Android is outselling Apple's iOS platform two to one in the UK, also trouncing BlackBerry when it comes to smart phone sales, according to a new survey.
The study, conducted by the oddly named Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, reveals that nearly half (49.9 per cent) of smart phones sold in Britain are Android devices. The iPhone, by comparison, has a much smaller 18.5 per cent share of the mobile market, with BlackBerry pipping it on 22.5 per cent.
The research was conducted in the 12 weeks leading up to 2 October, and in that period 70 per cent of all mobiles sold were of the smart variety. The firm now reckons a massive 43.8 per cent of the UK population own a smart phone.
Looking at the dates, those figures won't have taken into account the iPhone 4S, which went on sale on 14 October, shifting 4 million worldwide in its first four days on sale. We suspect iPhone sales will have dropped over the summer, as Apple fans postponed their purchases in anticipation of the new iPhone.
Still, it's a turbulent time for Apple and Android -- while the iPhone 4S is a killer bit of kit, it remains to be seen whether it's enough of an improvement on the iPhone 4 to keep its rivals at bay for another year.
Android is about to enjoy an update in the form of Ice Cream Sandwich, but the manufacturers who build Android devices are beset by patent fights.
So, those figures could well change by Christmas, but it's interesting to note both the rise of Android, and the increasing number of people are hopping on the smart phone bandwagon. We know you guys love high-powered mobiles, and we think it's the tech category where the most action is happening, even more so than tablets.
What kind of phone do you own? Do you like a mobile that's rammed full of high-spec gadgetry, or do you join Noel Gallagher in preferring the simple pleasures and long battery life of a basic phone? Enlighten us in the comments, or on our Facebook wall.
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Comments 21
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anonymous 1 November, 2011 13:25
no big deal, here in Estonia we have everywere free wifi ;)
anonymous 1 November, 2011 14:39
I really get tired of these ridiculous stories. You're effectively comparing the sales of a single device from one manufacturer with multiple devices from multiple manufactures. What does that prove? Sweet all!
Rich Trenholm 1 November, 2011 14:56
It's still interesting
Adam Reynolds 1 November, 2011 15:02
No, they are comparing iOS device sales vs Android device sales. It's a valid comparison and is the one that will make application developers/companies sit up and take notice. The more interesting comparison would be to identify the sales of iOS5 capable vs Android 2.3 capable handsets.
Although having seen the screen on the Galaxy S2 next to the iPhone Retina display, I'll take the S2 any day.
anonymous 1 November, 2011 15:04
What's interesting!?
You can't compare Android with iPhone. That's like saying Microsoft Windows sells more than Dell.
anonymous 1 November, 2011 15:08
Sorry but they're not comparing iOS vs Android. If they were you'd have to include ipod touch and ipod sales.
anonymous 1 November, 2011 15:16
iPhone is synonymous with iOS when talking about smartphones and the article qualifies the figures with "when it comes to smart phone sales". So, it's a valid comparison of sales of 'smartphones running OS #1' versus 'smartphones running OS #2'.
Android wins.
alyeo82 1 November, 2011 15:18
This is all based on a piece of research published at the start of August. How is this news?
anonymous 1 November, 2011 15:27
Who cares what is out selling what...
At the end of the day, I have a preference, you have a preference and so does everyone else.
The thing to consider here is that we are talking one OS against another, the smart phone its self doesn't come into the equation at all.
gandhimaster 1 November, 2011 16:43
Ok i signed up just to post this point.
The comparison of devices running iOS (assuming you have included all iOS devices) vs devices running Android is a good comparison, and worthy of being reported.
However, please stop trying to bait the fanboys out there by using the headline "Android outsells iPhone" as that only attracts anger from people who know that headline is incorrect. It is only there to cause people to click links and read what could be deemed as an uneducated article, or worse a biased article.
I am not suggesting bias on your part, or uneducated reporting. But i do believe that article headline is used so much that it has to be deliberate, in general in news reporting.
anonymous 1 November, 2011 17:51
@ Adam Reynolds, I did that big mistake! I'm trying to get rid of my SG2 to get another iphone much much better device in my opinion. Although the SG2 screen is awesome its just everything else thats no up to the same level.
Brian Mccaig 1 November, 2011 17:53
And Blackberry is number 2 not Apple - seems to have been overlooked, so it's not just about Android and Apple. CNET is run by kids for kids. Stop comparing ** sake.
anonymous 1 November, 2011 19:35
Of Course you have to compare all Android phones to the iPhone what matters here is the platform (Android or iOS) not the actuall handset or who made it. The more phones running android OS the more apps I can sell on that platform etc. it's as simple as that. where ur brains people?
anonymous 1 November, 2011 19:43
First of all, I feel sorry for a great company like Nokia having to get into bed with evil incarnate - Microshaft!!! Those other smartphone OS makers from across the pond are also evil incarnate IMHO.
What I would really like is to see is Ubuntu Linux expanding from PCs into mobiles and slates.
anonymous 1 November, 2011 19:49
Sell more apps on Android, that's a joke. With so many rogue sites providing pirated copies of apps a publisher on Android will only see a small proportion of any revenue.
Naryan 2 November, 2011 07:32
Let's get this straight. I hate everything about Apple before I even look at their products.
But this is a totally ridiculous comparison. You can't compare "Android" to "iPhone".
Can you imagine this as a scientific experiment!? It's totally TOTALLY stupid right from the word go.
If you wanted to have even an inkling of a fair comparison you have to include all generations of iPod touch and iPad before posting. You can find an obscure "Android" device for like £50. Sound fair to you?
Man am I sick of seeing stupidity like this in EVERY CNET ARTICLE.
anonymous 2 November, 2011 11:35
People really aren't grasping this...it's about comparing the sales of smartphones (not MP3 players or Tablets) using platform iOS vs Android vs Blackberry OS. The article itself says that this research was carried out while iOS users would be waiting with baited breath for the iPhone 4S. And the title is correct for when the research was carried out.
To be honest I don't care who's operating systems are most popular...all I care about is the fact that there's so much competition. These companies are going to push each other to keep improving the OS's we use on our smartphones. Stay happy people...
anonymous 3 November, 2011 14:21
share what your opinions and meet new blackberry messenger users from all around the world or your city on aslpin.com
anonymous 5 November, 2011 08:08
Android = freedom, ios= sheep. Following the herd, doing what apple tell you. Suckers.
anonymous 5 November, 2011 16:18
I just made the switch from iphone to android. galaxy s2 beats the iphone hands down.
Apple with have to do something Amazing to get my custom back...
anonymous 3 August, 2012 17:17
ehhhhhhh....f u all... I love my dummy phone that lasts me more than a week on recharge