Apple's Share of Worldwide Smartphone Market Slides as Samsung Continues to Surge

[faroZ06]

Something tells me that the vast majority of shareholders on here spend far more as consumers than they own in AAPL shares. Still, you've had a **** of a ride and enjoyed probably about as good of return as you're going to get.

I too don't understand what the big deal is for a lot of people. I'm using an old Samsung flip phone for a while now. Battery lasts for like at least a week. Makes calls, gets text messages. Couldn't be happier hahaha.

I was using a flip phone and an iPhone that my brother found in a recycling bin, and that was fine. My mom got me an iPhone 4, though, thinking that I would answer my phone more if I had it. Nope, it's usually silenced.

The flip phone is far superior to any smartphone as a phone. And I hate it how you can't hang up in iOS by tapping the home button!

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They want 4G, they want a bigger screen, they want more control over their phone, they want better specs.

I don't know anyone who cares about phone specs, and I doubt many people do. It's a really silly thing to worry about. The 4S is already faster than my brother's iMac G5 for crying out loud.

 

[MuddyPaws1]

Not a surprise, the iPhone looks antiquated compared to some of the newer droids like the HTC one X and the Samsung Galaxy SIII. If the iPhone 5 Rumors are true, its not going to be pretty as the iPhone will continue to slip


Wake up Apple!

Agreed. The leaked versions really make me worried. Tall skinny phone? I just can't see it happening. No other phone on the market has that form factor....for a reason. It's ugly and impractical. If that's the new iP5...I don't see people flocking to it. I know I won't.

 

[RichBoi99]

Apple has nothing to prove at this point, they can launch a phone tomm and kill the game, Apple can hold the market with "1" phone

 

[FactVsOpinion]

Well, extrapolated from this piece of news they sell 5 million SGIII per month. Not too shabby, if you ask me...

Well, extrapolations of that kind rarely work. For example, if we extrapolate Apple's first day of sales through to the end of the week, we have them selling over 10 million phones per week. That's 43 million a per month. But even if you want to use this method of estimation, which is not a good estimation of long term trends, that would mean they will sell 15 million SGIII's per quarter, which is still nearly 12 million less than the number of iPhones Apple sold during the last quarter... over and above that, we're comparing Samsung's brand new phone with Apple's end of cycle phone.

 

[Savor]

Samsung is one of the hardest-working companies out there. You can accuse them of copying Apple. But name a company great at delivering top phones for multiple OSes, be a top SoC maker, and still be great at making top of the line HDTV screens? I used to think Samsung was Samsuck. I thought they were the generic version of Sony and Apple. Like Hyundai is to Honda. But they have come a long way with some of their cutting-edge research and technology.

Their advantage is they can appeal to all demographics. They still have their Galaxy S series as their flagship, but they also make the Note series now. They made the last two gen of Nexus phones. Then they have the Ace series or Y that appeals to people who want to save money. Not to mention their WP phones.

I'm one of those types that only cares to browse on my phone on occasion. Text, call, and music is what I do more. I have 80+ 3rd party apps on my iPhone in which maybe 10-20 I might still NEED. Looking at the current trend of bigger phones, the height and width of a phone matters to me more than the actual hardware itself. I dont like how phones are getting bigger. There is one Samsung phone that appeals and caters to my actual needs right now.

http://m.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s_duos_s7562-4883.php

^^ This is why Samsung is surging. Variety. That phone right there is close to what I need. I live in a country that is prepaid and deals with dual-sim phones. That phone right there only has a single-core processor, but for the price and size, that might be exactly what I need. A dual-sim phone that looks like a mini-GS3 and already has ICS.,Not $600 for a phone heading to mini-tablet territory. You realize all the multi-cores, larger screens, and apps you have is just overkill. Excessive to what MOST users (sans power users and tech geeks) really needs from smartphones. If you want to do heavier tasks and achieve greater benchmark scores, get a tablet or laptop,

 

[SirLance99]

I was using a flip phone and an iPhone that my brother found in a recycling bin, and that was fine. My mom got me an iPhone 4, though, thinking that I would answer my phone more if I had it. Nope, it's usually silenced.

The flip phone is far superior to any smartphone as a phone. And I hate it how you can't hang up in iOS by tapping the home button!

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I don't know anyone who cares about phone specs, and I doubt many people do. It's a really silly thing to worry about. The 4S is already faster than my brother's iMac G5 for crying out loud.

Maybe you didn't understand me. When I am SELLING the phones, customers are now coming in asking for bigger better. Last year not so much. But now they are. They want more.

