The most popular smartphone in the US increases its lead slightly

The iPhone has slightly increased its lead as the most popular smartphone in the U.S., according to newly released data from comScore. The global leader in digital media analytics, comScore issues regular updates on key trends in the U.S. smartphone industry through its MobiLens and Mobile Metrix offerings.

Apple ranked as the top smartphone manufacturer during the three months ending in March 2015 with 42.6 percent of U.S. subscribers, a 1 point increase over Dec. 2014. Samsung came in at second place with 28.3 percent of smartphone subscribers in the U.S., losing 1.4 points of ground. In third place, LG gained 0.4 points by landing in the hands of 8.4 percent of the market.

The top smartphone platform in the U.S. is still Android, with 52.4 percent of the market share. Apple gained ground here, too, rising 1 point over December’s numbers to 42.6 percent. Android’s market share dropped 0.7 percent during the first quarter of 2015.

The increase in Apple’s numbers is modest, to be sure, but it shows that customers are still switching to iOS even though the iPhone is expected to be refreshed in the fall. It will be interesting to look at these figures again in another three months, when early results come in of the impact of Apple Watch on smartphone consumers. Cupertino is banking on interest in its new wearable device driving more sales of the iPhone, but will that actually happen? -- AppAdvice