Previous-generation iPhone 3GS, iPad still outsell new Android devices, analyst claims

By on May 9, 2011 at 10:25 AM
mobile May 9, 2011

Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Walkley suggests that not only does Apple have the most popular smartphone and tablet in the U.S., but even its previous-generation gear is outselling the competition. In a note to investors on Monday, Walkley writes that Apple’s iPhone 4 is far and away the top-selling smartphone for both AT&T and Verizon Wireless. The iPad 2 is also the most popular tablet in the country right now, of course. The real bad news for Apple’s competition, however, is that according to the analyst’s checks with retail sales channels, Apple’s old iPhone 3GS is still outselling competitors’ offerings at AT&T and Apple’s first-generation iPad is still outselling other tablets at Verizon. “Interestingly, our April checks indicated continued strong demand for the iPhone 3GS at AT&T and iPad 1 at Verizon, as these older generation products with reduced prices often outsold new Android products,” Walkley wrote. “We believe this highlights Apple’s significant competitive advantage, and these older products help Apple offer a tiered pricing strategy at key channels.” Walkley found that Apple’s original 16GB and 32GB iPads sold out at Verizon in less than two weeks following the introduction of the iPad 2, and the iPhone 3GS recently outsold both the Motorola ATRIX 4G and the HTC Inspire 4G at AT&T.

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  • HO

    A Canadian company speaking about the over-saturated market in Canada, the #1 Mapple friendly market in the world, get anything with an i or an Apple draw on it to Canada and u will sell it.

  • KCRic

    I know a guy that still claims snake oil cures everything. Is he right?

    Someones claim doesn’t mean jack sh!t, bring the raw data and make it a fact – none of BGR claim crap.

  • http://twitter.com/smartphone_info Smartphone Report

    These are the dumbest articles in the history of mankind. Apple is currently selling 2 – yes, 2 different iPhone models. So they sell 7.5 million handsets last quarter – 6 mil are probably i4′s and the others are 3gs’s… Android sells 100′s of different models across 100′s of different carriers.

    They can NEVER meet Apple’s individual sales numbers because there are too many handsets. Let’s add up the flagship Android devices on all the carriers over the last 2 years and see who’s winning in that numbers race.

    I definitely won’t knock the iPad numbers, as that device beat everything and everyone else to the punch, but comparing sales numbers like this on smartphones is useless.

    • http://getyourgadgetsgoing.com Tristan Thomas

      Well the Samsung Galaxy S2 may be the phone to individually sell more then the iPhone 4 or even the next iteration of the iPhone.

      Currently has 3 million pre orders in. Thats 2.4 more then apple had for the iPhone 4. Goes to show that people what looks first, functionality second and a phone that can actually make calls third.

      • Anonymous

        If that means directly to consumers, then that is quite impressive. Makes one wonder if pre-ordering is a trendy way to purchase products. When did this whole ‘pre-order’ happen?

    • Anonymous

      No, it is quite useful. Now I know which companies will likely continue with the Android franchise and which may diversify. Granular, granular, granular.

  • Anonymous

    Here’s the problem with these idiot analysts: They can’t decide what they consider important.
    A potential customer has five basic choices when it comes to the phone they’re looking for:
    -Feature phone/otherOS
    -Android
    -Blackberry
    -iPhone
    -WindowsPhone
    I’m not counting palm because their flagship, the Pre3 isn’t out yet, and if anyone wants a webOS device, they should wait for that.

    Let’s say that the customer comes down to a choice between Android and iOS. If they choose iOS, they have TWO models to chose from that are distinct on both price, performance, and features. This means that a customer looking at an iPhone4 might consider a 3GS, but the two devices typically target different market segments. (and this is only on ATT, if they are on verizon, their choices are white and black)

    If the customer is looking at Android, they have numerous handsets to choose from. These handsets will be similar in what they do, and their price, so that for the customer it comes down to form factor. This means that if a customer chooses android, they could go to one of several handsets (at the same price point/feature set, sometimes by the SAME COMPANY)

    So of course individual iPhone4 sales will be higher than an individual Android handset. Because if someone decides on a high end iOS device, they get the iPhone4. If they want a high end Android device, they’ll get the Thunderbolt, or the Charge, or the Droid Incredible2, or the Fascinate…. etc.

    These stupid “OMG! X IS SELLING MORE!” posts need to stop. Spoiler Alert: Android WILL control a larger percent of the market than iOS, but unless a miracle phone happens, iOS devices will ALWAYS sell better than competing Android devices on a handset level. It’s not rocket science.

  • http://daveysmind.tumblr.com David M.D.

    In other news, featurephones continue to sell more than smartphones.
    In other other news. Birds fly. Humans can walk. Fish can swim.