 

[FightTheFuture]

Not a surprise, the iPhone looks antiquated compared to some of the newer droids like the HTC one X and the Samsung Galaxy SIII. If the iPhone 5 Rumors are true, its not going to be pretty as the iPhone will continue to slip


Wake up Apple!

Yet HTC's numbers are slipping - if you went by the "Change everything because people want everything different all the time" philosophy - then HTC would be gaining. Samsung is flooding the market with phones, they mentioned they sold 10 million SIIIs - what were the other 40 million then? I have a feeling a bunch of those are running Android 2.1.

 

[sha4000]

LOL! Hardly any kind of ad, just a fond reminiscence. I'm so ticked off at Apple right now I can hardly type. My mid-2010 Mac Book Pro has just flown to Memphis for its fourth repair job, I guess we're doing one organ transplant at a time with my copy of that model. And my 2GB 2nd gen nanos don't mount in iTunes 10.6.3 under Lion 10.7.4 on a mid-2011 Mac Book Air. Just the 2GB ones. The 4GB ones work. The 1GB 1st gen refurb nanos also work. Go figure.

But for that other MacRumors member to get all crazed over the possibility that iPhone might not be the main tent pole of Apple's future? Silly to worry about that. The world did not see the Airport card in the clamshell coming, or the iPod, or the iPhone, or the iPad. So why worry about what's the next great thing? Let Apple worry. Which I'm sure someone at Apple gets paid very well to do!

Still, there is the whole matter of whether Apple is trying to overlay OS by iOS, one release at a time. Some say don't worry. That I do actually worry about. You can't relegate most of the population to just pushing brightly colored buttons and expect the trajectory of personal computing not to start looking like the downswing of a parabolic arc.

Is that where iOS as OS is taking us on our laptops and desktops? I ain't goin' there with Apple if that is where they are going.

The last thing the planet needs is some elite group thinking it should control who gets to write code and who only gets to run sandboxed apps with cute little pushbuttons for start, stop and pause for a snack. People who think that limiting all end users to an iOS kind of experience can bring us a better future in computing have forgotten two things: 1) they themselves will get too old to write code for the rest of us, and 2) they did not get to where they are by being locked into an iOS environment while creating the amazing things that Mac software and hardware have brought us over the years.

Achievements come after trial and ERROR. Omit the possibility of error and all you get is stunted growth and boredom.

Anyway I'm glad you were kidding about my prior post being a paid ad for Apple. I do love Apple, but I loathe them too. I think it's normal to feel so ambivalent about them. It's because they strive so hard for perfection, and come so close so often. Then the slightest flaw seems larger than life, that's all.

Every time I take another white power wart out of the box and see the pale, pale grey print that describes the power of its circuitry, i could just KILL whoever at Apple designed that admittedly elegant grey on white gig. It's illegible unless you're a 20-something or younger. For the rest of us, they need to remember the old Madison Avenue saw: "Make it good. If you can't make it good, make it big. If you can't make it big, make it RED." So wtf, Apple: make the print on those power bricks red next time.

You know it's good to come across a poster that doesn't take these things like its the end of the world. But, I do kind of feel the same way you do in most of your post as far as OSX is concerned. I never bought into the whole Iphone craze even thought I was tempted to just bcuz it was made by Apple. I just got and HTC Evo last year and the main reason was the screen was too small on my Treo Pro and the inernet was just too damn slow. Though that might have had more to do with Sprint than the phone at times.

 

[arkhanjel]

A few things here...

Don't you just love how analysts always show figures like this but don't show everything behind them?

1. Yes, Samsung's numbers are surging but no one really ever points out that they have bunch of variations of their handsets on every carrier. Apple has the iPhone and that's it.
   
2. I would also say that 95% of that surge is because every carrier either gives the all of those handsets away for free or a buy on get one free deal (maybe a handful of the newer phones aren't but you get my point). And, like some of you have pointed out most consumers go for the cheapest option.
   
3. And lastly, OF COURSE Apples numbers have slowed this quarter. The new iPhone is about to released in a couple of months and the numbers are going to spike again. As always. Then what are the analysts going to say? "Look what we did, we showed Apples slumping numbers and they responded"?

Get over it people. It's the same crap year after year since the iPhone's debut. Analysts are desperately searching for that thing that topples Apple so they can say they were right after all the times of being wrong.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Agreed. The leaked versions really make me worried. Tall skinny phone? I just can't see it happening. No other phone on the market has that form factor....for a reason. It's ugly and impractical. If that's the new iP5...I don't see people flocking to it. I know I won't.

