Samsung tops Apple in brand perception in the U.S.

Samsung topped Apple in brand perception in the U.S., placing itself within the top 10 list for the first time.

According to U.K. online market research firm YouGov`s corporate brand index rankings Monday, Samsung brand ranked fifth surpassing Apple that was placed the sixth. Since YouGov began releasing the rankings in 2012, Samsung had failed to be listed in top 10 in the U.S. It ranked 11th in 2013.

YouGov explained that Samsung rolled out new products in an amazing speed. It added that in particular, Samsung pursued aggressive marketing ridiculing rival Apple`s iPhone year round, and released Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge and Gear VR ahead of new iPhones.

Amazon topped the list in the U.S. for the second straight year. YouGov said more than 10 million people around the world subscribed to Amazon Prime (a premium membership service offering movies, TV programs, and music streaming services) in Christmas season last year. Another online firm YouTube grabbed No.2, and Netflix, an online content streaming firm, ranked No.3.

Samsung listed itself in top 10 in the biggest number of countries among 15 countries surveyed. The brand was placed within top 10 in 10 countries. Samsung ranked No.1 in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. It stood at No. 2 in France, and No. 3 in Germany, Norway and the Netherlands, respectively. In Saudi Arabia, it grabbed first ranking for the third straight year.

However, Samsung`s rankings in the U.K., Denmark and Finland fell and dropped off from top 10 whereas it had maintained within top 10 in these countries in 2013. In Japan, it failed to enter the top 10 for the second straight year.

Apple and Google ranked within top 10 in nine countries, respectively. YouTube and Netflix followed by placing themselves within top 10.

For this year, YouGov asked 1.2 million consumers in 15 countries including the U.S., the U.K. Brazil and Japan whether they heard anything about the brand in the last two weeks, through advertising, news or word of mouth, and asking whether it was positive or negative. The score ranges from -100 to 100 with a zero score equaling a neutral position.