According to a report from The NPD Group, Apple's iPhone 5 was the top selling phone during the final quarter of 2012, comprising 43 percent of all iPhone sales and accounting for nearly two thirds of all post-paid smartphone sales above $199.

npdgroupsmartphonesales
Samsung's Galaxy S III was the second most popular smartphone in Q4 2012, while Apple's iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 also sold well, taking the third and fourth spots on NPD's list of top-selling mobile phones in the U.S. The SIII's predecessor, the SII, was the fifth best selling phone during the holiday quarter.

A report earlier today from Strategy Analytics ranked Apple as the largest mobile phone vendor in the U.S. during Q4 2012, which is in accordance with NPD's data, which places Apple with 39 percent of overall smartphone sales, compared to Samsung's 30 percent.

npdsmartphonemarketshare
Combined, Apple and Samsung accounted for almost 70 percent of smartphone sales, with Motorola, HTC, and LG lagging behind.

Top Rated Comments

anzio Avatar
169 months ago
But... nobody wants to buy an iPhone, right? :rolleyes:
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ventilatedbrain Avatar
169 months ago
BTW. After hearing all the rave about android .. I went out today and bought me a nexus 4 .. So far .. Yes the customisation is great and the UI is pure android with no lard .. But so far I'm really not digging the phone .. The touch response is choppy .. The battery life is as bad as my 4s and scrolling
Is no way as responsive as my beloved iOS .. Been an iPhone user since the 3G and has upgraded to 3GS and then to a 4s .. I know for
People who have been using its for a long time the interface may seem
Boring and repetitive .. But I can say this for sure .. I'm
So glad i didn't sell my 4s yet .. The nexus can't even handle PDFs which I
Use for work well .. I might have a different opinion in a few days .. But so far .. LONG LIVE IPHONE is all I can say :)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
applesith Avatar
169 months ago
Analysts won't care.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rman726 Avatar
169 months ago
I find it funny how 3, 4, and 5 aren't other top phones from other companies, but instead old products by Apple and Samsung. Sucks to be the other OEMs.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OriginalMacRat Avatar
169 months ago
The thing I am (for whatever reason) most shocked about is the 57% of people buying a iPhone 4 or 4S still.

Still?

Apple was still selling the iPhone 3GS the day that the iPhone 5 was announced. After the announcement, it was taken off the online store, but was still on display and being sold in the retail stores until inventory ran out.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
M-O Avatar
169 months ago
Apple is DOOMED!

----------

But you have to remember they are also free with a 2 year contract for many carriers. Not everyone is willing/able to buy the most recent iteration. And if you're getting a free phone anyway--it might as well be an iPhone.
If you can afford $100/month for the two year contract, you should be able to afford a $200 iPhone 5.

total cost over two years-
iPhone 5: $2,600
iPhone 4s: $2,500
iPhone 4: $2,400

you essentially get a 8% discount for buying a 2 1/2 year old phone.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
duolingo ad live activity

Duolingo Used iPhone's Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Friday January 2, 2026 1:36 pm PST by
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines. According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option. Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
Clicks Communicator Feature

'Clicks Communicator' Unveiled — Will You Carry This With Your iPhone?

Friday January 2, 2026 6:35 am PST by
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator. The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature Pink

Apple's 2026 Low-Cost A18 Pro MacBook: What We Know So Far

Friday January 2, 2026 4:33 pm PST by
Apple is planning to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026, which will apparently compete with more affordable Chromebooks and Windows PCs. Apple's most affordable Mac right now is the $999 MacBook Air, and the upcoming low-cost MacBook is expected to be cheaper. Here's what we know about the low-cost MacBook so far. Size Rumors suggest the low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 ...
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Low-Price 12.9-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Reportedly Launching Early This Year

Friday January 2, 2026 9:08 am PST by
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce. In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing." TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
Apple Fitness Plus hero

Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

Friday January 2, 2026 6:43 am PST by
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch. The key announcements include: New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January. "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
govee floor lamp

CES 2026: Govee Announces New Matter-Connected Ceiling and Floor Lights

Sunday January 4, 2026 5:00 am PST by
Govee today introduced three new HomeKit-compatible lighting products, including the Govee Floor Lamp 3, the Govee Ceiling Light Ultra, and the Govee Sky Ceiling Light. The Govee Floor Lamp 3 is the successor to the Floor Lamp 2, and it offers Matter integration with the option to connect to HomeKit. The Floor Lamp 3 offers an upgraded LuminBlend+ lighting system that can reproduce 281...
Belkin 25W Battery magnetic

CES 2026: Belkin Announces Magnetic Ring Power Bank, Modular Dock, and More

Sunday January 4, 2026 3:02 pm PST by
Belkin today announced a range of new charging and connectivity accessories at CES 2026, expanding its portfolio of products aimed at Apple device users. UltraCharge Pro Power Bank 10K with Magnetic Ring The lineup includes new Qi2 and Qi2.2 wireless chargers, magnetic power banks, a high-capacity laptop battery, and USB-C productivity accessories, with an emphasis on higher charging...