Android smartphones dominated handset sales in 2012, taking a 34% share of all sales compared to 11% for iOS devices, research firm Canalys states.
Total mobile phone sales were flat year-on-year at 438.1 million units, however smartphones’ share grew 37% to 216.5 million, according to the firm’s figures. Android devices accounted for 69% of sales in the smartphone segment, fuelled by strong growth in sales by Samsung – up 78% year-on-year.
While Canalys notes Android’s share fell from 74% at end 2011, and Apple’s share grew from 15% to 22%, principal analyst Pete Cunningham points out the gaps in device shipments in 2012 are huge. “Nokia remained the number three smartphone vendor, shipping 35 million units, but Apple in second place shipped 101 million more handsets. First placed Samsung shipped 74 million more than Apple.”
Samsung’s success was not the only driver of Android’s dominance during 2012. Canalys’ figures bear out analysis by rival research firms that state Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE enjoyed a strong year, with growth up by triple-digit percentages.