Initial Sales of Original iPhone, Droid, and Nexus One Compared

[MacRumors]

In an interesting blog post today, mobile analytics firm Flurry offers estimates of unit sales for Motorola's Droid and Google's Nexus One smartphones over their first 74 days of availability, the amount of time it took for Apple to reach one million sales of the original iPhone in 2007.

According to Flurry's data, Google has sold only approximately 135,000 Nexus One units since its launch in January, despite a significant amount of publicity surrounding its launch.

Despite the fact that the Google Nexus One is the most advanced Android handset to date, and enjoyed substantial buzz leading up to its release, the launch has been overshadowed by lower than expected sales. In our previous reports we offered several possible reasons including unconventional choices in marketing, pricing and distribution.

The Motorola Droid, however, experienced relatively significant early sales success with approximately 1.05 million units sold in the first 74 days, slightly ahead of the original iPhone's pace. The original iPhone and the Motorola Droid of course launched under very different circumstances, several of which are highlighted by Flurry, including the growth of the smartphone market in the 2.5 years between the two devices' launch, Verizon's nearly-40% larger subscriber base for the Droid launch than AT&T offered at the original iPhone's launch, and momentum from a holiday season launch for the Droid.

In addition, Apple's iPhone launch at an unsubsidized $499/$599 price point, well above what many casual handset purchasers were willing to pay for their devices, undoubtedly hampered early sales. Just a week before Apple reached its one million milestone for the iPhone, it announced the discontinuation of the original 4 GB model and a $200 price drop for the 8 GB model to $399, setting the stage for increased sales.

Article Link: Initial Sales of Original iPhone, Droid, and Nexus One Compared

 

[melchior]

this is more a reflection of the US mobile market than anything else. not being tied to a carrier will take time for people to get used to.

 

[jsbaugh]

A couple of things stick out from that graph. The Nexus is an epic failure and it shows how hard up verizon customers were for a smartphone. Apple would sell a ton of iphones at Verizon.

 

[dgree03]

All this shows is that if you do a advertising blitz, sell your phone in a B&M, put it on a larger carrier it will sell alot.

Frankly nexus one selling 135k WITHOUT a B&M or TV slots is incredible if you ask me!

A couple of things stick out from that graph. The Nexus is an epic failure and it shows how hard up verizon customers were for a smartphone. Apple would sell a ton of iphones at Verizon.

See my above comment

 

[dernhelm]

All this shows is that if you do a advertising blitz, sell your phone in a B&M, put it on a larger carrier it will sell alot.

Frankly nexus one selling 135k WITHOUT a B&M or TV slots is incredible if you ask me!

The Nexus One had PLENTY of publicity. 135k is NOT a lot of phones. I'm sure Google is disappointed, even if you are not.

 

[dgree03]

The Nexus One had PLENTY of publicity. 135k is NOT a lot of phones. I'm sure Google is disappointed, even if you are not.

Did it? Do tell... Was it on TV, commericals, movie/tv show cameos? is it sold in a B&M?

 

[atari1356]

Looks like the iPhone did incredibly well in comparison, since it was initially much more expensive... and back then there were no 3rd party apps.

It will be interesting to see how Android does as a platform though. Will it eventually become the "Windows" of mobile OS's, since it can be use on devices from multiple hardware manufacturers?

 

[Tech-Minded]

Did it? Do tell... Was it on TV, commericals, movie/tv show cameos? is it sold in a B&M?

I have seen a large amount of Nexus One internet ads, more so than any other phone.

 

[Teh Don Ditty]

The Nexus One had PLENTY of publicity. 135k is NOT a lot of phones. I'm sure Google is disappointed, even if you are not.

Where? Is it advertised on TV? Radio? T-Mobile stores?

No.

It's only advertising was done on Google's web page.

 

[dernhelm]

Did it? Do tell... Was it on TV, commericals, movie/tv show cameos? is it sold in a B&M?

Google targeted it's primary sales base. It was EVERYWHERE on the internet. For weeks prior you couldn't load a web page without hearing about the iPhone killer. It was also reviewed on NPR, and in many print publications.

Google has a ton of clout and gobs of money. If they thought TV ads would help sell the thing, it would've been all over the TV as well.

Even if your statement is correct, it only points to Google being stupid. It does not lower the criteria and somehow make the Nexus One a success.

 

[talkingfuture]

Its interesting to see figures like this because the non-Apple centric media seem to want something else to talk about as a rival to the iPhone. If you made assumptions from Engadget or Techcrunch you would think that the Nexus One was the most popular thing ever.

