According to Strategy Analytics, Samsung shipped more smartphones than Apple during the third quarter of 2011. Samsung smartphone sales increased by 44% over the last quarter and sold an incredible 117 million units. As a result, Samsung now holds 24% market share in the smartphone category compared with Apple's meager 15%.
Some speculate that this drop in Apple dominance is due to the fact that Apple loyalists did not want to invest in a new phone that was soon going to be outdated as soon as the iPhone 4S became available for purchase. While this seems like a cogent explanation, iPhone growth was at its lowest level in two years during quarter 3, which points to more systemic and pervasive problems for Apple.
Has the iPhone met its match in Samsung's Galaxy S2? Well, the iPhone 4S is heavier, thicker, and has a smaller screen than the Galaxy S2. Both phones boast similarly powerful cameras and data processers. With this information in mind, the Galaxy S2 seems to be the better phone, but of course, user experience is somewhat subjective, and some users will gravitate towards the iPhone's sleek interphase over the less tried-and-true interphase of the Galaxy.
Can the Galaxy succeed against the powerful force of Apple branding? Quarter four's results will tell.