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Recent Reviews
Behind the numbers: 1 million iPhone 4S pre-ordered in a single day
Posted:
October 12, 2011
By: ccsoya
74 comments
Apple recently announced pre-orders of its iPhone 4S have topped one million in a single day. This number surpassed the previous single day pre-order record of 600,000 held by the iPhone 4. But what does it all mean?
Numbers without perspective are just merely that – numbers. While it is undeniable that 1 million units of almost anything is a significant amount, most of the reports did not place the Apple’s reported figure in a bigger perspective. So let’s look behind the numbers and see what 1 million iPhone 4S pre-ordered actually mean.
US Population
The latest number from the US Census Bureau tells us that there is currently over 312 million people in the US. Looking at this, 1 million units iPhones 4S pre-ordered doesn’t even account for 1% of the total US population. But perhaps this is not a good comparison.
The US smartphone market is vastly different to other markets, especially Malaysia’s. Where in the US mobile phone purchases are driven by subsidies and contracts, Malaysians still prefer to buy their phones without contract and unsubsidised. So in this instance, while 1 million units is a large number, the figure is very likely not reflective of the sentiments of the Malaysian and global markets.
Let’s look at global smartphone market share
As of Q2 2011, Gartner reveals that Android commands a 43% share in the global smartphone market while Symbian controls a 22% stake and Apple a 18% piece of the pie. RIM pulls up the rear with a 12% global smartphone market share amongst the leading operating systems.
With this, it appears that while iPhone sales figures are impressive in singularity, in the grand scheme of things, Android looks to be the platform that is really making progress in the smartphone arena with a market share that is almost half of all the smartphones sold in the world and almost four times more than that of iOS.
What about growth?
The smartphone industry is fluid and things can change quickly, and so some would argue that while Android is in a commanding position right now, Apple is surely to outstrip Google’s lead in the long run with strong growth. The problem with that is Android’s growth is astronomical compared to all the other mobile platforms, Apple’s iOS included.
In just one year, Android grew from just 4.7% global market share in Q4 2009 to 33% in Q4 2010. That’s a whopping 615% growth in 12 months! In the same period, Apple only grew 86% from 8.7% global market share in Q4 2009 to 16.2% in Q4 2010. In fact, the figures show Android surpassing Apple, Nokia and RIM as the dominant smartphone platform in world in the span of just one year. How’s that for growth?
Behind the numbers
And so, while Apple would like to paint a distorted reality in which it appears to be the leader in the smartphone segment, one needs to take a step back and look behind the numbers to see what is really going on in the grand scheme of things.
At the same time we’re not denying that Apple changed the game. If it weren’t for the iPhone, we all would probably still be using styluses right now. Apple’s role as an innovator in this segment is something we can all agree on but at the same time – fan or not – we need to face the fact that the times they are a-changin’.
74 Comments for Behind the numbers: 1 million iPhone 4S pre-ordered in a single day
racistmalaysian
No one really think about the 1 million sales. Soyacincau somehow disturbed with this info. I wonder why? Fanboyism perhaps?
sinach
people do think about the 1 mill sales. look in newspaper, gadget news and blogs. soyacincau did a good job by detail out the fact behind the number and figure
soyacincau
Fixed the typo thanks, and you got a point there.
daaa
simple, iphone is the MOST EXPENSIVE Smartphone.
18% is a compliment.
to all fanboy, be it iphone or android, just enjoy your phone, stop wasting time on attacking opposite camp.
gusi
that bcoz android came from many manufecturers. definately cannot be compared to apple. iphone only got one type while android got hundred of types. esspecially from htc.. next time use your brain. iphone should not vs android but something like htc evo or sg2. common sense.
racistmalaysian
Android fanboy unable to use brain because they hate iPhone so much. Just go to engadget and you'll see a bunch of android trolls in there.
