Samsung is rivalling Apple as the dominant smartphone maker

[mammador]

As Apple has only released the 4S over the past year or so, is Samsung starting to rival Apple in terms of brand/build quality?

Samsung has the Galaxy SII, the new Nexus phone with Google, and now the Note. They are one of the few vendors to build phones that can rival Apple's in build quality/functionality terms. It would not surprise me if on a manufacturer market share basis, Samsung was close to Apple. I'd bet the main reason for Android's increase in market share is due to Samsung. All of the other major Android makers have faltered of late, including Google's own Motorola. Which LG phone of late is good, and HTC has been caught napping.

 

[Spoooon]

Anecdotal info ahead...

My wife and all her friends have iPhone 4S's. One of my wife's friends asking about my phone said "oh, is that a Samsung?" So, maybe they're making some progress in terms of mind share.

 

[ponyo]

Samsung market share numbers are similar to Apple but I still see iPhones everywhere. Blackberry sightings have definitely decreased by a huge amount. I used to see them everywhere. Now I only see it carried by random business people. At the New Year party I was at, it seemed like 50% or more had the iPhones and were taking pictures. I saw couple Galaxy S2 and Evo. But iPhones dominated. Everyone had a smartphone. I did not see a single dumb phone.

 

[sgrinavi]

I dunno.... I have a Gnex and IP4s.. I can honestly say that even though I prefer my Gnex's features I couldn't say that the "build quality" is better...

 

[Johnnie Walker]

I think it is mostly due to Android OS making progress that is helping Samsung. Of all the Android phones I would say that they are the ones catching up the most to the iSheep. I believe that some people are realizing that the iSheep and iOSx are lacking in some of their abilities.

 

[Bateluer]

Everyone had a smartphone. I did not see a single dumb phone.

Those that do, usually don't want to pull them out. Unless they need to make a call or send an sms, there's not much else.

 

[Phokus]

Samsung market share numbers are similar to Apple but I still see iPhones everywhere. Blackberry sightings have definitely decreased by a huge amount. I used to see them everywhere. Now I only see it carried by random business people. At the New Year party I was at, it seemed like 50% or more had the iPhones and were taking pictures. I saw couple Galaxy S2 and Evo. But iPhones dominated. Everyone had a smartphone. I did not see a single dumb phone.

Anecdotal evidence is anecdotal. I see android/blackberry's everywhere i work. I don't even know a single person who uses an iphone anymore (well... one person on facebook, but they live far away). And i don't even work in tech.

 

[CTho9305]

Anecdotal info ahead...

My wife and all her friends have iPhone 4S's. One of my wife's friends asking about my phone said "oh, is that a Samsung?" So, maybe they're making some progress in terms of mind share.

I always wonder about situations like that - are they going to go to a phone store, ask for "the Samsung", and end up with some low-end "smartphone" like the Solstice II? Or are they paying enough attention to figure out which of the 100 Samsung phones are decent?

Samsung market share numbers are similar to Apple but I still see iPhones everywhere. Blackberry sightings have definitely decreased by a huge amount. I used to see them everywhere. Now I only see it carried by random business people. At the New Year party I was at, it seemed like 50% or more had the iPhones and were taking pictures. I saw couple Galaxy S2 and Evo. But iPhones dominated. Everyone had a smartphone. I did not see a single dumb phone.

I've wondered about this too. If the market share numbers I read all the time are right, are Android users hiding their phones? Or just not using them?

 

[Fingolfin269]

Anecdotal evidence is anecdotal. I see android/blackberry's everywhere i work. I don't even know a single person who uses an iphone anymore (well... one person on facebook, but they live far away). And i don't even work in tech.

Exactly. Most of the people I work with have iPhones.

 

[senseamp]

I always wonder about situations like that - are they going to go to a phone store, ask for "the Samsung", and end up with some low-end "smartphone" like the Solstice II? Or are they paying enough attention to figure out which of the 100 Samsung phones are decent?