    Is this not obvious to anyone with functioning common sense?
    Not only is it Apple, but it’s low priced Apple. I would HOPE a $50 iPhone would sell more than a $200 Android device. It would be news that it isn’t…

  • http://twitter.com/TuckerPeterson Tucker A. Peterson

    I believe in analysts the same way I believe in religion. There are too many with too many conflicting stories to have faith in any of them.

  • http://www.theworldgrowsold.com Mundus Senescit

    If that 3Gs comment is true, it’s appalling how stupid apple fan boys (who are cheap) can be.

    • Anonymous

      Hahahahaha! Suck it up you big girl!

      • http://www.theworldgrowsold.com Mundus Senescit

        You’re clearly one of those intelligent individuals…(#sarcasm)

  • Fashosbest

    I can definitely believe the part about the iPad 1st Gen outselling other tablets. That’s pretty much a given. Andits not hard to believe the 3GS, most people want the experience but to save money, they don’t have to have the latest iPhone. My grandmother saw my 4 and loved it and when I told her about the 3GS for $49 she got on that instantly. Sure I wouldn’t have but I can bet there’s tons of people that would go that route. Especially people who never owneed a smart phone or whatever reason.

  • tim

    The last time I was in a vzw store they still had to place orders for ipad2 while ipad1 was in stock. No brainer that people would buy the one they could actualy take home ad opposed to one hey have to wait for. I love my xoom but yes it is overpriced and the galaxy tab is a joke. No suprise there.

  • Anonymous

    This Article is horseshit. At the Verizon stores I handle the iPhone isn’t even outselling ONE model of android phones. Hell, we sell about the same number Blackberry Curve 3Gs as iPhones.

    iPad sold out becuase we only stocked very few to begin with, and that was if we even had them in the first place.

    • Anonymous

      Lol. Yeah I don’t believe u sir.

      • Anonymous

        Believe what you will, but I can tell you when you have a store that pays employee on margins like ours, NONE of the sales reps are going to push anyone toward the iPhone, they only sell it to people who HAVE to have it, and quite honestly, the bulk of the consumers out there outside of “metro areas” are not these people.The sales reps are going to do thier best to sell them to something that makes them money but still do the job. The margins on the iPhone are ridiculously thin, so the person who just wants apps web and email are going to leave with a droid. Blackberries still sell well because there are still a lot of businesses out there who mandate them, and a lot of old school business types that want email and nothing else.

      • Anonymous

        u r claiming iPhone is not outselling even ONE model of android… Possibly for the store u r at but they sold 2.2 million in 50 days. That’s a 44000 a day average. Did a lot of them sell thru online orders and apple retail stores? Probably. Would it have sold better if the sales clerks made more money on the sale? Probably. I’m sure apple is satisfied will their verizon sales numbers. Sure they want higher but it looks like they are more interested in squeezing every last buck out of each sale instead of giving it to the carrier. The phone is very popular which allows them to do that. So again, I don’t believe u when u say the iPhone doesn’t even outsell ONE model of android. If it’s true for your store it’s the exception not the norm.

      • Anonymous

        No, Apple nor Verizon isn’t ANYWHERE near happy with thier iPhone Sales. 5 Million was the Target, 2.2 million was the result. If you check around pretty much EVERY Verizon store will be selling the iPhone after many smaller inddirect shops were told they would never get it. It took AT&T years to slow enough for them to “allow” the iPhone in the agent channel. Verizon? 3 Months.

        The iPhone isn’t selling as well as expected at Verizon. Its fact. Stick your head in the sand all you want, but its the truth.

      • Anonymous

        I’ve seen tons of estimates. U have no clue what apple wanted. IF verizon wanted those numbers they would have pushed for it. Telling stores to push the iPhone. I believe you when u say the store employees push androids over iPhone because they make more money. Why would verizon itself care?? They make the most money from the service plan. The phone is just to get the people to stay with them or switch to them so people have the option. Apple sold 18.3 million iPhones last quarter. So adding in the extra 2.8 million they were expecting the total would have been 21 million. Previous quarter was 16.3 million. You are saying apple was expecting a 5 million phone sale increase with a 10 month old phone?? I think u r the one with your head in the sand. Forget the happy or not happy. Steve jobs probably wouldn’t be happy even if they sold a phone to everyone on the planet. But again. I call BULLSHIT when u say iPhone isn’t even outselling one android phone. A few weeks back there was the article about the guy calling 150 stores and asking clerks what phones selling better. iPhone or thunderbolt. That survey was ridiculous and un scientific. Turns out they sold 260000 thunderbolts and 2.2 million iPhones. Apple doesn’t worry about the snapshots in time. Final numbers is what matters to them. Your what 5 stores? And your observations are laughable when trying to determine how well the iPhone is selling. Big picture. 2.2 million sold in 50 days. Show me a single model android on verizon that sold more than that for the entire last quarter.

