iPhone 3G outsold all other US phones in the consumer space

Chauncey Dupree
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November 10, 2008
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The amazing 3rd quarter for the Apple iPhone keeps claiming victims of the competition.  Today the NPD group is saying that even the once mighty Motorola Razr has fallen to the mighty iPhone.

Apple's iPhone 3G surpassed the top-ranked Motorola RAZR as the leading handset purchased by adult consumers* in the U.S. in the third quarter (Q3) of 2008. RAZR had been ranked by NPD as the top-selling consumer handset for the past 12 quarters.

The top handset models in rank order, based on unit sales in Q3, were as follows:
 
1. Apple iPhone 3G
2. Motorola RAZR V3 (all models)
3. RIM Blackberry Curve (all models)
4. LG Rumor
5. LG enV2

 Not bad Apple, not bad.

(thanks to sour snowflakes for the image)

Comments (8)

MadMike | November 10, 2008 - 9:59am

It's officially the beginning of the end for Motorola. They have no decent phones in the pipeline. Their "jesus" phone that was supposed to save them is almost vaporware at this point.

"Now, I don't want to get off on a rant here, but..." - Dennis Miller

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | November 10, 2008 - 10:11am

From my european point of view, and I worked for a 3g company here when they launched their network, Motorola was already at the beginning of its end 5 years ago. As the competition here in Europe is much bigger for "smartphones", and internet-enabled phones have a much longer tradition, it was obvious that they cannot compete. Since then I haven't seen any progress in Motorola's politic to get something up and running that is not just another simple phone....

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | November 10, 2008 - 10:14am

The V3 is ancient (from 2005!!), low tech and *still* the second best selling. In terms of total units sold I'd bet it easily creams a newcomer like the iphone.

Plus you can get a razr for £20 (~$30) without a contract. So it's going to keep selling to those that don't see the need to shell out for an expensive smartphone - and that's always going to be a bigger market.

Up and coming the v8 is dropping in price and will soon replace the v3 in the cheap phone space (it's at about the price the v3 was a couple of years ago). The Z9 is the expensive one one with satnav etc. And that's only 2 of 17 models in their latest range.

Sounds quite healthy to me.

9to5Mac Admirer (not verified) | November 10, 2008 - 10:48am

And yet the picture shows a 2G iphone!

sour_snowflakes (not verified) | November 10, 2008 - 4:24pm

I took the image the night I got my 2G. Since then the photo has been used both on Gizmodo and this blog without credit...Wired did give credit, props to them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cperrey/669781113/

I now have a 3G; perhaps I should update the image.

sour_snowflakes (not verified) | November 12, 2008 - 5:03pm

Thanks for the photo credit, I greatly appreciate it!

T (not verified) | November 10, 2008 - 12:52pm

The razr might well sell for £20 (~$30) without a contract.
But then what's the profit margin on that?

It's more aking to Dell's business model. Selling more, doesn't necessarily mean more profit, even if you're catering to a larger market. Looking at the next 3 quarters might be more useful.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | November 11, 2008 - 5:22am

Count on spending $160 for a new low-end RAZR.

Phones may be inexpensive "under contract", but remember those contracts are the SUBSIDIZED price. The handsets cost the carrier substantially more money. For you to buy any phone outright, without contract, is an expensive proposition.

Apple tried to change the game with their unsubsidized $600 and then $400 iPhone, but it didn't go so well - the existing contract model is entrenched in the US consumer's mind. So now the iPhone is a heavily subsidized $200 phone, just like almost all other phones sold in the US.