The first commercially available handheld phone, the DynaTAC 8000x, was unveiled in 1983. Between that year and 2014, mobile phone subscriptions grew to over 7 billion, ushering in the era of mobile phones. Over the last several years, manufacturing companies have patented and released improved versions of their flagship phones, creating wide fanbases. But who comes out on top of the mobile phone popularity contest in the UK? Here is a review of the most popular phones in the UK.
Apple (46.9%)
Worth $365.8 billion in 2021, Apple is the largest technology company in the world by revenue and market capitalization. The multinational tech company also ranks second among mobile phone manufacturers and is responsible for the oh-so-popular iPhone. It currently holds the largest mobile phone market share in the UK, at about 47 percent. Per YouGov Ratings, the most popular Apple phones in the UK in 2022 were the iPhone 12 at 86 percent and iPhone 12 Pro at 85 percent.
Samsung (32.4%)
Samsung is a multinational manufacturing conglomerate based in South Korea. As the largest chaebol in the country, it comprises different affiliate businesses operating under the Samsung brand, which is the world’s eighth most valuable brand. Samsung mobile phones are known for their trendsetting technology and high-end features. According to the same YouGov ratings, Samsung phones were the next most popular phones in the UK in 2022. They included Samsung Galaxy S21 5G at 78 percent, Samsung Galaxy S10+ at 75 percent, and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge at 76 percent.
Huawei (5.3%)
Mobile phones allow a level of convenience in communication that has never been seen before. With every passing year, phones become smaller, faster, and more capable. But the growth of the mobile phone industry is about more than the direct consumer. Mobile phones influence different industries, including online gaming, commerce, photography, and more. In the gaming industry, game developers and phone manufacturers like Huawei partner to avail top tier mobile casinos UK to mobile gamers. In fact, Huawei is currently in partnership with over 50 top companies. The Chinese mobile phone maker is the second largest mobile phone manufacturer behind Samsung and holds a 5.27 percent market share in the UK.
Motorola (2.7%)
Motorola has a long and complicated history. The multinational company manufactured the first mobile device and was the leading mobile phone manufacturer until 1998, when it was dissolved. In 2011, it was divided into two public entities – Motorola Solutions and Motorola Mobility. The latter was acquired by Google in 2012 and the former by Lenovo in 2014. In 2022, several Motorola Solution smartphone models dominated the UK market, including Motorola Edge and Edge Plus, Motorola One Zoom, Moto G 5G Plus, and Motorola One Hyper and Action.
Xiaomi (2.5%)
Xiaomi designs and manufactures mobile phones that run on the android-based MIUI interface. The Fortune 500 is popular for its high-end smartphones sold at budget prices. In fact, Xiaomi has some of the most competitive prices in the UK market. The country’s fifth most popular phone brand, Xiaomi’s top phones include Xiaomi Mi 9, Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro, Mi Mix 3, Mi 8, and Mi Mix 2S.
Wrapping Up
The mobile phone industry continues to grow at an unprecedented rate. Innovators in the field continually challenge the limits of technology and create faster, more convenient mobile devices. And while these manufacturers currently dominate the UK market, more companies are expected to continue to grow and be founded.
