Leading Mobile Brands: An Overview
Cell phones have become a must-have item for the modern consumer. Since the turn of the millennium, the popularity of hand-held technology has increased year upon year, and now the majority of people possess at least one internet-enabled device such as a smart phone or tablet.
When it comes to choosing which gadget to buy, competition is fierce. This huge market is dominated by the top brands but offers a wide selection of choices at all ends of the scale. Whether budget, style, performance or name matters most to the buyer, there is a smart phone out there to suit everyone. This guide discusses some of the top brands in the USA today, and how they have risen to the top of the pile despite stiff competition.
Understanding Today’s Smart Phone Market
The smart phone revolution keeps on going, with a massive 3.9% increase in sales over 2016′s first quarter. That put new internet enabled phones in the hands of 349 million people worldwide. Of cell phone owners, 79.1% now own a smart phone. By 2017, more people are expected to access the internet through a handheld device than through a traditional PC or laptop. Across the world, there are an estimated 2.6 billion smart phone users – almost a third of the entire population. The US has one of the world’s highest demands for telecoms products and there are over 198.5 million smart phone owners in the States today.
That is an impressively huge market for cell phone retailers to reach out to. Estimates suggest this global market is worth $400.7 billion – even a small share of that profit could change a company’s future forever. Many small telecoms companies have become extremely successful as smart phones have taken off – along with related industries like advertising, app development, software design and mobile managed services.
The market leaders in Smart Phone Sales
When it comes to choosing a well-known brand, two stand out above all else. Apple and Samsung are perhaps the best known smart phone manufacturers in the world today, taking the cell phone crown from early rulers Nokia and Motorola. Samsung and Apple often release their competing products at similar times, creating a market hype that boosts sales for both and deepens the rivalry among fans of each brand.
Apple
Apple’s flagship product is the iPhone, which has developed a cult following among consumers and is well known for its high retention rates. Apple fans tend to stick with their favorite brand for all future purchases. Known for its high quality and affordable purchase price, the iPhone is a classy and stylish device that has endured through many generations and remained popular.
One of the key features of an iPhone is its appeal as a ‘lifestyle product’ – it interacts with other Apple devices such as iPods, iPads, MacBooks and Apple TVs. However, this could also be seen as a criticism of the phone – it is not compatible with other manufacturers’ products, parts are not interchangeable and software must be genuine and Apple approved – which could cost users more in the long run.
Samsung
In the past, Samsung has trailed behind Apple when it comes to smart phones. Their key product, the Samsung Galaxy series, has been very popular with consumers but always came second in the sales figures. This has all changed in the past year, and Samsung now has a 3% lead over its rivals with over 20% of the entire market.
Samsung Galaxy models are prized for their exceptional camera and sound quality, extensive memory bank and easy to use interface. Samsung phones retail at a slightly higher cost than most similar models when launched – but they are also much quicker to drop in price. Fans of the brand who don’t mind waiting for the dust to settle after the launch can get top-end tech at a bargain price.
Other Brands
Of course, Apple and Samsung are not entirely dominating the market – many other smart phone companies have their own successful lines and loyal customers. Huawai phones are actually the third biggest sector of phone sales, despite being a lesser known brand. Sony’s Xperia range does not even feature in the top ten, although the electronics manufacturer is amongst the biggest players in the world for gaming and computing tech.
Smart phone leaders change year to year, but the quality of devices available continues to improve. Consumers show no signs of slowing down when it comes to cell phone spending, and there will always be opportunities for an innovative product to snatch focus away from Apple and Samsung. For now though, all eyes are still on the iPhone and Galaxy lines – especially as we leave summer and move toward the frantic holiday sales period.