While the narrative surrounding the mid-tier iPhone 5c
often revolves around how the device has seen poor
sales since it was released last year, a new study finds
that the colorful handset was actually the best-selling
smartphone in the United Kingdom prior to the iPhone
6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
The market research firm Kantar Worldpanel has
published a new report that claims the iPhone 5c was
the top-selling smartphone in the United Kingdom
during August, just weeks prior to Apple announcing
the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus at a media event on
September 9th in Cupertino.
The iPhone 5c outsold both the iPhone 5s and
Samsung Galaxy S5 in August:
“The iPhone 5c was the best selling phone in Britain
in August with 8.9% share, outselling the flagship
iPhone 5s with 7.6% and the Samsung Galaxy S5
with 6.0%.”
The report finds that the iPhone 5c helped Apple see
less of a drop in overall iPhone sales prior to the
launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Kantar
Worldpanel claims that the iPhone 5c is often
purchased by less tech-savvy buyers that would not
be holding out for the latest smartphone.
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will undoubtedly overtake
the top spot for sales in the United Kingdom for the
month of September, given that Apple has sold well
over a record-breaking 10 million iPhones since the
new models were released.
Kantar Worldpanel claims up to 4 million smartphone
users in the United Kingdom are eligible for an
upgrade, although it remains to be seen how many
Android-based smartphone owners will transition to
the iPhone now that it has larger screen sizes
available.
“Even before the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were revealed,
85% of British iPhone owners planned to choose
another iPhone at upgrade time. Loyalty has never
been Apple’s problem, but attracting customers away
from Android has been a challenge. Before the
iPhone 6 was announced just 13% of Samsung
owners planned to switch to Apple with many
choosing Samsung devices because of their larger
screens. With this screen size issue now addressed
by Apple with the iPhone 6 Plus, it now remains to
be seen how much of a barrier iPhone’s significant
price premium will have on people switching to it.”
Android continues to be the leading mobile operating
system in Europe with 75.8% market share. iOS has
13.6% market share.
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