No other phone has ever had a 4" 16:9 screen?

Is that the form factor you're talking about?

 

[BigJohno]

Pedantic comment this is.

Where was the heat whe apple came out with

-iPhone
-iPad
-macBook Air
-retina display macs
-apple tv

People, apple innovates because it is in its DNA. Others copy, follow, and then sue apple when they're cought redhanded copying apple.

Look I understand those are innovations but unfortunately they do not innovate with their UI. When they do you get Ugly leather and what about that find my friends app. YuK!!! How does that go with their aluminium design?

 

[Savor]

If Samsung can penetrate the market with more dual-sim phones and pack most of the specs of the Galaxy S II or III into a smaller and cheaper package 1-2 yrs down the line like what Sony does to their PlayStations, I would be more than happy to get that device. I feel I'm still stuck in form factors from 2009-2010. I also prefer if the smaller GS2/3 can pack the mini-sim and microsd cards. I hated how the last two Nexus phones didnt feature an external memory slot. I'm at that point where I dont have to rebuy and to completely change for new technology. I'm still stuck in some old ways because that is all I really need. The same way I'm content with "DVD" as I never rushed for Blu-ray or HDTV's.

Samsung is one of the few in the industry that keeps things varied and flexible. Nokia is already headed to a closed platform, so we lose some of their flexibility from their Symbian days. And you know how Sony loves proprietary stuff.

 

[Dolorian]

Apple needs just a few BIG things to overrun Samsung.

1. Sign up China Mobile (biggest mobile carrier in China).
2. Make two or three different size screens (4 and 4.5 inch)...Honestly that's one of the BIGGEST reason people move to other phones...
3. More prepaid market...

just do these three things (that's a lot)....they will recapture many of the customers that moved to Samsung or HTC.

These are very good points. The bigger screen is definitely the main reason why I am considering getting a Galaxy SIII. If the new iPhone has a big screen like the Galaxy SIII, even if a tad bit smaller (but not just taller, but bigger on both sides), it would likely stop me from coveting and being "jealous" of the SIII.

 

[driceman]

So here's the thing...

Aside from the fact that Samsung doesn't post their sales figures, Samsung makes way more phones in the first place. So... who cares? Besides, most phones Apple sells are sold at $200. Their REVENUES are pretty high, which, I imagine, matters more to them than number of units sold.

 

[frank8880]

This.

I don't think the average consumer, really cares weather its an iPhone, Windows Phone, or Android Phone. As long as the price was right, and it does what they need it to.

no, you are not right, they do care about whether it is an iphone or not. most average consumers know what an iphone is and they want one, the problem is they can't afford it and/or think the monthly price is high, but hell yeah they would take one if it was cheap.

you see, my point is, most people are stupid, they don't know **** about phones but they do know one thing, iphones are great, they do a lot of things, they are just cool.

 

[lilo777]

I would rather have an OS that uses every bit of my 512MB like it should than an OS that uses it up pointlessly.

Big misunderstanding on your part. Most of the RAM is used by apps not OS. That's why Android browser usually (depending on the phone) can open at least two times more tabs than Safari.

 

[koruki]

I bought got Samsungs last month, a $50 basic phone for dad and a S3. All these comments about antique and out dated looking iPhones are interesting. I feel a lot of the design elements in the Android/S3 UI are there JUST to not look like Apple, its as if Apple it got right the first time and people are getting bored of it simple because its been how it was from day one. I been pulling my hair out with the S3 in terms of UI element placement and flow. The phone is a bit too big, using it one handed is difficult, I keep pushing items by accident. I got the S3 for free so I might as well hang on to see how it goes, so far I like that there is a radio and how fast the camera is. The noise in the camera seems higher than the 4S. I still keep the 4S in the bag just in case.. Will keep using the S3 and see what the next iPhone is like, but I almost feel my dive into S3 is purely cause I've had every single iPhone released so far and wanted to try something new. Who knows, the iPhone may be the ex g/f I go back to but at least I know whats out there =)

 

[lilo777]

Aside from the fact that Samsung doesn't post their sales figures, Samsung makes way more phones in the first place. So... who cares? Besides, most phones Apple sells are sold at $200. Their REVENUES are pretty high, which, I imagine, matters more to them than number of units sold.

So, there is another thing. The profits matter only to Apple investors. iOS developers and users are a totally different matter. If this trend continues, iOS will become as irrelevant as OS/X is.