 

[DanielSw]

Even though the writer acknowledges the significant differences between the respective circumstances around the initial sales of the Droid and iPhone, the remaining and the MOST significant difference between the two phones is that of sustained sales over several years.

The chronic complainers love to harp about the iPhone's lack of "openness" and Apple's heavy-handed control over various aspects of the phone and apps. But I'll be interested to see how the Droid will evolve and how Android's "openness" will most likely continue to fragment the market by making older versions of the OS and older hardware incompatible with newer releases.

 

[ParisParamus]

This comparison mostly shows that the iPhone is awesome; Verizon users were hungry for even a pale immitation of the iPhone: and that the Nexus is an abject failure.

When the iPhone gets to Verizon, it will be awesome.

 

[phatcat]

Google still wins out as their OS is on the Droid & Nexus. Although besides the launch day hype, I have not seen any Nexus advertising. On the flipside I see Droid commercials daily.

Secondly, even though the Nexus is unlocked, you can only get true 3G service on T-Mobile in the states. Add support for ATT and I'd buy a Nexus and swap the sim between my iPhone.

 

[giosaccone]

this is more a reflection of the US mobile market than anything else. not being tied to a carrier will take time for people to get used to.

I think so..

 

[zombitronic]

I'd be interested in seeing how the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS compare in that chart.

 

[lex750]

Google is trying to free the US market from the ball and chain concept of the " 2 year contract". This will take some time. I think this is an excellent move. That $99 iPhone will end up costing you $800 to $1000 on a overpriced 2 year contract with with a company who's service sucks.

 

[joeshell383]

Droid launched in the middle of a recession. Also, Apple leveraged its existing iPod brand equity, whereas the Droid/Android brands were new.

 

[nagromme]

Pretty amazing how well the iPhone did: a new, unfamiliar class of device, back when touchscreens (previously) didn’t work well and smartphones were aimed at businesses, not consumers. And no apps or games! And a vastly different price point! (RIP unsubsidized—I actually liked that business model, with a cheap monthly plan.)

The iPhone paved the way for everyone else. Now this class of device is established and sales are much easier to get.

Yeah, and Droid launched in the middle of a recession. Also, Apple leveraged its existing iPod brand equity, whereas the Droid/Android brands were new.

Droid/Android leveraged the Google brand (as well as the iPhone brand itself, by imitation).

Even though the writer acknowledges the significant differences between the respective circumstances around the initial sales of the Droid and iPhone, the remaining and the MOST significant difference between the two phones is that of sustained sales over several years.

The chronic complainers love to harp about the iPhone's lack of "openness" and Apple's heavy-handed control over various aspects of the phone and apps. But I'll be interested to see how the Droid will evolve and how Android's "openness" will most likely continue to fragment the market by making older versions of the OS and older hardware incompatible with newer releases.

Actually, even some current Android phones aren’t compatible with current Android releases! Quite a mess. Consumer beware.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

It will be a more interesting comparison when the Nexus One goes to Verizon. T-Mob is the weakest of all U.S. carriers.

 

[lex750]

Yeah, and Droid launched in the middle of a recession. Also, Apple leveraged its existing iPod brand equity, whereas the Droid/Android brands were new.

Yeah riding the "i" sure helps.

 

[tonybeyondo]

Could be all the great press that the Droid got- people were treating it like the second coming when it initially came out. Talking like they were going to switch from the iPhone to Droid.

Ahem... Andy Inhatko, Ryan Block, etc...

 

[sanPietro98]

I think the iPhone established the market for these other phones. If it were not for the iPhone, I doubt the motorola model would have been as successful.

 

[tip]

Did it? Do tell... Was it on TV, commericals, movie/tv show cameos? is it sold in a B&M?

Exactly. Of the Android phones, the G1, MyTouch, and Droid were advertised in a traditional manner, much like the iPhone. The Nexus One was not - even in the realm of Internet advertising, it was still catered towards the techies, and not general users.

 

[SkottDMD]

I'd be interested in seeing how the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS compare in that chart.

In the U.S it took 12 days for the 3G to hit 500,000 units sold, worldwide I believe the weekend of the launch took it will over 1,000,000 units. The 3GS sold 1,000,000+ over the three days following launch worldwide. Not sure if the numbers presented in the original story were strictly based on U.S sales or not. Although, assuming the Nexus's relatively slim availability outside the U.S, I'm fairly sure that's what these numbers are in reference to.