It has only just been released here in the UK, but according to a poll compiled by uSwitch, the Sony Xperia Z is now more popular than the iPhone 5.
Retaining the top spot is the Samsung Galaxy S3 (though I’m sure this could change with the arrival of the S4), whilst the Xperia Z has snuck into second place, pushing the iPhone 5 into third.
The uSwitch Tech Mobile Tracker (which compiled the results) collates and aggregates data based on clicks and sales on the site each month as well as data taken from sister sites; therefore it gives a pretty good overview of what consumers are buying.
So why has the Xperia Z charted so well? It’s thought the aggressive pricing of the smartphone has played a part. Plus many retailers bundled the phone with speakers of headphones, making it seem a more attractive package.
Speaking on the Xperia Z’s popularity, Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch, said:
It has the winning combination of being packed full of features and priced right. It’s about time the iPhone 5 and the S3 were challenged. But the anticipated launch of the new Galaxy handset later this month could make it hard for Sony to build on this early success.
So could the Xperia Z spell the start of a come back for Sony? Or are they doomed to be the smartphone jokers?
Aggressive pricing ?
I know there have been various freebee offers floating around but those were only for a few thousand handsets spread across a variety of channels all of which were used up on the first day the phone was on sale.
The Nexus 4 is an example of aggressive pricing but it is under half the price of the Xperia Z.
The Xperia Z is priced pretty much on a par with the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the iPhone 5.
I think it’s more to do with the build quality. Makes it an easier move for iPhone users.
I think that is an element, the build quality of the Xperia Z is very high, it is a solid phone.
It could also be that the iPhone is starting to look a little dull compared to the emerging competition. The Xperia Z, HTC One and the soon to be announced Samsung Galaxy S4 all look far more interesting than the current iPhone. The prospect of this year’s iPhone being a meh fest in the form of a 5S with a slight spec bump and perhaps a few more colours is probably making people look for more exciting alternatives.
Lol being able to take pictures and shoot video underwater is preety cool as well.
How much is the Xperia Z?
List price of the Xperia Z in the UK is £529, street price is a shade under £500
List price of the Samsung Galaxy SIII is £499, it is selling for around £350-£375 from reputable retailers and as low as £249 on eBay.
I think the Xperia Z is a more desirable phone than the iPhone 5, which was a bit ‘meh’ at best. It has some truly innovative features, has good build quality and deserves some market share.
I do rate iOS and the whole iPhone ecosystem (for quality and reliability more than anything), but there’s too much else on offer these days. iPhones are too expensive.
Pricing of phones that are not iPhones have always been better (read cheaper). Generally the monthly cost of an iPhone is more than the competition and the upfront cost stays higher for longer.
The Xperia Z has started with aggressive pricing for monthly contracts, normally the top – o – the range phones will have an upfront cost on a ~£36 per month contract, looking on the mobiles.co.uk website the Xperia Z can be had on an O2 for no upfront cost, £32pm with 1gig data and unlimited texts and calls.
The SGS3 is £26 per month on 3 with unlimited data, 500 minutes and 5000 texts (Ultimate Internet 500)
The iPhone (16gig version) best contract I found was on Voda, £37 per month, 1gig data and unlimited texts and calls.
So, over the course of the 2 year contracts the SGS3 will cost £624, the Xperia Z £768 and the iPhone £888.
Those prices are all about right, the SGS3 is the oldest phone and should be the cheapest, the iPhone is an Apple product and will always be the most expensive because, well, just because it’s Apple, not because it’s the best. And the Xperia is in the middle. Although I wasn’t expecting to find it for free on a £32pm contract.
You say that Apple will always be more expensive – and I think maybe that’s the point. As far as I can see, they do not have the most desirable phone by a long shot. If somebody is not already an iPhone owner, I don’t see them switching to the iPhone for that, amongst a number of other reasons (well, a very low proportion).
So, the iPhone market will be primarily upgraders from existing iPhones. I should imagine people buying the Xperia Z will be mainly folks upgrading from SGSII and the iPhone.
I’m with you, the iPhone hasn’t been desirable since the 4 came out, the 4s and 5 have only really been updates on the 4. They have hamstrung themselves with the insistence on keeping the screen resolution the same (OK they did stretch the screen on the 5).
My daughter has an SGSII and wants her next phone to be an iPhone! I think it is because she is having problems with her phone, looks like it might have to go away for repair, she hasn’t been at all impressed with the Samsung. I have a Sony and love it, I would certainly take a Z if someone gave me one, can’t afford one unfortunately 🙁