 

[btcutter]

These are very good points. The bigger screen is definitely the main reason why I am considering getting a Galaxy SIII. If the new iPhone has a big screen like the Galaxy SIII, even if a tad bit smaller (but not just taller, but bigger on both sides), it would likely stop me from coveting and being "jealous" of the SIII.

The other thing that Samsung has done well is pushing the hardware specs.

Notice almost all the advertisements from Samsung is about
1. Screen size
2. Specs.

 

[iZac]

Not that I'm excusing Apples laziness in pushing the envelope with the iPhone consider this; Apple could (If they wanted) easily flood the market with 50 iPhone variants and scoop up every corner of the market, I mean they have over 100 billion in the bank and easily have the capacity.

But I recall them saying prior to the iPhone that the phone market is a crowded space and there are many huge players that already have their entire company focus on that field, unlike the mp3 player market (which let them command a 70% share) and now the tablet market (which they command a ~70% too)

So where is the 'iPhone mini'? And what is heavily rumoured to be introduced in the next few months? The iPad mini. The computing space is probably where Apple prefer to be, and they've found the tablet market has some really easy money to be made at the moment, when their biggest competitors come from, what ... Asus and Amazon!

It's not an excuse as to Apples performance, just my thoughts. Also on a personal note .... Damn all of Samsungs Mobiles are ugly! How can 50 million consumers not care at all about design?

 

[wedouglas]

most average consumers know what an iphone is and they want one, the problem is they can't afford it and/or think the monthly price is high, but hell yeah they would take one if it was cheap.

Anyone who wants an iPhone can have one. Go check out how many burger flippers there are with iPhones. There are also no shortages of cheaper iPhones like the 3GS, 4, and used varieties.

A lot of it just comes down to branding and the fact that all iOS phones are called iPhones. People know the name and so they ask about it. If every Android phone was called an Android, everyone would know about those too and ask about those. This is a problem that Android manufacturers have -- branding. They have a bunch of phones with random unmemorable names, and on top of that, telcoms often use different names too.

The next mom you see with an iPhone, point to her phone and ask her if it's iOS or Android. Hell, you could probably sell her an Android phone and just tell her it's the latest iPhone and she wouldn't know the difference.

The majority of people buy based on what they've heard of and how much they want to spend. End of story.

 

[G51989]

no, you are not right, they do care about whether it is an iphone or not. most average consumers know what an iphone is and they want one, the problem is they can't afford it and/or think the monthly price is high, but hell yeah they would take one if it was cheap.

you see, my point is, most people are stupid, they don't know **** about phones but they do know one thing, iphones are great, they do a lot of things, they are just cool.

Really, if everyone wanted an iPhone? Why are Android Phones beating it in sales and marketshare? Oh yeah.

Android+OEMs offer choice. Apple does not.

Even at the high price point, Android has the 4 and 4S beat to the punch.

Why do we even still ONLY have the 4S? How can a company like Apple not afford to bring out updates more often?

 

[SlCKB0Y]

My brother and sister-inlaws are a great example. Both have Samsung smart phones, neither could answer anything about what they do other than they take pictures and post on Facebook (both are confused about how you add media, download music, etc.)

That actually sounds like almost every iPhone user ive ever met.

 

[supermarius]

Seriously?! The Samsung Galaxy S3 is better than the iPhone in every way. It's not cheap either. As is the HTC One. Funny how you say cheap when, if you took the Apple logo off the iPhone 4S it would be considered a cheap entry level smartphone because that's what it is.

I'm the real world more people are buying Android phones. Not the free ones either. For every 1 iPhone I sell, I sell 10 premium Android phones that the customers want because they know it's better.

Why?

They want 4G, they want a bigger screen, they want more control over their phone, they want better specs.

In the real world, people are buying Android phones b/c they are cheap... they don't buy iPhone b/c 1) they aren't cheap and 2) they don't want a 3 year old phone... also, they don't care about control over their phone. That's not to say a great deal of consumers disagree w/ those points.

If you were to say that the GS3 or GNex had larger smartphone market share than iPhone 4S, you'd have a better correlation... but the fact of the matter is, these flagship devices are a fraction of Samsung's total volume.

It still shocks me that the GS3, One X, or Razr Maxx are touted more than the GNex, b/c the GNex line SHOULD always be on Google's latest released OS.

 

[SlCKB0Y]

I'm starting to worry that Faildroid may win,

Have you seen the figures? might win? It already has won... and some time ago.