Good news smartphone fans, due to popularity of the iPhone and other Android devices, smartphone shipments reportedly overtake PC sales last quarter.
Tablet computers attracted millions of customers last quarter, but the numbers are not enough to outsell the smartphones. According to Canalys, the total number of smartphone shipments in 2011 exceeded desktop, and last quarter alone, more smartphones were shipped to stores than PC, tablets, netbooks and laptops combined.
The market trend is obviously shifting from traditional desktop PCs, tablet computers and netbook computers to smartphones with larger screen sizes and better CPUs. According to the data, smartphone makers shipped 158.5 million smartphones last quarter while PC, laptops, tablet computers and netbooks shipped last quarter was 120.2 million only.
Laptops or notebooks is still more popular than tablet computers with 57.9 million units, followed by 29.1 million desktop PCs, and 26.5 million tablet computers were reportedly shipped during the last three months of 2011.
Apparently, smartphone growth last quarter was due to new features available, offered by the iPhone 4S and the new mobile operating system of Google, the Android Ice Cream Sandwich, plus, the more competitive tag prices of smartphones.
According to Apple, the iPhone 4S is the most popular iPhone yet, but the new tag prices of the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 3GS also attracted more customers. Meanwhile, Samsung’s most popular phone is the Samsung Galaxy S2 last year, followed by the Galaxy Note, and also the Galaxy Nexus, the first Android 4.0 smartphone in the market.
Canalys said Samsung shipped 35.3 million smartphones last quarter, while Apple enjoyed strong products demand with 37.0 million iPhones, 15.4 million iPads and 5.2 million Macs.
Android was the most popular mobile platform last quarter with 81.9 million units shipped, followed by Apple-exclusive iOS with 37 million. Microsoft’s Windows Phone is still not attracting customers with only 2.5 million units.
BlackBerry of Research in Motion is one of the biggest losers last quarter with 13.2 million shipments only.
This year, Apple is expected to release its new smartphone, the iPhone 5. According to rumors, the iPhone 5 might get a June or October release date. Meanwhile, Samsung, HTC and other Android manufacturers are expected to take advantage of the new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