Laughinstock
Of cos Android fanboys hate iPhone, common sense. But Apple fanboys are the worse spesies. Come on, who is dumb enough to pay 2X-3X the actual price just to own it before others? That's Apple fanboys for you. Hahahaha
elvin
yes im always be apple fanboys ~ 3gs on 2009 still can upgrade to ios5 and run smooth
any android device from 2009 can upgrade to new android firmware ?? and run smooth??
i dont think got any device can do so …..=.=
pek
That's right. Wait until my 3GS gets Siri and notification centre. The android fan boys get jealous. Sooner or later you see Android copy Siri and all the new iOS5 features.
guest
FYI, siri is only available on i4s, not on iOS5, and the notification center in iOS5, that's from android
David Tan
android copy so much from ios, ios just that as inspire function and make it a better one, so far doesnt see android has making a copy work better.
William
Pls do homework first la, i have both IOS and Android, both are good but to claim apple is the first…hmmmm check your facts…..
sinach
siri is a great feature, no doubt. but android has voice command way long before.its improve from time to time. see voice command in latest sgs2.maybe its not good like siri,but it does its job pretty good. anyway, android has it before and no way u can claim android copy iOS. what other iOS5 features? notification?iMessage?iCloud? any of that not available in android or any OS before?
haiyah..
daaa
Looser.
Siri is not voice command, its AI.
Siri project person in charge in AI project pentagon.
azrash
to be honest, android phones are getting lots of updates from community driven ROMs built, i still has the first android phone (T-Mobile G1) and it is using the latest version Android smoothly
racistmalaysian
Android fanboy has take over apple fanboy as worst species. Go to Engadget and you'll realize that.
goh
I think u are the worst ifag. much worse than No.1 droidfag.
Gdawn
Yes, Apple's fanatics sometimes are PITA, but Android fanatics are asininely hillarious. For people having 2x-3x more money than you is not your problem
goh
and i'm seeing one fking stupid useless brainless ifag here. Keep trolling around.
hadi
Even if iPhone a premium smart phone combined with the top selling budget to mid line Nokia Symbians is only 40%. Still less than Android.
If an app developer wants to reach more people, Android platform should be the first choice then Symbian and Blackberry.
hadi
I mean then Symbian, iPhone and BlackBerry
Gdawn
There're many developers develop app to make money and for web presence. Right now, the iOS App Store is where the money is (iOS users are more likely to pay for apps than Android users) and a big chunk of mobile web traffics is on iOS, so it's only rational that most developers choose to develop for iOS first, other platforms later – regardless of the marketshare number.
Majority (not all) of Android users flock to the platform because of the promise of free apps and cheap phones. Even though Android has a bigger marketshare than iOS, most of its users prefer not to buy app and its share of internet traffic is relatively small compared to iOS.
racistmalaysian
Android user normally use pirated apps. So developing for android is like work for nothing.
pek
Stupid Android people root root root for free apps. For apple, everybody buy apps cos they support the Apple dev community.
racistmalaysian
Whenever they talk about root, they feel so special and l33t. LOL
hadi
Have you guys heard about jailbreaking?
David Tan
Jailbreak makes your phone/pad lag… who wants it??! It's yucks
sinach
but there are lot of people jailbreak it.
u must understand the different between jailbreak and root. jailbreak totally want to use free apps. but android rooted their phone because they want to customise further and keep it up to its true potential. free apps everywhere.
both users love free thing lah. dont talk cock.
william
yep.right on the dot…..
Gdawn
u wanted people to understand but u urself dont understand it, haha funny. jailbreak is not totally for pirated apps. Its main objective is to remove Apple's restrictions, so that the device owners can further customise the device they have. The default jailbreak doesn't include any pirated app repositories, and even give u a warning if u try to add one. so basically, root and jailbreak are the same thing with different name
I love free apps too, but if the quality is lacking, i won't mind paying for the quality
goh
Coz rooting give user full control on how their phone should perform and its look.
u envy about it isn't it ifag?
Foo
F*ck off. Seriously. Android dun even need to root to install non-market sourced apps. Root users actually pay more for root-only software because it's so darn useful.
So many games are free on the Android Market that are paid on the AppStore, getting pirated copies are not even practical. Heck, heard of GetJar? Developers put up not-updatable versions of their apps FOR FREE. If I dun give a hoot about updating I'll have free games LEGALLY.
Only reason iPhone dumbjunk users jailbreak is for the pirated apps repository. I guess you dun even know what a repository is.
