Skip to main content

Apple’s iPhone 6 and 6 Plus going strong in US, stealing Samsung’s thunder in South Korea

Apple iPhone 6 iPhone 6 Plus
Image used with permission by copyright holder
According to a new report, Apple’s smartphones accounted for half of all smartphone activations in the U.S. in the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2014. This is yet another sign pointing to Apple’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus taking center stage when the company announces its Q1 FY15 earnings next week on Jan. 27.

In Q4 2014, Apple’s phones had 50 percent of all smartphone activations in the U.S., according to research firm Consumer Intelligence Research Partners LLC (CIRP). It’s no surprise that the company’s new flagship phones drove that impressive number up from 28 percent in Q3 2014.

“The strength of the September 2014 launch of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus fueled Apple’s dominance in U.S. mobile phone sales this quarter,” according to Josh Lowitz, partner and co-founder of CIRP. “

Samsung finished Q4 2014 in second place with 26 percent of U.S. phone activations, while LG had 11 percent. Motorola (4 percent), HTC (2 percent) and Nokia (2 percent) trailed far behind.

“The Amazon Fire and Blackberry smartphones registered slight share, which we attribute to random sample fluctuation as much as actual sales,” said Lowitz.

The CIRP report also notes that 86 percent of Apple customers upgraded from an older iPhone after the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were launched. “Samsung and LG saw far lower loyalty rates, with 25 percent of Samsung owners and 18 percent of LG owners who activated a phone in the quarter switching to an iPhone,” according to Lowitz.

A separate report from IT research and advisory firm 451 Research found that 56 percent of respondents to a December survey said they plan to purchase an iPhone in the next 90 days.

Apple also appears to be making strong headway in Samsung’s home turf: Technology market research company Counterpoint Research reports that Apple’s market share in South Korea more than doubled to 33 percent in November, thanks to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Editors' Recommendations

Jason Hahn
Jason Hahn is a part-time freelance writer based in New Jersey. He earned his master's degree in journalism at Northwestern…
5 phones you should buy instead of the iPhone 15
A green iPhone 15 on a green bench.

Apple’s iPhone lineup continues to be among its bestselling products. In 2023, we got the iPhone 15, which packs some of Apple’s latest and greatest tech and starts at $800.

The iPhone 15 is one of the easiest iPhone recommendations in 2024. But if you're open to a few other suggestions, there are some great alternatives to consider — including cheaper iPhone options and some really compelling Android phones. Here are five other phones you should consider buying instead of the iPhone 15.
iPhone 14

Read more
How to find your lost phone (tips for iPhone and Android)
The Motorola Edge Plus 2023 lying next to the Galaxy S23 Ultra and iPhone 14 Pro.

Not knowing how to find your smartphone can cause a real panic when the need arises. It likely has way too much information about you, has access to your bank details and stock portfolio, and can grant access into pretty much any personal sphere of your life. Plus, you're likely addicted to your smartphone in ways that no device has ever addicted humankind before. In short, if you've lost your phone, you may start to panic.

Read more
iPhone 16: news, rumored price, release date, and more
A person holding the Apple iPhone 15 Plus and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

We're a few months removed from the launch of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, so you know what that means: iPhone 16 rumors are in full force. Talk is heating up about everything from design leaks and rumored specs to camera changes and more.

Read more