Several years ago, the tech press was infatuated with finding who would launch an "iPod killer". Ultimately it turned out that Apple did when they released the iPhone. Today the search for an "iPhone killer" has also been extensive but once again, it may be Apple that delivers the final blow.
- The latest professed "iPhone Killer" was Samsung's Galaxy S4 smartphone. (source)
- But the iPhone actually grew marketshare following the launch of Samsung's flagship Galaxy S4 phone. (source)
- And Samsung Galaxy S4 shipments this year are expected to be 20 to 30% lower than its previous forecast. (source)
- In fact, no Android hero device launch has had an impact on iPhone sales in the United States over the past two years. (source)
So Where's the iPhone Killer?
- Apple's iPad is selling three times faster than the iPhone. (source)
- Apple sold 22.9 million iPads in the quarter that ended in December 2012. Worldwide tablet shipments reached 128.3 million units in 2012 and the iPad accounted for 51% of the market. (source)
- Global shipments of tablets are predicted to eclipse personal computers in 2015. (source)
- The tablet market could be anything from 300m to 900m units a year and possibly even more. (source)
- A third (34%) of American adults ages 18 and older own a tablet computer. (source)
So perhaps the iPhone killer is coming from the same place the iPod Killer did.