Samsung Galaxy S3 'closing sales gap on Apple iPhone

New data from June suggests that although Apple’s iPhone 4S is still the UK’s most popular handset, Android rivals are closing the gap.

The impending launch of the Samsung Galaxy S3 was the single biggest rival device impeding the iPhone, but the 4S still accounted for nearly a fifth of all sales in June. The FT reported that this was down from a quarter at the beginning of March.

The newspaper suggested that anecdotal evidence from network operators also suggested that Apple fans, who are consistently the most loyal among manufacturers, were themselves waiting for a new version of the iOS operating system that is due in the Autumn.

The data from GfK said the S3 model took approximately 18 per cent of the market in its first week in June. It is set to launch in America in the coming days. However, GfK data does not include sales from Apple's shops or from its website. It also doesn't include corporate sales for any manufacturer.
GfK noted, however, that S3 sales had sent its predecessor, the S2, falling from 9 per cent of all devices to 6 per cent in the two months to mid-June.

As has been the case for some time, Samsung’s combined sales still outstrip Apple’s, standing at above 30 per cent, although that also accounts for popular models such as the large-screen Galaxy Note device and phones such as the Ace.

The Android operating system is also, overall, the most popular OS. It accounts for four out of ten smartphones in use, and more than half of all those sold. The majority of British phone users also now use smartphones.