Apple Inc.'s iPhone 5s maintained its selling power, and it outsold all other mobile devices during March among the four major cellular carriers in the Untied States (U.S.).

According to Canaccord Genuity analyst T. Michael Walkley, the iPhone 5s was the most popular handset with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. What is notable is the iPhone 5s was the most expensive device compared to most of the other handsets.

Within AT&T, the iPhone 5s can be purchased with a two-year agreement for approximately $200, $300, and $400 depending on the internal storage model. After the iPhone 5s, Samsung and its Google Android mobile operating system was dominate as it claimed second and third place with the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 respectively. The prices for the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 are relatively low compared to the models of the iPhone 5s. The Galaxy S4's prices range between $100 and $250, while the Galaxy Note 3 cost $300.

Sprint featured similar sales as AT&T with the iPhone 5s outselling the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3, respectively. The cost for the Galaxy Note 3, however, is higher at nearly $350.

The iPhone 5s' streak continued with T-Mobile despite selling the Apple smartphone at its off-contract price of $648, $748, and $848 for the 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models, respectively. The Galaxy S4 also placed second with an average price of $624. Unlike AT&T and Sprint, the Galaxy Note 3 did not rank third. The LG G2 placed third with America's fourth-largest mobile carrier with price tag of $448.

With Verizon, the iPhone 5s placed first with the same prices as AT&T and Sprint. Unlike AT&T and Sprint, the Galaxy S4 failed to maintain second place as it did in February. The HTC One M8 made its debut at second place with an $200 price tag. The Galaxy S4 fell to third place. The previous third place mobile handset was the Galaxy Note 3, but the device fell out of the top three.

Despite Apple's first place reign, Walkley stated the iPhone company could encounter sales troubles due to the release of the HTC One M8 and upcoming Galaxy S5.

"We believe Apple will win back meaningful high-end market share during H2/C2014 based on our belief new iPhones with larger screen sizes could create a strong upgrade cycle among Apple's loyal base," he stated, via Apple Insider.

Walkley's reference to larger screen smartphones may indicate that Apple could reclaim first place among the major mobile carriers with the rumored iPhone 6. A second possible advantage for Apple is the early-upgrade options for consumers.

"With our surveys indicating strong customer loyalty for the iPhone, we believe Apple could strongly benefit from a broader adoption of these early upgrade plans," the Canaccord Genuity note to investors read. "Further, with these plans facilitating annual upgrades to new smartphones, we believe these plans in the coming years could in fact boost iPhone replacement sales and help Apple grow sales in the more saturated and mature developed countries that sell a greater mix of high-end smartphones."

__

For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO

Related Article:

- Latin America Tech Trends: Rise of Smartphones, Tablets, and Internet in the Region