I've wondered about this too. If the market share numbers I read all the time are right, are Android users hiding their phones? Or just not using them?

Just using mine when I need to, not taking it out to show off.

 

[MaxFusion16]

metal and glass versus plastic?

not even close

 

[MrX8503]

I suggest you change your thread title, its very misleading. This is an anecdotal thread vs a factual one.

Anyway, Samsung is the current top smartphone manufacturer I believe. Build quality is something else entirely.

 

[Oyeve]

Exactly. Most of the people I work with have iPhones.

Funny, most people I know whether friends or co-workers have both an iphone and an android phone. I personally have a few android phones and an iphone4. I use the iphone as a media consumtion device and taking a crap time waster, and I use my sgs2 for everything including wasting time. I was gonna switch to the ip4 but it just didnt do enough of what I wanted. Still, as an ipod it is great.

 

[jiffylube1024]

For build quality, I think the iPhone is still unrivaled (although I do still feel that without a case, it's an accident waiting to happen). For things like brand recognition & power and user satisfaction, I think Samsung is most definitely increasing its brand power.

Samsung may not use all glass and aluminum for its phones, but it's 4.3-4.65" AMOLED screens are the best in the business.

 

[Shlong]

I'm lucky to have both, I have my own personal Verizon line (using iphone4s) and my company gives me a free business line (AT&T using Samsung Galaxy S2).

I find myself using the Galaxy S2 much more (maybe it's because I prefer android) and the screen is just flat out gorgeous. Build quality, the iphone is more solid in hand and Samsung is more plasticky but if you watch YouTube videos there's a reason why Samsung goes that route. In drop tests, the iphone 4s would crack and shatter even in small 2-3 ft drops where as the Galaxy S2 would only suffer minor scratches and dents from drops high in the air.

 

[WelshBloke]

I'm lucky to have both, I have my own personal Verizon line (using iphone4s) and my company gives me a free business line (AT&T using Samsung Galaxy S2).

I find myself using the Galaxy S2 much more (maybe it's because I prefer android) and the screen is just flat out gorgeous. Build quality, the iphone is more solid in hand and Samsung is more plasticky but if you watch YouTube videos there's a reason why Samsung goes that route. In drop tests, the iphone 4s would crack and shatter even in small 2-3 ft drops where as the Galaxy S2 would only suffer minor scratches and dents from drops high in the air.

Imagine what would happen to an iPhone 4 with a 4.3inch screen in a drop test.

 

[QueBert]

Imagine what would happen to an iPhone 4 with a 4.3inch screen in a drop test.

would be tragic, but it's REALLY hard to drop a phone. I've had 2 dozen different cell phones since 1998 and never dropped 1 once. I would never stay away from a product I really wanted based on the fact it had a higher chance of breaking it if I dropped it. I have an HTC phone that my roommate dropped last week just a few feet off the ground and the screen was demolished. So technically even if iPhones are more fragile, an HTC that was babied beyond belief cracked pretty damn easily.

 

[Shlong]

would be tragic, but it's REALLY hard to drop a phone. I've had 2 dozen different cell phones since 1998 and never dropped 1 once. I would never stay away from a product I really wanted based on the fact it had a higher chance of breaking it if I dropped it. I have an HTC phone that my roommate dropped last week just a few feet off the ground and the screen was demolished. So technically even if iPhones are more fragile, an HTC that was babied beyond belief cracked pretty damn easily.

I used to work at a cell phone store years ago (before smart phones) and you would be surprised on how many people would come looking for a new phone because they dropped it and broke their phone. A lot of people also had water damage as well (dropping in toilet or leaving it in the washer). Don't underestimate human stupidity, then again I don't really know how it's like with smart phones now.

 

[WelshBloke]

would be tragic, but it's REALLY hard to drop a phone...

That's so obviously false I don't even know how to start addressing it. :what:

 

[hans007]

I've had my galaxy nexus for a couple weeks and I've dropped it 3 feet more than once. pretty bullet proof. I've only owned HTC and Samsung phones but I know I'd have broken a half dozen Iphone 4s by now. maybe I'm just careless but I'm glad my phones are durable so its definitely a plus for me.

