For the first time, since the start of the iPhone frenzy, an other smartphone sold more units than the iPhone. It is no surprise that it is the Samsung Galaxy S III because Samsung has heavily promoted the product and even took out ads comparing the features of the iPhone 4S to the Samsung device as well a commercials mocking iPhone lines.
The were 18 million Samsung’s Galaxy S3 smartphones shipped worldwide during the third quarter of 2012, equal to 11 percent share of all smartphones shipped globally Apple shipped an estimated 16.2 million iPhone 4S , many buyers were waiting for the iPhone 5 to be released.
Apple will soon catch up because 6.0 million units shipped globally during Q3 2012. Then in the fourth quarter Strategy Analytics predicts that Apple's iPhone 5 will regain the top spot. Unfortunately some AT&T iPhone 5 owners have reported problems of being charged for ghost data while connected to Wi-Fi, even after the latest update.
The well-reviewed Samsung Galaxy S III has a much larger screen than the iPhone 5, comes in more colors and has Samsung software enhancements (read comparison see tests), Another major difference between the Samsung Galaxy S III is that it has been discounted by online retailers such as Amazon.com and Wirefly for way below the suggested retail price and may go down even lower on Black Friday.
The next "Next Big Thing" and competitor to the iPhone 5 is the Samsung Galaxy Note II.