Grow a brain and make some research next time you wanna troll.
Foo
And Android apps have a different approach to making money, which is thru ads. Devs make more money from ads than being paid for apps.
goh
u don't need to root your phone to get free apps idiot. Every iPhone users buy apps??? what a joke, we all know most iPhone users jailbreak their phone to get free apps.
goh
most iPhone user jailbreak their phone to get free apps. No much of different with android users using pirated apps.
racistmalaysian
I don't understand why create this article. This is waste of bandwidth and a joke.
pek
Hahahahaha Android fans feel sour about all new iPhone 4S they cannot wait and blast apple at any chance. Apple forever!
racistmalaysian
Actually a lot of soyacincau news is great. But some article are glaringly bias to Androids. I hope soyacincau will take this into consideration. Whenever I read the comment here, I tot I was in Android forum.
msbery
This is a free world, say anything you like as long as it is legal and makes sense.
I am using both android and ios, both are good but different – something like enjoying different feelings from the thrills of many girlfriends
why waste time talk bad about some of your g/fs ?
just enjoy ! soyacincau has his own independent opinions, whats wrong with that !
well done soyacincau !
sinach
+1
some of us just butthurt when the fact not on their side. if this article say horay to their fav OS, they will sing it out loud. chill lah. dont be a ridiculous fan. as customer, enjoy the fight between those giants and enjoy the best product.
go soyacincau.
David Tan
agree, this article suppose to be iphone 4s not ios, why need have to compare the ios and android in this article as android is made up of so many manufacturers and iphone is just one type a year by apple. they should consider a specific phone selling, not the os since you're talking of the 1 million sales of iphone not ios
daaa
yes, becos, majority cannot afford a idevice, so majority hates apple.
simple as that.
if SGS2 same price as iphone4, who will buy SGS2 i dunno.
goh
you envy about Android? you don't like this blog then stop browsing this blog.
goh
why u wasting your fking time posting comment on this article?
@csdordor
This arguments won't get old.
Suck 'em up.
YC - phone gig
Be it Android or Apple.. It just depends on the individual. Some ppl hate this some ppl hate that.. so LIVE ON guys,,,
Christopher
If u don like Soya Cincau, Apple, Android or others? Just ignored.. u don have to waste ur time here.. even im android fan & my wife is apple fan.. whats wrong with that..? do we need to hate each other?
Those FANSBOY with negative minded.. pls use ur brain..!!!
hadi
Kesian iPhone people. Like it or hate it, they still have to buy the latest iPhone even if it is just a "S" behind. For Android if you don't like a phone, there are so many other brands to choose from: Motorola, HTC, Samsung, LG.
Now iPhone starts copying existing features and claim to have "reinvented" everything then the whole fans bought it.
teh
Whats wrong for pointing out the fact? U apple guy butthurt? I prefer to see this kind of fact once a while rather than just new gadget article everytime.
matjoe
well done soyacincau. thanks for your time in writing this. fandroid love it.
Arthur
Google is not a hardware manufacturer (yet). Don't really see the logic behind the comparison. No point for this post just to label Apple is "distortioning" reality. Lame.
hadi
The comparison is by OS not hardware. Apple is not distorting reality, please claim iPhone #1 smart phone again.
Arthur
Comparing OS? Then what does the second chart mean?
John
=.="
The truth is, both Apple and Google distort reality.
Thats what companies do to make money..
Seriously, do anyone really believe that these companies really cares
for us, the customer??
I love my SGS and Ipad until today, and i PAY for it,
I don't care whether Apple or Google "wins".
The best way is for them to have equal market share, then
they won't feel so proud to charge customer so expensively,
and they will work hard to improve also.
The day you hear any reports that any company MONOPOLIZE the
market, that is the day we, Consumer should feel sad and mourn.
We, Malaysian, should know "this". =.="
Anyway, this is a blog, SoyaCincau deserve their opinion.
