Apple drops off nation's top five favourite mobiles list
Apple's iPhone has long been one of the nation's favourite handsets, but its take-up is waning, according to a new mobile tracker from independent price comparison and switching service, uSwitch.com. The new uSwitch.com Mobile Tracker, which ranks the nation's favourite mobile handsets based on live searches and sales, shows HTC dominating the Top 3 while the iPhone slips down to an unsatisfying sixth place.
The tracker also shows Android-operated handsets continuing to tighten their stranglehold on the mobile market, with 50% of the most popular mobiles now running on the Google-owned operating system. Plus, following a more consumer-focused Christmas push and some enticing pre-pay deals, the Blackberry Curve has moved up to fourth position in the charts. Meanwhile, with free handset deals starting from £20 a month, Samsung's Galaxy S has moved into fifth place.
Number one handset this month - February's chart shows the HTC Desire holding onto the top spot. Launched in October 2010, the handset has been deemed a showcase of the best that the Android operating system has to offer. As well as providing access to thousands of apps, consumers have been seduced by bespoke charms such as the ability to silence a call by simply turning the phone over.
Biggest climber - the HTC Wildfire climbs into the Top 3. The Wildfire has proved a popular alternative for consumers wanting a piece of HTC's impressive smartphone technology but lacking the budget to shell out for the Desire.
Biggest faller - once at the top of everyone's ‘must have' lists, the Apple iPhone 4 has dropped three places since January. It is now number six in the uSwitch.com mobile tracker as Android phones continue to wow cost-conscious consumers, who are also being seduced by the thousands of free smartphone deals available.
Top 10 handsets (tracked by live sales and searches on uSwitch.com)
1. HTC Desire
2. HTC Desire HD
3. HTC Wildfire
4. Blackberry Curve 8520
5. Samsung Galaxy S
6. Apple iPhone 4 (16Gb)
7. Motorola DEFY
8. Sony Ericsson S500i
9. Samsung G800
10. Samsung i600
Ernest Doku, technology expert at uSwitch.com, comments: "The competition is taking a huge bite out of Apple's market. And, with over 800,000 deals currently giving away a smartphone for free, it's easy to see how consumers are being lured away from the iPhone. Many have to account for every penny spent, but at the same time do not want to miss out on owning the latest gadget. A free handset is a much more attractive proposition than shelling out for one - especially at iPhone prices.
"HTC has outsmarted the smartphone market by customising its handsets at a range of price points - as seen by the Wildfire acting as an aspirational Desire. It's clever marketing. Plus Google's Android operating platform really cuts the mustard in terms of the thousands of applications available, especially on the gaming side.
"Android phones have well and truly pipped Apple to the post. But, with just a couple of months until Apple is expected to give details of its next offering, it's almost a dead cert that they will soon lead the way again in the race for smartphone dominance."