1.1593649-1005926187
Shoppers check out the iPhone 6. The device accounts for 4.9 per cent of total handsets registered on UAE networks. Image Credit: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News Archive

Dubai: Apple’s iPhone 6 has become the most commonly used smartphone in the UAE during the second quarter of this year, according to a report by Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the UAE.

The device has 4.9 per cent of total handsets registered on UAE networks, followed by iPhone 5s with 3.5 per cent, Samsung Galaxy S Duos (2.9 per cent), iPhone 5 (2 per cent), Samsung S III (1.8 per cent), Samsung Note 3 LTE (1.5 per cent), iPhone 6 Plus (1.3 per cent), Samsung S4 LTE (1.3 per cent), iPhone 4S (1.2 per cent), iPhone 4 (0.9 per cent), Samsung S III (0.8 per cent) NEO and Samsung Note 4 (0.8 per cent).

According to the report, 67 per cent of handsets registered on the UAE’s networks were smartphones during the period between April 1 and June 30, a figure that has been constantly increasing over time.

The report shows that Samsung replaced Nokia as being the most used handset brand during the quarter. The report indicates that 32.6 per cent of all handsets registered on UAE networks were manufactured by Samsung, a figure that has been steadily increasing over time.

Nokia handsets have a presence of 31.5 per cent on all networks. The third most popular handsets used in UAE is manufactured by Apple with a share of 14.2 per cent on the UAE networks. This was followed by Blackberry (4 per cent), Lenovo (2.5 per cent), HTC (1.7 per cent), Sony (1.5 per cent), Huawei (1.5 per cent) and LG (0.9 per cent).

The newly emerged manufacturer Lenovo surpassed famous brands such as HTC, Sony and LG in one quarter. With the exception of both Blackberry and Nokia, all major handset brands witnessed increases in the market shares.

In terms of specific handset models (including handsets that are not smartphones), the iPhone 6 was the most popular mobile handset. The iPhone 5s (3.5 per cent) was the second most popular handset followed Galaxy S Duos 2 (2.9 per cent), Nokia 108 (2.3 per cent), iPhone 5 (2 per cent), Samsung S III (1.8 per cent), Nokia E5 (1.5 per cent), Samsung Note 3 LTE (1.5 per cent), Nokia 1280/1282 (1.5 per cent), iPhone 6 Plus (1.3 per cent), Samsung S4 LTE (1.3 per cent), Nokia 101/1010 (1.2 per cent), iPhone 4S (1.2 per cent), Samsung S III NEO (0.9 per cent), iPhone 4 (0.8 per cent), Samsung Note 4 LTE (0.8 per cent) and Samsung S4 (0.7 per cent).

“Android was the most commonly used operating system in the UAE, followed by iOS operating system, while the use of Symbian has been declining over time,” the report said.