iPhone X Was One of the Top Three Best-Selling Smartphones in December 2017 Across Five Markets

[MacRumors]

Apple's iPhone X made it into the top three best-selling smartphones in December 2017 "across all key regions," according to new data tracked by Kantar Worldpanel. Specifically, Apple's new iPhone X climbed best-selling charts in Europe, Japan, Australia, the United States, and China, where it was the top selling model during the holiday season this year.

Although iOS market share fell 0.5 percentage points in the U.S. during the October to December 2017 period (down to 43.9 percent), the researchers noted that iOS loyalty "reached a new high of 96 percent." Ultimately, Kantar argued that Apple's staggered release of the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X has been a "sound" strategy with multiple price points offering entry points for a wider variety of consumers and "boosting" Apple's smartphone OS share in these key markets.

"The full results for the last quarter of the year show that Apple's decision to release three new handsets over a staggered period, including the ultra high-end iPhone X, has been a sound one. With Apple's existing release structure, expectations would always be that the flagship model would be the top selling device in key developed markets, but with the premium price of iPhone X, real life affordability has come into play. Given that in December iPhone X made it into the top three best-selling devices across all key regions, particularly in urban China where it was the top selling model, the pricing strategy seems to have been vindicated."

In total, Apple's piece of the global smartphone OS market saw a percentage point increase across six markets in the three months ending December 2017. iOS market share climbed 0.5 percentage points in Spain and Japan, 0.7 in Europe, 1.2 in Australia, 2.5 in Germany, and 10.1 in China. Apple's growth in China has "continued to impress" Kantar, with the iOS smartphone sales share in China growing from 24.3 percent in September-November to 28.6 percent in October-December 2017.

Besides Apple, Kantar also discussed Samsung and the Android OS market share, noting Android's losses in a few markets (down 10.1 percentage points in China amid Apple's rise). The researchers pointed out that these losses were "cushioned" to an extent by the "rapid fall of Windows," which has a share now of under 1 percent in every market tracked by Kantar except Italy (1.9 percent).

With today's report from Kantar, this marks the final time we'll see smartphone OS market share data only focused on months in 2017. It should be interesting to see how Apple and iOS perform following the 2017 holidays and into the new year, amid ongoing reports in recent weeks focused on "weakened demand" and lowered production volume for the iPhone X in Q1 2018.

Article Link: iPhone X Was One of the Top Three Best-Selling Smartphones in December 2017 Across Five Markets

 

[maflynn]

Pent up excitement, leading up to the sale of the X, coupled with the 8 not being much better then 7 - makes sense. I'm generally happy with my X, though I wish Face ID was better.

 

[Scottsoapbox]

Top 3 eh? Will the X be top 5 for January? Top 10?

 

[plexdk]

impressive diff from year to year, compared to android is multi brand, and iOS is one brand

 

[Naimfan]

And yet it lost market share in the US . . .

 

[Krayzkat]

I'm surprised iOS is doing so badly with our European neighbours across the Channel. Didn't think it'd be that bad tbh.

Only decent stat for Apple is China growth

 

[Rogifan]

X was top 3 in December but production is being cut in half do to weak demand? Something doesn’t pass the smell test.

 

[djcerla]

And none of the 5 were the US or China . . .

Apple's new iPhone X climbed best-selling charts in Europe, Japan, Australia, the United States, and China

reading comprehension has really gone downhill lately.

 

[GTO]

I regret my X purchase. Simply because I don't think it's worth the $1000. Face-ID is carp and don't work most time. It needs refinement.

 

[Naimfan]

I regret my X purchase. Simply because I don't think it's worth the $1000. Face-ID is carp and don't work most time. It needs refinement.

Why not return it?

 

[RightMACatU]

Not much different than saying that the X is the latest and greatest in Apple's mobile arsenal

 

[cansuds]

android processors sell more

 

[AJ5790]

I regret my X purchase. Simply because I don't think it's worth the $1000. Face-ID is carp and don't work most time. It needs refinement.

If that’s your experience I’d contact support. Face ID has failed for me when I was actually looking at it maybe 5 times in the past (almost) 3 months.

 

[OllyW]

And yet it lost market share in the US . . .

And it fell again in the UK.

 

[Krayzkat]

Evidence B.

Well the only decent stat for Apple is China growth! Make that last sentence 'evidence C' if you want, it's still true.

 

[69Mustang]

X was top 3 in December but production is being cut in half do to weak demand? Something doesn’t pass the smell test.

You're conflating two different topics that shouldn't be mashed together. Future production is typically based on sales trends. Being in the top 3 in December does not mean sales were trending up. Hypothetically, the X could have sold more in November than December.

 

[Norwegian_Imposter]

This is the market share in Norway

http://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/norway/2016

 

[xDKP]

I regret my X purchase. Simply because I don't think it's worth the $1000. Face-ID is carp and don't work most time. It needs refinement.

I'm still on an iPhone 7 (company phone) but one of my colleagues recently got an iPhone X and loves it - says the faceID is great as well - might not be bullet proof, but certainly isn't crap

 

[RickInHouston]

Was it one of the most returned product in early 2018?

 

[Norwegian_Imposter]

christ the amount of hate you guys have for the X is insane. My wife and I love ours and it runs rings around the galaxy s8+

 

[Aussi3]

But, but, but the notch?...

 

[Norwegian_Imposter]

But, but, but the notch?...

I swear that is only said by people who don't have the damn phone.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I'm surprised iOS is doing so badly with our European neighbours across the Channel. Didn't think it'd be that bad tbh.

Only decent stat for Apple is China growth

Japan had some growth as well ... yet other than USA and China everywhere else has been single digit or even decimal point gains and losses.

Something about Apple's product markting (across the range) still feels "too USA" focused. I think TV/Web marketing should change to a more globally-local focus ... tell more of stories of joy, love, enjoyment and inclusion (life, family, friendships, community) in their future ads. They did great with banners before store openings in China ... but other than just opening stores ... what have they really done for Japan, UK, EUS, UAE, etc? Heck Canada doesn't get any ad focused or related to our way of life here ... then again we just mimic the USA.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

X was top 3 in December but production is being cut in half do to weak demand? Something doesn’t pass the smell test.

One is about the past. The other is about the future.

 

[mtneer]

It's hard to believe some of these contradictory reports, with the Wall Street Journal stating that iPhone X production is down and now this. Someone is being an Apple shill or just feeding the bears.