The latest smartphone sales data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, for the fourth quarter of 2014, shows that Apple’s share of sales grew across the US, Europe* and China during the important Christmas period (3 months ending December 2014) driven by a strong portfolio of devices.
“In the US, Apple iOS overtook Android for the first time since this time in 2012, albeit by the slimmest 0.1% margin,” reported Carolina Milanesi, chief of research at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, in a statement. “While the success of the iPhone 6 and 6Plus is unprecedented, this quarter’s performance also points to Apple having its strongest portfolio ever. With a range of devices available at different price points in both contract and pre-pay Apple was able to take advantage of a weaker Android offering at the premium end of the market.”
Throughout the holiday quarter, the iPhone 6 was the best-selling smartphone in the US and was also the most popular smartphone to give as a gift.
Across Europe, Android’s share declined by 3.8 percentage points year-on-year to 66.1% while iOS rose by 6.2 percentage points. Great Britain had the biggest impact on the decline as iOS grew its share of sales by 13.1 percentage points compared to this time last year with Samsung, LG and Sony all losing market share both year over year and over the previous quarter. “Italy was the only European market where Android grew,” said Dominic Sunnebo, strategic insight director at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech Europe, in a statement.
“In Urban China, Apple iOS grew share year-on-year at the expense of Android,” explained Tamsin Timpson, strategic insight director at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech Asia, in a statement. “While Xiaomi remained the bestselling brand in the latest period, Apple was able to close the gap slightly, growing its share to 21.5% from 19% last year.” Almost a quarter of Chinese consumers who bought an iPhone in the past three months were acquiring their first smartphone, compared to 16.5% for the same period in 2013.
*The big five European markets includes Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.
Source: Kantar Worldpanel
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This data would be interesting if they knew the difference between a feature phone, a smart phone and a burner phone.
Knowing the difference between an iPad and an Android piece of shit copy would help too.
Wouldn’t knowing what hardware is being used and what hardware is thrown In a desk drawer.
YAAAY! Apple is finally winning against arbitrary fabricated numbers!!!
Except in Japan where the lion’s share of Apple’s loss went to Android.. 😛