iOS recaptures US smartphone crown thanks to iPhone 5

New data from Kantar Worldpanel suggests that the launch of the iPhone 5 has propelled iOS back into the leading position in the US handheld market.

For the 12 weeks ending October 28th iOS claimed a 48.1 per cent share of US smartphone sales, leaving Android with 46.7 per cent.

62 per cent of Apple handset sales come from existing Apple owners upgrading to a newer device. 13 per cent are customers switching from Android. 92 per cent of existing Apple owners said they will choose an iPhone the next time they upgrade.

It’s a different story in Europe, however, with Android claiming an 81.7 per cent market share in Spain and 73.9 per cent in Germany. In the UK Android enjoys just 32.7 per cent of the market.

The last time we saw iOS overtake Android in the US was when the iPhone 4S was released and Apple managed to retain its lead for three consecutive periods,” Kantar’s global consumer insight director Dominic Sunnebo stated.

This time we predict that Apple will beat its previous high of 49.3 per cent and achieve its highest ever share of the US smartphone market within the next two periods.

Germany remains a tough market for Apple with its share falling by 5.1 per cent over the past year. The Samsung Galaxy S3 has taken almost a quarter of the country’s smartphone sales over the past 12 weeks to boost Android yet further.

In Italy, strong sales of the Nokia Lumia 610, the fourth best selling handset over the past 12 weeks, and the Nokia Lumia 800, the seventh best selling, have helped drive Windows’ share up to 11.7 per cent – the highest across Europe.”