Google Android overtakes iPhone in the UK smartphone market

Google Android has seen its share of the UK smartphone market explode from 10.7% in June 2011 to 45.2% in June 2011, pushing Apple's iPhone down from 30.6% to 18.3% during the same period.

The figures, from consumer research company Kantar Worldpanel, are published in today's Metro.

Android has gained market share thanks to the popularity of new smartphones from the likes of HTC and Samsung, such as the Samsung Galaxy S II (above).

Althought the iPhone is still the single best-selling handset of the last 12 months, there are far more smartphones users now and the majority of them are opting for Android.

According to Kantar, 74.3% of Android sales came from people buying their first smartphone, as opposed to 1.4% who switched from Apple.

Kantar's Dominic Sunnebo says: 'We are yet to see any real signs of consumers switching between Android and Apple. Our data shows that Apple and Android’s customers are intensely loyal when choosing their upgrade.'

Elsewhere, BlackBerry's popularity with younger consumers – notably for the BBM messaging software – saw it mount something of a resurgence, overtaking Apple with 22.9% of the market.

BlackBerry is to launch seven new smartphones with its next-generation operating system in the coming months.

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Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.