Samsung’s Galaxy S3 overtook Apple’s iPhone 4S to become the world’s best-selling smartphone model for the first time ever in the third quarter of 2012, According to research firm Strategy Analytics.
 
Earlier this week, Samsung Electronics claimed that it sold more than 30 million Galaxy S III smartphones since it was launched in May.
 
The South Korean firm said that the Galaxy S III continued to be a runaway favourite with customers around the world. It said it took 37 days for the oversize smartphone to reach the sales figure.
 
The third version of the Galaxy S series offers a more powerful processor that lets users watch video and write emails simultaneously on a large 12.2cm screen.
 
Samsung sold 56.3 million smartphones, including its flagship S III, in July-September which is about a third of the global market and more than twice as much as bitter rival Apple's share.
 
A large touchscreen, extensive distribution and generous operator subsidies have propelled the Galaxy S3 to the top spot. Samsung’s Galaxy S3 smartphone model shipped 18.0 million units worldwide during the third quarter of 2012.
 
The report says that the Galaxy S3 captured an impressive 11 percent share of all smartphones shipped globally and it has become the world’s best-selling smartphone model for the first time ever. A large touchscreen design, extensive distribution across dozens of countries, and generous operator subsidies have been among the main causes of the Galaxy S3’s success.
 
“Apple shipped an estimated 16.2 million iPhone 4S units worldwide for second place, as consumers temporarily held off purchases in anticipation of a widely expected iPhone 5 upgrade at the end of the quarter”, it said.
 
Samsung’s Galaxy S3 has proven wildly popular with consumers and operators across North America, Europe and Asia. However, the Galaxy S3’s position as the world’s best-selling smartphone model is likely to be short-lived.
 
The Apple iPhone 5 has gotten off to a solid start already with an estimated 6.0 million units shipped globally during Q3 2012.
 
The research firm expects the new iPhone 5 to out-ship Samsung’s Galaxy S3 in the coming fourth quarter of 2012 and Apple should soon reclaim the title of the world’s most popular smartphone model.