S3. Unsurprisingly two Chinese manufacturers claimed second and third places with Lenovo securing thirteen per cent and Yulong ten per cent. Two better known brands have also crept into the top five with ZTE and Huawei taking fourth and fifth positions.
Apples failure to break into the top five in China is not the only bad news for the company this week at is has been revealed that the Samsung Galaxy S3 was the most popular handset across the globe during the same period. During Q3 the handset achieved an impressive 18 million sales during the three months. Apples best selling phone was the iPhone 4S which racked up 16.2 million but in fairness to Apple sales were effected by the launch of the iPhone 5. The Samsung Galaxy S3 continues to wow consumers thanks to top end specification and eye catching design. At six months old the phone is one of the older handsets proving popular but still has a few months of life left until we see a possible S4 released with this phone likely to appear towards the end of Q1 2013.
The Samsung Galaxy S3 continues to prove a globally popular model and the companies success in China will delight executives, especially given Apple’s failure in this growing market.
