Apple’s iPhone 5 has pushed the company to a 48.1% share of U.S. smartphone sales, edging Google’s Android platform for the lead.
“The last time we saw iOS overtake Android in the US was when the iPhone 4S was released and Apple managed to retain its lead for three consecutive periods,” said Dominic Sunnebo, global consumer insight director at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. “This time we predict that Apple will beat its previous high of 49.3 percent and achieve its highest ever share of the US smartphone market within the next two periods.”
The latest data from Kantar Worldpanel showed Apple’s iOS handset edging out the Android, which had 46.7% of sales over the last 12 weeks. Apple’s share could grow even more as iPhone 5 availability improves.
Most sales of the iPhone 5 in the United States, (62%), were to customers who already owned an Apple product. Apple customer loyalty also rang true, as 92% said they will choose an iPhone the next time they upgrade.
The customer survey covered a 12-week period ending October 28th.
The survey also showed that consumers were most excited by the addition of 4G LTE connectivity, and also the iPhone 5’s larger display.
The company did not see a similar performance in the European market, where Android accounted for 73.9% of sales in Germany, and 81.7% in Spain over the last 12 weeks. Apple did show gains in Britain, where it’s iOS platform accounted for 32.7% of handset sales.
