Samsung’s flagship mobile product, the Galaxy S III, became the top selling smartphone in U.S. during the month of August, according to Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Walkley, Business Insider reported Tuesday. The Galaxy S III supplanted the iPhone 4S as the best selling individual smartphone for the first time since the 4S launched last October.
Apple’s iOS trails Google’s Android OS overall in the U.S. and worldwide smartphone markets, but the iPhone has long been among the best selling phones in the category. This is due to the fact that Android’s overall marketshare is divided into literally hundreds of different products from dozens of manufacturers, while Apple produces just three smartphones: the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4S.
The news of the Galaxy S III’s ascension to the top of the U.S. smartphone sales race is good, yet certainly temporary, news for the Korean electronics manufacturer. Apple is widely expected to unveil the next generation iPhone this month, and sales have slowed as a reflection of that expectation.
The Galaxy S III is also now facing legal action in the United States. After Apple’s patent infringement victory in late August, the Cupertino company has added the Galaxy S III to a list of allegedly infringing devices in a separate patent dispute with Samsung.
As a result, smartphone sales numbers recorded in August should be markedly different in the months ahead as Apple and other smartphone makers release new products and the market awaits the findings of the Samsung injunction hearings.