Same to everyone commenting here. 
sinach
LIKE! it should be that way. lets enjoy the fight and in the end of the day hopefully we are the winner. cos we can enjoy the best gadget. let they challenge each other and produce best. its your own money anyway.
btw, at last somebody raise about the monopoly issue. if apple is the only player, i dont think we get what we have right now. Choice is good for us the customer.
azrash
this is well summed up. I do not understand why people keep on arguing which one is best. truth is, products are designed to cater to different people. Some prefer this product, some prefer the others. There is nothing wrong in making choices. In the end, we choose what suits best for us regardless of their OS/device choice.
IMO, the competition between all these OSes are great, we consumers would gain more as companies would try to differentiate their products and continue to improve their products
razali
ifag get mad
epal
Some reports I read suggested that the 1 million figure is for pre-order worldwide (for countries in the 1st launch) and not the US market alone.
Gdawn
Why so defensive . They just announced that the number is bigger than the last – showing that people have even greater interest in iPhone 4S than iPhone 4.
ggnoik
This is actually flawed.. You need to take a look on how many apple devices are released compare to the thousands of android devices are released… Android only able to capture the market growth becaused of there is a variety of devices to capture different market segments.. The fact that Symbian is still having a large percentage of market share is because it also got a variety of devices to capture diff market segments..
now if you if you compare just by devices, android devices vs apple devices. i.e. top android phone like GSII(or maybe combine few top line android devices) vs iPhone 4.. you'll see why iphone will always be a better product.. number speaks it all..
daaa
yes, the cheapest android phone my mom bought is samsung mini, rm4xx only.
of cos the growth is high, nokia is being replace by low end android phone.
btw, say good bye to nokia.
Bubblebob
Are we comparing devices or are we comparing platforms? Put it this way, iOS vs Android will be a repeat of MAC vs PC….
@override182
this, is a 1 manufacturer vs multiple up to 7 or more.. i see only samsung makes good high end while the other manufacturer makes entry level phone to contribute to the activation numbers which is damn huge in numbers.. indeed, entry level and budget devices
Anonimus
This is an interesting point of view. I would welcome more of these articles from SoyaCincau.
I would also like to note that from profit point of view, the Android smartphone makers dont make as much money as Apple. And Google isn't making money from Android (hardware) sales.
Microsoft is the one making money through Android sales, due to patent infringement. In fact, Microsoft is making more money from Android than it does from Windows Phone sales.
http://www.asymco.com/2011/07/30/the-profitphone-…
@override182
well people dont see things that way mate.. they only care about sales figure
Lawak
I laugh at iOS users that had their phones wiped clean when upgrading. Heard all apps and contacts gone for those that upgrade using different computer. You won't hear such problems when upgrading over the air on Android! No cable required.
Arthur
I upgraded quite a few times. Didn't have my contact deleted. I laugh at Andriod users who find it a pain in the ass to upgrade.
@override182
im an android user and i know now that in iOS5 its CABLE-LESS with OTA with "delta updates".. and there is always an option to backup just like how Titanium Backup does in Android if u know what is Titanium Backup or familiar with it
read up mate before laughing.. in the end what u get is ur comment name
Arthur
nah. titanium backups don't work with all phones, especially certain HTC (Hero, Incredible) model. read up too before commenting.
Vincent
I laugh at android users where you'll need to wait for 6 months for the latest firmware, where iOS users can get to upgrade to the latest sw without WAITING..
Bobby Balaz
Quote "Numbers without perspective are just merely that – numbers." … I don't mean to be rude, but soyacincau might have posted this article prematurely without analyzing all know 'perspective'.
This article reflects just that sentiment, 'merely numbers, without perspective'.
A wee bit more calculated research would have carried more weight.
A good try on something different from the usual. Much more involving then all previous posts!
Chan Chun Yeen
1% of US population ordered iPhone 4s in ONE SINGLE DAY.
SoyaCincau, you have problem with that?
wakaka
of cos. because soyacincau cannot get their hands on an iphone 4S yet
goh
i can flash to 2.1, 2.2 or 2.3 whenever I like. can iFag do that???
i can flash new ROM instantly by the phone itself. Can iFag do that?
No? SHUT UP ARTHUR!
Apple a 12% piece of the pie.， should be 18%
"Apple would like to paint a distorted reality in which it appears to be the leader in the smartphone segment" – they indeed the biggest single smartphone manufacturer.