 

[QueBert]

That's so obviously false I don't even know how to start addressing it. :what:

It's not false, people who pay attention and don't rush everything they do more than lilkely won't drop a phone. If my statement was so obviously false how have I gotten by for almost 20 years without dropping a phone once? I even JOG with my phone in my hand or pocket and still haven't managed to drop it. If you're saying a typical person's unable to manage to not drop a phone when I can run with my EVO and fiddle with it while I'm also looking out for traffic and other pedestrians on the street. Then I must have been blessed with special abilities by God. But, I know I'm not special and anyone who drops a phone is more than likely just a clumsily person. One I wouldn't want to hold my baby if I had one, because there's a chance they'd drop that too.

 

[Oyeve]

Only apple fans drop their phones......dumbasses.




I keed, I keed!

 

[WelshBloke]

It's not false, people who pay attention and don't rush everything they do more than lilkely won't drop a phone. If my statement was so obviously false how have I gotten by for almost 20 years without dropping a phone once? I even JOG with my phone in my hand or pocket and still haven't managed to drop it. If you're saying a typical person's unable to manage to not drop a phone when I can run with my EVO and fiddle with it while I'm also looking out for traffic and other pedestrians on the street. Then I must have been blessed with special abilities by God. But, I know I'm not special and anyone who drops a phone is more than likely just a clumsily person. One I wouldn't want to hold my baby if I had one, because there's a chance they'd drop that too.

So you're saying it's "really hard" to drop a small gadget that you carry round with you?
One that you put into and take out of your pocket all the time?
One that you have to use at any time whether you are expecting to or not?
One that's not made with a thought to a good grip?
One that lots and lots of people do drop?

That's what you're saying, yes?

 

[Kelvrick]

So you're saying it's "really hard" to drop a small gadget that you carry round with you?
One that you put into and take out of your pocket all the time?
One that you have to use at any time whether you are expecting to or not?
One that's not made with a thought to a good grip?
One that lots and lots of people do drop?

That's what you're saying, yes?

What? Why, just a week before Christmas, I woke up, grabbed my baby and woke it up by swiping my finger across its face, poked it for a few minutes for fun and fell back asleep. I had forgotten about it when I got up later and launched my Tmobile G2 a good 6-7 feet across the room onto hardwood flooring when I pulled the blanket back.

Went to the Tmobile store later that day, extended my contract and walked out with my new Samsung Galaxy S II. I plan on treating my future son/daughter the same way and trade it in for a phone when it breaks.

 

[hanoverphist]

I've wondered about this too. If the market share numbers I read all the time are right, are Android users hiding their phones? Or just not using them?

i had my android phone on me the whole holiday season, i took a few pictures but didnt have it out constantly, like my bro and cousin did. they both have iphones, they were taking pics with stupid filters, playing their playlists alternately and constantly messing with their phones. i dont really feel the need to have my phone out all the time is all.

It's not false, people who pay attention and don't rush everything they do more than lilkely won't drop a phone. If my statement was so obviously false how have I gotten by for almost 20 years without dropping a phone once? I even JOG with my phone in my hand or pocket and still haven't managed to drop it. If you're saying a typical person's unable to manage to not drop a phone when I can run with my EVO and fiddle with it while I'm also looking out for traffic and other pedestrians on the street. Then I must have been blessed with special abilities by God. But, I know I'm not special and anyone who drops a phone is more than likely just a clumsily person. One I wouldn't want to hold my baby if I had one, because there's a chance they'd drop that too.

i have 3 kids i never dropped, not even almost. ive been holding my phone while walking into a business and had someone bump my hand in just a way that made my fingers release just enough to drop my phone. ive lost my phone into machinery while using them during work. hell, ive dropped it while trying to carry too much crap when i get out of my truck. shit happens to non clumsy people as well. mebbe youre the exception and not the rule.