New Q2 data from both Strategy Analytics and Kantar shows that the iPhone 6s is the best-selling smartphone in both the USA and worldwide. The 6s accounted for 4.2% of global smartphone sales, says SA, with the iPhone 6 taking second place at 2.5%, just ahead of Samsung’s Galaxy S7 at 2.4%.
Kantar’s U.S. data concurs, the company noting that iOS market share was also up …
“Apple’s iPhone 6s is currently the world’s most popular smartphone,” said Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics. “The iPhone 6s is wildly popular in dozens of countries globally, due to its attractive hardware design blended with rich features such as 4K video, large multi-touch display and fingerprint security.”
Kantar reports that the iPhone 6s remains the top-selling phone in the U.S. with an 11% market share, while iOS increased its share by 1.2% year-on-year to 31.3%. Kantar director Lauren Guenveur said that the iPhone 6 was also still doing surprisingly well in its home market.
Finally, the iPhone SE continues to sell well, says Kantar.
Interestingly, the iPhone 6, which is approaching the end of its expected lifecycle, is still the sixth best-selling phone in the US, achieving 4.1% of smartphone sales in the latest period.
While the SE has proven popular with those like me who simply prefer the more pocketable size, Kantar reports that price was a significant factor for many, with purchasers skewed toward a younger age range, many picking it as their first phone.
Kantar says that small size was the second most popular reason for purchase, followed by battery life and design.
iPhone SE buyers are younger and tend to have an income under $50k. This is no surprise. With a starting price of $399, the iPhone SE was expected to attract a relatively younger buyer and lower income base. 42% of SE consumers cited “getting a good deal on the price of the phone” as a main influencer to purchase, compared to just 30% of iPhone 6/6 Plus buyers and 23% of iPhone 6s/6s Plus buyers. 24% of iPhone SE buyers were buying their first smartphone or their first mobile phone.
The company says that 29% of combined iPhone 6/6s Plus owners plan to upgrade this year, with the rumored new dual-camera system and increased storage capacity significant factors.
