A new report from tar rldpanel ComTech says that Android devices as a group outsold the ione in the U.S. during the three months ending nuary 2013, with their share of total sales rising to nearly 50%.

The report, based on the results of tar’s ongoing consumer panel research, saw U.S. Android sales rise a little more than 6% compared to the same period one year ago, while iOS lost just less than 5%, finishing at about 46%.

Sprint customers were particularly likely to buy Android devices during the studied time frame, according to the study—to the tune of 72% of all smartphone sales.

tar says this was due in part to a holiday price break on the popular Samsung Galaxy S III, which sold for as little as $99 on that carrier. On average, Sprint smartphone buyers paid $95 for Android devices, compared to $146 for iones. The previous period’s figures were much closer, according to the report, at $127 $130, respectively.)

Sprint remained in third place among carriers in smartphone sales at 14%, while AT&T took second with 28% Verizon led with 35%.

tar’s findings tallied roughly with a recent comScore report on overall market share, which found that Android users made up 53% of all U.S. smartphone subscribers, compared to iOS’ 36%, during the fourth quarter of 2012.

Android could easily exp upon its gains in the near future, as the highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S IV is set for release in mid-h, the company confirmed this weekend, new devices featured at this week’s Mobile rld Congress hit the market.