Smartphone brands that SA buys online

Cape Town - Android-powered smartphones are the most popular among South Africans who buy their phones at the Orange online store.

This is according to data released by the local online store, which specialises in lower priced smartphones as well as mobiles that are generally not available to South Africans.

Orange offers the Motorola and Google Nexus smartphones which do not have official distribution agreements in SA.

However, in terms of the Apple iPhone, Orange can only offer refurbished gadgets because of an exclusive distribution agreement with a national retailer.

And here are the top selling smartphones on the Orange online store for November and December 2014:

November 2014

1)      Motorola Moto G (2nd Gen)
2)      Sony Xperia Z2
3)      Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini
4)      Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
5)      Google Nexus 5
6)      Motorola Moto G (1st Gen) 4G
7)      Sony Xperia E3
8)      Sony Xperia Z3
9)      Acer Liquid E700
10)   Huawei Ascend P7

December 2014

1)   Motorola Moto G (2nd Gen)
2)   Google Nexus 5
3)   Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
4)   Huawei Ascend P7
5)   Motorola Moto G (1st Gen) 4G
6)   Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
7)   LG G3
8)   CAT B100
9)   Acer Liquid E700
10)   Sony Xperia Z2

Android market

Research revealed by an expert indicates that South Africans are increasingly shifting to smartphones equipped with Google's Android operating system.

World Wide Worx Managing Director Arthur Goldstuck told attendees at a Sony Mobile event in Johannesburg last week that South Africa is projected to have 23.6 million smartphones by the end of 2015. About half of these devices will be equipped with Android, Goldstuck added.

“Thanks to the low-cost Android phones that are now coming onto the market that might be an even higher number," Goldstuck said.

"Clearly, at this stage, South Africa is becoming an Android market," he said.

Growing sales

Blake Levitan, the country manager of Orange Horizons in South Africa, told Fin24 that the online platform has found success with a broad range of shoppers looking to snap up devices at lower cost.

"Since its launch in South Africa in early 2013 the Orange online store has done exceptionally well, exceeding expectations. We believe that this is a result of the Orange online store appealing to the needs of not only the tech savvy consumers but also first time online shoppers looking to buy from a trusted source."

Orange is attempting to sell devices at competitive prices in SA as well.

For example, the Huawei Mate 7 phablet costs R5 670, and the Sony Xperia Z3 costs R6 930 on Orange.

Orange sells a number of smartphones, except the latest Apple iPhone. (Duncan Alfreds, Fin24)

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