Apple’s iPhone 7 has proved skeptics wrong, according to data from research firm Kantar WorldPanel. Many experts had termed it as a “boring” update because of its three-year-old design. But the iPhone 7, 7 Plus and iPhone 6S were the three best-selling smartphones in the US during the quarter ending November 30. On the back of strong iPhone demand, the iOS market share increased by 6.5% to 43.5% compared to 37% in the same period a year ago.
Image Source: iphonedigital/flickr.comiPhone 7, 7 Plus top-selling phones in the US
The share of Android declined from 60.4% to 55.3% in the same period. According to Kantar WorldPanel, there has been a consistent rise in the sales of iOS handsets before the 2016 holiday. Out of the ten markets the research firm surveyed, iOS witnessed a growth in six markets, while Android’s share rose in four markets.
The iPhone 7, 7 Plus, and iPhone 6S had a combined share of 31.3% of the US smartphone sales. Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge occupied the fourth and fifth places. Google’s brand new Pixel made strong gains, accounting for 1.3% of the total sales in the quarter ending November 2016. Kantar said more than 50% of Pixel sales came through Verizon.
iOS gains 9.1% share in the UK
The biggest gain for the iOS came in the UK, where Android slipped below 50% for the first time since November 2014. The iPhone sales in the UK grew 9.1% YoY to 48.3%, and Android’s share declined by 1.8% to 49.6%. The iOS also recorded gains in other major European markets such as Germany, France, Spain, and Italy.
In Australia, iOS had 46.4% share compared to 50.1% for Android. The iPhone 7 was the best-selling smartphone in Australia with 18.9% share, followed by Galaxy S7 with 8.1%. Kantar pointed out that male consumers in Australia aged 35 and above were increasingly opting for Android devices. As a result, Chinese vendors such as Huawei, Oppo, and ZTE have been gaining some ground in the country.
Local vendors dominate Chinese market
Apple continues to lose market share in China. Data from Kantar shows that iOS share in Urban China was down by 5% to 20%. Almost 80% of all smartphones sold in Urban China during the November quarter were Android handsets. Huawei accounted for 25% of Chinese smartphone sales. Huawei and other local brands such as Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo, and Lenovo continue to dominate the Chinese market.
We will get to know the actual iPhone sales numbers when Apple reports its quarterly results later this month. Analysts forecast Apple would deliver its best ever quarter on the back of strong iPhone 7 sales during the holiday period. However, supply chain sources told Nikkei last month that Apple would cut the iPhone 7 production by 10% due to sluggish demand during the March 2017 quarter.
