Apple (AAPL) might be on the verge of announcing the biggest consumer electronics device of the year but according to one study, the buzz surrounding Samsung (005930) and its devices recently surpassed the Cupertino, California-based company. Polling firm YouGov recently released data from a study that compared public perception of Apple compared to that of chief rival Samsung. Samsung’s image took a hit following the crushing verdict issued in its patent case against Apple, but since then the company has rebounded and surpassed the iPhone maker in the eyes of both “early tech adopters” and the broader group of consumers aged 18 to 34.
YouGov asked consumers if they had “heard anything about the brand in the last two weeks, through advertising, news or by word of mouth,” and then evaluated their answers to determine a “buzz score.” That buzz score is a good gauge of public perception according to the firm, and Samsung clearly took a hit with early tech adopters following the August 24th verdict that rocked the tech world.
The company saw its score decline with the broader group of consumers aged 18 to 34 as well according to YouGov’s data, but Samsung’s image has rebounded with both groups of consumers over the past week. Even as the launch of Apple’s next-generation iPhone 5 approaches, Samsung’s buzz score has topped Apple’s as of late last week among both early adopters and consumers between the ages of 18 and 34.
The tide may turn once again when Apple’s inevitable massive advertising campaign for the iPhone 5 kicks in but for the time being, it doesn’t appear as though any lasting damage was done when a jury decided that Samsung made unlawful use of Apple’s designs and technology patents.
