Demand for the Apple iPhone 5 is down, but handset still rules

The latest report from ChangeWave has been released showing the state of the U.S. smartphone market up on a quarterly basis from March 2008 through the end of last year. What the data shows, and it really might not qualify as a surprise, is that demand for the Apple iPhone and for Samsung branded models, peaks around the time that the phone is released. Take the Apple iPhone 5. Right after the launch of the Apple iPhone 5, a whopping 71% of those looking to buy a new smartphone said that they would buy a new iPhone sometime in the next 90 days after responding to the survey. Almost immediately afterward, that number plunged to 50%. Similar activity took place at the time of the launch of the Apple iPhone 3G, Apple iPhone 3GS, Apple iPhone 4 and Apple iPhone 4S.

While the pattern is similar for Korean based manufacturer Samsung, the latter is seeing demand for its latest flagship model return to fresh highs much quicker than Apple. For example, while it normally takes 4 to 5 months for demand to start building up for the Apple iPhone after the launch of the latest model, Samsung saw demand for the Samsung Galaxy S III soar to new highs just one month after dropping. This would seem to mean that Apple iPhone buyers go with the crowd more than those buying Samsung's flagship model.

And lastly, some good news for Windows Phone 8 users. The latest ChangeWave survey found 54% of those using a device powered by Microsoft's mobile OS to be "Very Satisfied." That compares with 48% of Android users who would say that about Google's open source OS. The leader was iOS with 71% of its users characterizing themselves as "Very Satisfied."

source: SlashGear

Both Apple and Samsung see demand for their flagship models peak at launch