Samsung accounts for half of the ten most popular handsets in UK
Samsung is dominating the mobile handset charts this month, holding half of the top ten spots according to the uSwitch.com Mobile Tracker, which is based on live searches, pre-orders and sales.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 – which went on pre-sale in early April – stormed into the charts last month in third place, where it has remained, overtaking the S4. Already proving incredibly popular since its launch, the S5 is the only phone that looks like it could give the top-selling iPhone 5S a run for its money.
Apple’s flagship phone has remained Britain’s most popular mobile for eight consecutive months. Although Samsung leads on the number of handsets in the top ten, Apple holds three of the top five spots again in May.
HTC and Sony have one handset each in the tracker with the HTC One M8 and Sony Xperia Z2 in 6th and 8th place, respectively. Both handsets entered the chart last month upon launch and are the only phones taking the top 10 taking market share away from Samsung and Apple. With deals on the Xperia Z2 starting at the same price as an iPhone 5S (£29 per month with a free handset), it is unlikely to steal too many customers from Apple, which has an incredibly loyal following, until it drops in price.
Pay-monthly deals for the iPhone 5S have dropped by nearly a quarter (24%) in the eight months since it launched, while deals for iPhone 5C dropped fell by nearly a fifth (17%) in the same period.
Samsung showed the most rapid price falls of the two manufacturers in the top five, with the S5 dropping by a fifth (22%) in the two months since pre-orders began. The Samsung Galaxy S4 has fallen by a whopping 43% since March last year, compared to just 23% for the iPhone 4S in the same period.
The Samsung S5 fell in value the most in the first three months since launch, following by the S4 (19%), iPhone 5S (18%), iPhone 5C (14%) and iPhone 4S (4%).
Rob Kerr, mobiles expert at uSwitch.com, says: “It seems the iPhone 5S is untouchable as it holds the top spot for the eight consecutive month, despite the Samsung S5 storming into the chart in third place.
“The launch of LG’s new smartphone, the G3, may give the chart a bit of a shake up in coming months as it trumps the Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One (M8) and the Sony Z2 in both size and definition.
“Huawei’s Ascend P7 has yet to make it into the chart, but could, when it hits stores in early summer, while the Google Nexus 5, which shot in at number nine last month, failed to hold onto a place in the charts by dropping off the radar in May. Both handsets, aimed at the budget shopper, prove that when it comes to phones, the British public are happy to fork out for trusted brands.
“You pay a considerable premium for a top-of-the-range handset and deals go down in price very quickly. If you’re not desperate to own the latest gadget then going for the model before the newest handset can save you a fair whack on your contract, as you may be paying this premium for the next two years.”