World’s Most Popular Smartphone: Samsung Galaxy S3

According to a new report from Strategy Analytics, the Samsung Galaxy S3 outsold Apple’s iPhone during the third quarter. As a result, the Galaxy S3 takes the title “world’s most popular smartphone” for the first time ever.

In a press release, Neil Shah, senior analyst at Strategy Analytics, stated, “Samsung’s Galaxy S3 smartphone model shipped 18.0 million units worldwide during the third quarter of 2012. The Galaxy S3 captured an impressive 11 percent share of all smartphones shipped globally and it has become the world’s best-selling smartphone model for the first time ever. A large touchscreen design, extensive distribution across dozens of countries, and generous operator subsidies have been among the main causes of the Galaxy S3’s success. Apple shipped an estimated 16.2 million iPhone 4S units worldwide for second place, as consumers temporarily held off purchases in anticipation of a widely expected iPhone 5 upgrade at the end of the quarter.”

Mashable’s Pete Pachal commented, “The victory, however, likely won’t stick. While the GSIII has been on sale for the entire quarter — from July 1 to Sept. 30 — the iPhone 5 first went on sale Sept. 21, just nine days before the close of the quarter. Many iPhone buyers were likely waiting for the 5, and sales will likely pick up for Q4.”

Reuters noted, “Strong sales of the flagship Galaxy S3 – which comes with a large 4.8 inch touchscreen – helped Samsung post a record $7.3 billion operating profit in the July-September quarter.”

And The Telegraph’s Shane Richmond observed, “The Galaxy S3 was launched in May and Samsung recently announced that it had sold more than 30 million of the handsets. Its predecessor, the Galaxy S2, took 14 months to sell as many.”