NEW YORK: Samsung Electronic Co hit the market by surprise when it shipped more smartphones than the darling in the industry, Apple! The latest ratings based on quarterly sales of both manufacturers, and the figures clearly outline how Samsung has outrun Apple.
The sales analysts believe that this is the normal trend of Apple, Inc. as it has been doing so from the start and there is always a lack of available equipment. Apple sold 17.1 million iPhones in the third quarter, 3 million fewer than expected. Samsung, meanwhile, shipped more than 27 million, according to analyst estimates.
Apple's latest iPhone, the 4S, didn't come out until the quarter ended, so its sales are not included in the figure. People held back on buying older models in anticipation of the new iPhone, which came out Oct. 14. Apple said it sold more than 4 million units in its first weekend on sale, and that should be reflected in the tally for the current, holiday quarter.
The most common issue outlined is the lack of models available for Apple when compared to Samsung. Apple currently ships only Iphone 3GS and 4 when compared to Samsung's Conquer, Replenish, Focus and Indulge. IHS estimates that Samsung sold about 40 different models during the third quarter.
Although the Seoul based Samsung doesn't publish the official count of phones that are exported, but the estimates are that the 17.3 million phones are in market from Samsung. Although when compared to revenue, the Apple still holds the upper hand as Samsung does have the options for both cheap phones and high end models, which the company considers as a broader spectrum of users in its reach.
Apple also holds the top notch with the brand still dominating the tech world for its shear quality, where Samsung does show a single model Galaxy to the league.
Although the competition continues between Samsung and Apple, the real leader in the market is still the Finnish company, Nokia, who sells 16.8 million phones this quarter which is three times what Samsung or Apple has done in the same period!
