iPhone 4S Outsold by Surprising Competitor

comScore has a surprising report for Apple and Samsung fans everywhere. In 2011, the iPhone 3GS outsold the iPhone 4S, as well as every single Apple competitor – Nokia NOK, Motorola MMI, Research in Motion RIMM, and even Samsung. How is this possible? That's the question that will be on our minds for months to come now that comScore SCOR has released its 2012 Mobile Future in Focus report (via MacDailyNews). comScore claims that in 2011, the top five smartphones in the United States were:

1. iPhone 4
2. iPhone 3GS
3. iPhone 4S
4. BlackBerry Curve 8530
5. Evo 4G

In Europe, the top five smartphones were:

1. iPhone 4
2. iPhone 3GS
3. Galaxy Ace S5830
4. Galaxy S II
5. iPhone 4S

These numbers conflict with other reports, which suggest that Samsung could be the true leader in Europe. However, comScore's research looks at individual models of each phone instead of the market as a whole. Thus, it makes Samsung – which manufactures numerous iterations of each phone – look less popular than Apple, Research in Motion, and HTC. In reality, Samsung is the largest smartphone maker in most of the world. Still, this doesn't explain how the iPhone 3GS could take the number-two spot in America and in Europe. How is that possible? While there are obviously consumers who chose to purchase the iPhone 4 last year instead of the 4S, who is actually buying the 3GS? I don't know anyone who “upgraded” to Apple's ancient model. That doesn't mean there aren't people buying the 3GS. But if I don't personally know anyone who bought the 3GS in 2011, and if my colleagues don't either, where are these consumers? When I see someone using an iPhone, it's never the 3GS – it's almost always the iPhone 4 or 4S. Follow me @LouisBedigian