The latest data results from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech show Samsung is reeling from the strong success of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The latest data from Kantar was published on Wednesday and tracks sales data through the end of November 2014.
Apple’s iPhone 6 sales in the U.S.
In the United States, Apple’s iPhone accounted for nearly half (47.7 percent) of sales, a 4.3 percentage point increase from the same period in 2013. The research firm also projects that the iPhone 6 alone accounted for about 19 percent of all smartphone sales. Europe’s key markets, including Germany, Britain, Spain, Italy, and France, saw a decline in Android sales. Android phone sales fell 3.2 percent year over year due to a strong response to the iPhone 6.
Kantar Worldpanel ComTech Europe’s strategic insight director, Dominic Sunnebo, explained that the longer the iPhone 6 remains on the market, the more the device’s appeal will extend beyond Apple’s loyal base of customers. Apple’s market share in China grew to an estimated 1.1 percentage points, and Japan was the only market that did not experience growth.
Kanter’s chief of research, Caroline Milanesi, added, “While die-hard feature phone owners state they are not planning to buy a smartphone in the next 12 months, they might not have a choice as vendors continue to transition their portfolio away from feature phones to smartphones.”
Samsung beats Apple in customer satisfaction
Fortunately for Samsung, not all is lost. Late last month, a customer satisfaction survey showed Samsung beating Apple. The J.D. Power American Consumer Satisfaction Poll showed that the iPhone maker dropped a few notches, declining from 81 to 79. This drop was most likely attributed to the so-called “Bendgate” scandal, which happened late last year after Apple launched the iPhone 6. The new design of the phone made it easy to bend it out of shape.
The survey also showed Samsung’s climb from 76 to 81, a pretty impressive feat.
