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Android share drops 4% while iOS up 10%, but popular Galaxy S III not counted yet

Summary: Android continues to hold a healthy lead over iOS, but it did fall four percent over the last year compared to a rise of 10 percent by iOS. This dip is sure to disappear when the Galaxy S III appears in Q3 results.

Matthew Miller

By for Smartphones and Cell Phones |

Strategy Analytics released their latest research report on smartphones with the data revealing that Android lost ground to iOS when comparing Q2 2011 with Q2 2012. While Android is shown to have fallen four percent, this data does not count the incredible sales from the Samsung Galaxy S III that is now available on all major US wireless carriers so I imagine this slight dip will disappear in the next quarter results.

Android share drops 4% while iOS up 10%, but popular Galaxy S III not counted yet

The data shows that smartphone shipments fell 5 percent over the year with causes likely related to the economy, penetration of smartphones, and purchase habits of US customers (primarily buy only with subsidies). Apple's iPhone rose 10 percent over the year while BlackBerry dropped 4 percent and others, such as Windows Phone, appear in the 4 percent of Others. Android is still reigning with a lead over iOS of 23%. The rest of 2012 will be interesting with the Galaxy S III numbers appearing in the third quarter and the new iPhone in the fourth quarter. Windows Phone 8 devices should also appear in the fourth quarter, but given the slow adoption I don't imagine Windows Phone having much impact this year.

Thanks to Apple Insider for the heads-up on the study.

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Topics: Mobility, Android, Apple, iOS, Smartphones

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15 comments
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  • As Others Decline

    Remember, Windows Phone 8 is a totally new operating system with a different kernel inside than Windows Phone 7. That's why consumers, who have stayed away in droves from Windows Phone 7, will embrace Windows Phone 8. It will rocket to the top of the charts. "It has the same stupid interface I didn't like last year, but now it has the NT kernel so I'm buying one!" said Bimbo Kardashian of Redmond, Washington.
    Robert Hahn
    Reply 4 Votes

    • I wish this prediction comes true.

      I use a windows phone and plan to move to wp8. I am quite amused by the slow rate of adoption of WP because it is a solid OS that everybody should be going gaga about. Who knows, wp8 might change all that.
      davidtayo
      Reply 1 Vote

      • didn't like it even a bit

        Long time Nokia user, tried to like the new Lumias... Perhaps, if it was the only smartphone I have ever seen, I might like it, but.. having seen iOS and Android phones, this thing is simply.. pathetic.

        Of course, this is probably because they didn't have the true Windows NT kernel inside. That would be real game changer! Windows Everywhere...
        danbi
        Reply 2 Votes

      • Ray07

        Windows devices were actually on top of my list before Apple and Android, but since this ugly metro thing came about, I kicked it to the curb. Now, they have infected the desktop Windows OS with this Metro VIRUS.
        Ray07
        Reply Vote

    • what's a kernel?

      Only geeks know what you're talking about.
      keithz80
      Reply Vote

      • It's....

        A rank in the Army.

        Waka waka waka!
        vinnyboombatz
        Reply 1 Vote

      • No, but everyone knows what an app is

        Having a consistent kernel across OSes opens the door for better apps and games for the average user. That's what the users will care about.

        However, I agree with Miller. I doubt we'll see a huge bump in sales this year. However, as more Windows 8 Phones come out next year, hopefully we'll see increased adoption. I'm Android right now, but if the Windows app market grows as it looks like it should, then my next one might be a Win phone.
        skyledavisbooks
        Reply Vote

        • It's not the kernel..

          It is not the kernel that is important, but the API. You need consistent APIs, in order to have quality developers ever consider your platform. What the kernel is, really does not matter and very, very few ever care or understand.

          It seems that the Windows Phone market will grow at the expense of the Android market - that is plenty of room to grow.
          danbi
          Reply 1 Vote

      • I'm guessing that was meant as humor...

        Consumers obviously don't care about the kernel and I'm pretty sure "Bimbo Kardashian" isn't selecting her next phone based upon the kernel it uses.

        If anything, she's basing her next phone on which one fits into the "blingyist" case she can find and/or which gets the best video quality (because when you're making homemade sex tapes, production quality matters).
        piousmonk
        Reply Vote

    • Don't quit your day job.

      .
      Hallowed are the Ori
      Reply Vote

  • This report is purely "estimation", so there is no way to derive real ...

    ... information from there.

    Hard facts are that in Q2 iPhone was over half of Verizon's and Sprint's smartphone sales, and 3/4 of all AT&T smartphone sales. Overall, over 50% of all smartphone sales in USA.

    There are smartphones with Android that have no data plan whatsoever. Those are rather featurephones, though. But there is no way to count them reliably, so this marketshare report is vastly vague.
    DDERSSS
    Reply 3 Votes

  • Apple Insider news?

    Geez, Apple Insider would be such a reliable source, aint it?
    AmediaN
    Reply 3 Votes

    • Report was from Strategy Analytics

      Apple Insider is just where I first saw the report, it is NOT their report. I linked to the Strategy Analytics post on the report in my blog post above.
      palmsolo (aka Matthew Miller)
      Reply 1 Vote

  • Interesting report...

    While it reflects US only, it seems to support my belief that exclusivity held Apple's market share back. I don't necessarily disagree with their approach, as it allowed them to avoid some of the pitfalls common to other platforms (carrier crapware, control of OS updates, etc.), but none the less, only being available on one or two carriers until recently had to limit it's market share even though Android fans in particular scoff at this theory. Now available via the big three and a host of regional carriers, along with offering older models at lower price points seems to be helping to grow their share in the US.

    Some other interesting points.

    This seems to effectively counter all the Android fans that have repeatedly used Apple's decline in sales in the 3rd and 4th quarters after the 4S came out as sign of them becoming stale and the beginning of Apple's end. These numbers, after all, reflect what was the 3rd quarter of the iPhone 4S cycle.

    I'm sure the Android fans will be quick to point out it doesn't reflect any Galaxy S3 sales. That's certainly true, but let's not forget, while Android will get a bump from the S3 in the 3rd quarter, Apple will likely get the same, if not larger bump in the 2012 4th quarter due to the iPhone 5 (and holiday season).

    So, it doesn't seem as dire for Apple as some of it's opposition makes it out to be. Actually, it seems to be quite the contrary, at least in the US if this report is accurate.
    piousmonk
    Reply Vote

  • Android share drops 4% while iOS up 10%, but popular Galaxy S III not count

    that is why apple is looking to expand its presence in the international market since domestic market is almost saturated and can not support its stratospheric market cap ...
    kc63092@...
    Reply Vote
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