Skip to main content

iPhone’s U.S. sales grow to highest level in nearly two years as Samsung falters

Apple iPhone 7
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Samsung’s troubles with the Galaxy Note 7 are likely part of the reason that Apple’s iPhone achieved its best sales numbers in nearly two years, with sales of the line showing their largest growth in seven quarters.

Research firm Kantar says that iOS phones rose to a level that equated to a 40.5-percent market share in the three months ending in October. This was its highest share of the market since the quarter ending January 2015, and up nearly seven points year over year. The iPhone 7 was the top-selling phone, commanding a 10.6-percent share.

Recommended Videos

Following the 7 was last year’s 6S, with the Samsung Galaxy 7 and the 7 Plus coming in fourth with 5.3 percent of the market. Another key finding was that Android appears to be struggling in the U.S., seeing a 5.6-percent market share drop, the only country other than Japan to see a decline.

Android devices still make up nearly 58 percent of all phones sold, but the platform in general has seen a market share slip every year since 2012. One potential reason for the decline could be the end of phone subsidies. Traditionally, Android phones were more heavily subsidized than their iPhone counterparts, putting Apple’s devices at a premium.

Another reason could be Apple’s change in strategy generally over the same period to expand its line, either by merely continuing to manufacture older models or by introducing budget versions like the 5C and iPhone SE at cheaper prices.

Either way, it’s good news for Apple. Even more good news is that Kantar believes the loss of the traditional headphone jack is all but a non-issue for consumers as it hasn’t had a huge effect on sales overall.

iPhone fans might want to temper their enthusiasm just a bit, though. While the sales numbers here in the U.S. are solid, Android devices still hold a 75-percent share or better in most countries, save those where premium devices garner a larger share of the market. “This is not a surprise, nor should it be, as Android’s business model provides consumers with a variety of brands and price points from which to choose,” Kantar’s consumer insight director Lauren Guenveur said.

That means that the iPhone is likely to never overtake Android merely because of its different business strategy. All is not lost, though: “While Android dominates in terms of the raw number of devices it powers, Apple remains the most desirable smartphone brand in the world,” Guenveur concluded.

Ed Oswald
For fifteen years, Ed has written about the latest and greatest in gadgets and technology trends. At Digital Trends, he's…
Miss the iPhone mini? This company may have an alternative for you
A person holding the Oppo Find X6 Pro, showing the back of the phone.

Here at Digital Trends, we're big fans of the Oppo series of phones. From the Reno 10 and its curved screen to the Oppo Find N2, these handsets rarely disappoint. Now, a new one might be on the horizon, ready to fill the iPhone mini-shaped hole in your heart.

According to known leaker Digital Chat Station (via Android Headlines), Oppo is preparing to announce a new, smaller flagship model that's separate from the recently revealed Find X8 and Find X8 Pro. Both of those models are confirmed for a global release, but the availability of this smaller flagship is unclear.

Read more
iPhone 17 series could finally end Apple’s stingy era of slow screens
iPhone on charging stand showing photo screen in iOS 17 StandBy mode.

Apple has played a relatively slow innovation game when it comes to display upgrades on its phones. The company took its own sweet time embracing OLED screens, then did the same with getting rid of the ugly notch, and still has a lot of ground to cover at adopting high refresh rate panels.

The status could finally change next year. According to Korea-based ET News, which cites an industry source, Apple will fit an LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) screen across the entire iPhone 17 series, including the rumored slim version and the entry-point model.

Read more
Apple offers free repair for bad iPhone 14 Plus batch with camera woes
The iPhone 14 Plus's camera module.

Over the past few months, multiple reports have popped up on Reddit and Apple’s official product forum regarding an iPhone 14 Plus issue that renders a black screen instead of a frame preview in the camera app. It seems Apple has finally caught wind of the complaints and has launched a servicing program to help affected owners.

“Apple has determined that the rear camera on a very small percentage of iPhone 14 Plus devices may exhibit no preview. Affected devices were manufactured between April 10, 2023, to April 28, 2024,” says the company.

Read more