Google’s Android still leads the smartphone market, but Apple closed in on its competitor in recent months thanks to sales of the iPhone 4S and other models, according to data released at the Consumer Electronic Show by the NPD Group.
In its analysis of last year's smartphone market in the U.S., NPD found that market share for Apple’s iOS shot up following the release of the iPhone 4S, to 43 percent of all smartphone sales in October and November from 26 percent in the third quarter. Android, meanwhile, retained its lead, but lost market share towards the end of the year, dropping in October and November to 47 percent from 60 percent in the previous quarter.
Apple and Android significantly distanced themselves in 2011 from competitors RIM, Windows Phone 7 and Windows Mobile, essentially making the battle for smartphone market share “a 2-horse race,” NPD said.
RIM, maker of the BlackBerry, took the third spot, though its market share consistently dropped throughout the year, falling from 13 percent in the first quarter to just 6 percent in October and November. Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 and Windows Mobile each accounted for about 1 percent of market share towards the end of the year.
Overall, users are increasingly picking smartphones over more basic phones, according to NPD. Smartphones accounted for 67 percent of all handsets sold in October and November, up from just 50 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Nine of the 10 most popular phone models sold in October and November were smartphones, according to NPD. Apple dominated sales during that time, with its iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, and iPhone 3GS taking the top three spots, respectively.
Samsung’s Galaxy S 4G and Galaxy S II took the fourth and fifth spots, respectively. Rounding out the top ten were the HTC Inspire 4G, Motorola Droid Bionic, HTC Evo 4G, Samsung Epic 4G, and LG Revere (the only non-smartphone on the list).