      • Anonymous

        No, Apple nor Verizon isn’t ANYWHERE near happy with thier iPhone Sales. 5 Million was the Target, 2.2 million was the result. If you check around pretty much EVERY Verizon store will be selling the iPhone after many smaller inddirect shops were told they would never get it. It took AT&T years to slow enough for them to “allow” the iPhone in the agent channel. Verizon? 3 Months.

        The iPhone isn’t selling as well as expected at Verizon. Its fact. Stick your head in the sand all you want, but its the truth.

      • Anonymous

        u r claiming iPhone is not outselling even ONE model of android… Possibly for the store u r at but they sold 2.2 million in 50 days. That’s a 44000 a day average. Did a lot of them sell thru online orders and apple retail stores? Probably. Would it have sold better if the sales clerks made more money on the sale? Probably. I’m sure apple is satisfied will their verizon sales numbers. Sure they want higher but it looks like they are more interested in squeezing every last buck out of each sale instead of giving it to the carrier. The phone is very popular which allows them to do that. So again, I don’t believe u when u say the iPhone doesn’t even outsell ONE model of android. If it’s true for your store it’s the exception not the norm.

  • xxdesmus

    You guys really do love your bullsh*t analysts don’t you? Wow.

  • Senor Chang

    The fanboys and haters are the ones getting all whiny ‘nnn-no-no…. those are LIES. They lie… the liars! Fcuk BGR!! Fcuk em in the stupid asses”.

    Lame ass whiners… you are the same people who celebrate when analysts say Rim or WP7 is DOA, then clap when they say Android is #1, then get all twisted when they say At&t sells a sh!t ton of old ass 3GS handsets.

    Its whatever fanboys… where your mommas… i think you need a teet to suck on.

    • Anonymous

      Dry up, you big girl!

  • Anonymous

    This is no surprise. The Smartphone is entering (or has already) the “the late adopters”. This group is the one that usually, IMO, sets the “trend” of marketshare, usually since they are the majority, and Apple has set themselves nicely with selling last years iPhone at a discounted price. At $49, it’s an affordable buy for many late adopters looking to catch on with the trend and the fact that Apple’s namebrand recognition is all over the phone helps Apple sell more phones. Soon the crappy flip phone will be gone!!

  • Anonymous

    BGR is really sticking it to the Fandroids today #truthhurts

  • http://twitter.com/Blake_Gideon Blake J Gideon

    This is incredibly misleading. Apple only has one hardware device, Android has dozens. Everyone who has been following sales knows that android as a whole is outselling iOS, with the exception of tablets.

  • 1T2dirtnap

    I’m surprised the iPhone 4 continues to sell so well considering Apple should be releasing a newer version at the end of the year. Then again it’s Apple and people want the iPhone. I laugh at the fact the 3GS is outselling the latest Android devices on AT&T. Though I’m also not surprised by this, after all it’s AT&T. 4G doesn’t mean much over there.

    • serpentor

      But the excuse Apple Fanboys gave when the VZW iPhone went on sale and no one showed up in the morning was because it’s already been out 6 months and #5 was coming out in another 6 months.

  • Droidman101

    Guys, this is specific to only one carrier really, ATT
    It’d be like saying:
    ANDROID OUTSELLS IPHONE ON VERIZON!
    No shit.

  • Drew

    Another douche in Apple’s pocket… These people that “analyze” buying trends are puppets designed to keep company “A” relevant and in the news for investors sake. I’m sure BGR will dig up a few more of these before the iPhone 5 comes out.

  • CMC

    So then how is that Android has more market share than Apple? I’m not an Apple fanboy, but this just doesn’t make sense.

  • q21

    As a rep I would say the 3gs outsells for 3 reasons…1) price…@$50 in the stores, you could get a torch, or moto bravo…the 3gs is still better than any other phone @that price and most messaging phones cost MORE…2) age group..a lot of 30 somethings and 50+ get it because they re not concerned with new toys..the differences arent worth the price because they won’t use them and a lot of people at that age get talked into even getting one by their family or friends….3) its an iPhone…its easy to use,its supported with 300,000+ apps,and maybe most of all (to consumers) its Apple…you would be surprised how many people have heard of it and never seen one and decide to Buy one within seconds of seeing it

    • Anonymous

      I’m more than happy to wait for my wife’s 3GS when she upgrades at the end of the year.

      Wouldn’t look at anything else.

  • Anonymous

    Hahahahahahahaha! What are the gutless haters going to say now?!?

  • http://jimramk.tumblr.com JRK

    Makes sense to me. The iPhone 3GS when compared to individual Android handsets outsells some of them. But the total Android sales are higher than total iOS sales.

    Its not that hard to understand.

    If the US phone market wasn’t so dependent on subsidies, Nokia would be doing far better btw. They are extremely popular in my area of the world due to brand name and lower prices.

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