Top 5 UK mobiles revealed: and no iPhone!

 

Once at the top of the 'must have' list, Apple's iPhone 4 has now slipped out of the top five most popular mobile handsets, according to research.

HTC Desire

New winner: The Android-operated HTC Desire

With HTC handsets taking the top three slots in uSwitch.com's Mobile Tracker for February, it looks like take-up of the iPhone is waning, with a drop of three places since January.

The Tracker ranks the nation's favourite mobile handsets based on live searches and sales.

It suggests that the popularity of the Apple flagship product is being eaten into by handsets based on the Google Android operating system, which are largely available free with cheap pay-monthly mobile contracts.

The biggest winner of the report is HTC, which makes the top three handsets currently in the UK: the HTC Desire, HTC Desire HD and HTC Wildfire are in first second and third place.

According to uSwitch.com, a big reason for the iPhone's apparent demise in the smartphone market is the abundance of free deals now available.

Customers are being seduced into taking out deals for smartphones that are free with a contract, whereas the iPhone 4 still demands an outlay - even on higher-tariff contracts.

For instance, on O2's website, the iPhone 4 16GB model on an 18-month contract is £30.64 a month, plus a one-off charge of £233.87 for the handset.

iPhone 4

Going down: Apple's all-conquering iPhone 4

Meanwhile, with free handset deals starting from £20 a month, Samsung's Galaxy S has leapfrogged the iPhone moved into fifth place.

But Apple dominance is expected to return a few months' time, with the company set to reveal details of its new smartphone model - the iPhone Nano.

The HTC Desire was top of the charts last month as well. Launched in March 2010, the handset has been deemed a showcase of the best that the Android operating system has to offer.

As well as providing access to thousands of apps, consumers have been seduced by bespoke charms such as the ability to silence a call by simply turning the phone over.

The biggest climber this month is the HTC Wildfire, which climbs into the top three. It is seen as a popular alternative for consumers wanting HTC smartphone technology but lacking the budget to shell out for the Desire.

The Blackberry Curve has moved up to fourth place, following a more consumer-focused Christmas push and some enticing pre-pay deals.

TOP TEN SMARTPHONES (TRACKED BY SALES & SEARCHES)
Position Handset
Source: uSwitch.com
1 HTC Desire
2 HTC Desire HD
3 HTC Wildfire
4 Blackberry Curve 8520
5 Samsung Galaxy S
6 Apple iPhone 4 (16GB)
7 Motorola DEFY
8 Sony Ericsson S500i
9 Samsung G800
10 Samsung i600

The tracker has also revealed that Android-operated handsets continue to tighten their stranglehold on the mobile market – 50% of phones in the top ten now run off the Google Android operating system.

Ernest Doku, technology expert at uSwitch.com, says: 'The competition is taking a huge bite out of Apple's market. And, with over 800,000 deals currently giving away a smartphone for free, it's easy to see how consumers are being lured away from the iPhone.

'Many have to account for every penny spent, but at the same time do not want to miss out on owning the latest gadget. A free handset is a much more attractive proposition than shelling out for one – especially at iPhone prices.

'Android phones have well and truly pipped Apple to the post. But, with just a couple of months until Apple is expected to give details of its next offering, it's almost a dead cert that they will soon lead the way again in the race for smartphone dominance.'