Samsung beats Apple's iPhone in US for first time in three years, report says

AppleInsider

Market research firm Strategy Analytics in a report this week estimates Samsung sold more smartphones in the U.S. during the third quarter of 2020 than market incumbent Apple.

Samsung took a 33.7% share of the U.S. market during the just-ended period, up 6.7% from the same time last year, reports Yonhap News Agency. Strategy Analytics estimates Apple landed in second with a 30.2% marketshare, followed by LG's 14.7% slice of the pie.

The research firm believes strong demand for budget and mid-tier smartphones helped push Samsung to the No. 1 spot, while flagship devices like the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Z Fold2 increased visibility during a largely quiet quarter. The vacuum left by Apple's absence in the period likely amplified the ability of competitors to land new sales.

Due to coronavirus complications, Apple's flagship iPhone 12 series handsets were announced weeks later than the company's typical launch timeline. Preorder sales of iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro started on Oct. 16, with units delivering a week later. The staggered release plan most recently saw iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max go live last Friday.

Strategy Analytics' results are in line with wider global trends observed by IDC. In an October report, the research firm said Samsung reclaimed its position as the world's largest smartphone vendor during the third quarter, clawing back lost ground from Huawei. Apple landed in fourth place with an estimated 41.6 million shipped iPhones in the same period, down 10.6% year-over-year.

It should be noted that firms like Strategy Analytics do not have insight into Apple's supply or retail chains and provide estimates based on independent research. The methodology, and more importantly results, of market research firms have been brought into question in the past, with Apple executives dismissing the data as largely incorrect.

In reporting earnings for its fourth fiscal quarter of 2020, Apple noted a 21% decline in iPhone revenue, part of which was blamed on a late start to iPhone 12 sales.

TheObannonFile

To each their own, but Apple definitely made more money (read: profit). Quantity is not always a leading indicator.

cornchip

How are Samsung’s laptop and desktop chips coming along? 

wood1208

iPhone 12 just released so let's talk in few weeks/months.

sflocal

Are we back to units sold as a metric for success?  

Who's making the profit?  *chirp* *chirp*

InspiredCode

Since every company is on a different release schedule, quarterly numbers mean nothing. Even yearly numbers need to be taken with a grain of salt. Might as well say Samsung sold more swimsuits in the summer months then Apple sold mittens.

JFC_PA

Plausible as that quarter had no iPhone 12s in it. 

anonymouse

JFC_PA said:

Plausible as that quarter had no iPhone 12s in it. 

There's really nothing more to say.

gmgravytrain

That's a good reason for Samsung to gloat, however, the situation will be reversed in Q1 2021 when iPhone 12 sales kick in.  With all the other products Apple has to offer for the holidays, Apple is going to have a blowout quarter, for sure.  Revenue and profits are going to explode if Apple can keep up with demand.

hammeroftruth

“ It should be noted that firms like Strategy Analytics do not have insight into Apple's supply or retail chains and provide estimates based on independent research. The methodology, and more importantly results, of market research firms have been brought into question in the past, with Apple executives dismissing the data as largely incorrect.”

So are they using a magic 8 ball?

Making claims without proof is all the rage these days. 

Fatman

Imagine buying a phone only to find two months later Apple’s offering is already 50% faster than that shiny new Android in their pocket. These are buyers that don’t do their homework. They won’t be happy especially when Samsung has now accelerated the release of their next model to January to catch up to Apple. Androids already don’t last nearly as long as iPhones, their lifespans will be shortened even further because their tech is inferior. Hopefully Apple shoots to have next year’s iPhone in customers hands first week of September!

commentzilla

The iPhones came out late this year. That's how Samsung pulled ahead. It's that simple. Move along, nothing to see here.

Beats

Disappointed by the Mac reveals today.

Apple could have really increased iPhone/Mac stickiness with FaceID and focus on iPad/iPhone apps on Mac. Devs talking about how cool the potential is was not what I had in mind.

Imagine if they showed a FaceTime conference call with Animoji, developers working seamless across Mac and iPhone and Logic for iPad etc. etc.


Still, at this point what reason is there to buy a knockoff iPhone?

mr lizard

I tend to take these reports with a pinch of salt because I think the margin of error must be so high. 

But if true, then Apple managed to take just 3% less of the market than Samsung despite only having phones on sale that were almost a year old. 

That’s pretty impressive. 

avon b7

mr lizard said:

I tend to take these reports with a pinch of salt because I think the margin of error must be so high. 

But if true, then Apple managed to take just 3% less of the market than Samsung despite only having phones on sale that were almost a year old. 

That’s pretty impressive. 

I agree that there's not much to go on but you have missed the iPhone SE which may have been an important contributor to Apple's iPhone line towards its year end. 

maestro64

hammeroftruth said:

“ It should be noted that firms like Strategy Analytics do not have insight into Apple's supply or retail chains and provide estimates based on independent research. The methodology, and more importantly results, of market research firms have been brought into question in the past, with Apple executives dismissing the data as largely incorrect.”

So are they using a magic 8 ball?

Making claims without proof is all the rage these days. 

The magic 8 ball is more sophisticated, they just wet their finger, put it in the air to see which direction the wind is blowing.

retrogusto

But Apple still has a monopoly, right?

cornchip

sflocal said:

  *chirp* *chirp*

ding ding!

EsquireCats

It’ll be interesting to see the full year (on account of Apple not releasing a new device in that quarter.)