We use our SpecTRAX online database to indicate popular smartphones. We found that in the first half of 2012 smartphones from Nokia and RIM joined those from Apple and Samsung as most widely available.

The complete top 20 list of global smartphones ranked according to their shelf-share are shown below.

Samsung pipped Apple to the top spot with the Galaxy S II i9100 (16GB), closely followed by Apple’s iPhone 4S 16 GB.  Impressively the Galaxy SII is available from every network operator and retail channel analyzed by the SpecTRAX team.

Our report also summarizes the key specifications of the top 20 smartphones including display size, camera resolution, processor speed and operating systems.

Over 50% of devices profiled were Android; however iOS, Windows Phone, Blackberry OS and Symbian all held their ground in the top 20 smartphone list.

The key finds of the report include;

• Samsung’s Galaxy S II i9100 (16 GB) shows universal availability (only absent from the iStore shelves); the Apple iPhone 4S 16 GB comes in a close second.
• Nokia’s Lumia 800 gained traction early in its lifecycle being available through 77% of global channels just months after launch;  beating Samsung’s heavily publicised Galaxy S III i9300 16 GB launched in Q2 2012.
• HTC’s One X quad-core device (launched at MWC in February 2012) came in 12th place showing across 2/3 of shelves; an impressive positioning for this ultra-high-end product.
• The HTC Wildfire S and RIM Blackberry Curve 2 8520 entry level smartphones continue to be available from more than 60% of channels despite their age.

Samsung has the most devices in the ranking with five smartphones in the top 10 by shelf-share.  When the list is expanded to the top 20 widely available smartphones then devices from Sony, HTC and Motorola feature as popular in network operators product portfolios.

The data in the SpecTRAX online database is constantly updated and customers use it to track global and regional markets in terms of the popularity of handset and the associated specifications of those devices. This is particularly powerful information for product managers and development teams.
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SpecTRAX, a comparison tool from Strategy Analytics, records the specifications of new cellphone handsets and tablets as they are announced; tracking availability through over 300 carrier and retail channels. 

Click here to try the SpecTRAX for yourself
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Alternatively CONTACT THE TEAM to arrange a SpecTRAX demo.

Steve Entwistle

Clients can access the full details in the report “Results Are In: Samsung’s Galaxy S II was the most widely-available device in 1H 2012” ranking.

SpecTRAX availability and shelf-share data revealed Nokia's Lumia 710 in poll position for smartphones launched in Europe during Q1 2012. This means that during its launch quarter, the Lumia 710 made its way onto 33% of European carriers. The Sony Xperia S (27%) and LG Prada K2 (22%) came in second and third place, with the Lumia 800 featuring on 17% of operator's shelves; meaning Nokia's new launches were in the top 4 smartphones by shelf-share at launch. Download SpecTRAX's latest complimentary extract: Most Widely Available NEW Smartphones in Europe Q1 2012 for the full story, summary spec details, and the methodology.

The analysis revealed European Carriers Top 20 newly released handsets were from Samsung (with 6 models) and HTC (5 models). Nokia, Sony, LG and RIM all featured 2 new smartphones a piece. The Apple iPhone 4S, Samsung Galaxy SIII and Nokia Lumia 900 did not feature in this report as they were launched either side of Q1 2012 in Europe.

SpecTRAX is a tactical database which tracks detailed handset specifications for smartphones, mobile phones, tablets and USB dongles. There are now over 14,000 unique models listed in the database. Click here to try the SpecTRAX database for yourself, or CONTACT THE TEAM to arrange a SpecTRAX demo.

With all eyes on smartphones, the latest SpecTRAX insight report reveals the impact of miniaturisation of components. Out of the 70 new handsets launched in September internationally, an increasing number of new models are thinner yet heavier as OEMs cram more hardware into thinner cases.  This makes smartphones denser :-)

You can read Stuart's Insight in full by clicking HERE.

Out of these 70 new handsets, ten were 10mm or thinner with the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S at 8.7mm and the Samsung Focus S at 8.5mm in both 16GB and 32GB versions.  Despite the presence of the bulkier handsets for rugged environments from Sonim and Huawei, the average thickness of models announced in September throughout 30 countries was down to 12.9mm.

Meanwhile September’s average new handset weight rose somewhat affected by the LG Esteem MS910 at 172g and the Motorola 3 at 184g.

What other trends are highlighted by Stuart in the 70 new handsets? 

The following picture of tables and charts showing the latest trends is compiled directly from this Insight and of course include Stuart's analytical comments.  You can gain access to this data by clicking HERE. 

Strategy Analytics maintains a finger on the pulse of mobile handset data by closely tracking the portfolios of 140 mobile network operators in 30 countries worldwide using SpecTRAX, Strategy Analytics' mobile handset tracking tool.

If you want to find out more about SpecTRAX, just click HERE.

The rise of the iPhone since 2007 has been nothing short of breathtaking.  And now, for the first time in Q1 2011, Apple's iPhone 4 won the top spot from RIM's Blackberry Bold 2 9700 in the SpecTRAX global shelf share* chart.

In the turbulent mobile handset market, standing still is not an option!  The Blackberry, since Q2 2010, universally the most widely available handset, had plummeted to sixth place in the chart behind strong competition from European suppliers and Samsung.

Click here to read this full and exciting report and update your appreciation of the strength of the competitive forces at play in the mobile handset market.

* SpecTRAX global shelf share = most frequently appearing models in 130 carriers' portfolios.

Steve Entwistle

Hear insights from Stuart Robinson, Director of Strategy Analytics’ SpecTRAX service, who will talk about the important trends in recent global cellular handset model announcements. Join us on Thursday 9th September for a complimentary live online webinar. Topics covered by the webinar include:

• OS penetration; how many phones feature Android compared to LiMo, Windows and Symbian?
• Analysis of current spec trends; Bluetooth, touchscreen, QWERTY, form factor, screen & camera resolution….
• Shelf share analysis by region; which carriers offer the most Android phones?
• Typical specs of Android phone vs handsets running other operating systems

The webinar is targeted at existing clients of the SpecTRAX service as well as product planners, product marketers and portfolio managers across the industry. Attendance to the webinar is free however pre-registration is required. REGISTER –>>>            Date:                 Thursday 9th September 2010            Duration:           30 minutes, followed by 15 minutes Q&A            Time:                  2pm BST UK / 9am EDT Boston, repeated at 5pm PDT LA Once we have processed your registration, you will receive a confirmation email message with instructions on how to join the event. Feel free to forward this message to your colleagues who may be interested in this webinar.