While the iPhone 4S might have been a mild disappointment to many Apple faithful, it apparently spurred droves to choose the iPhone in the fourth quarter of 2011.

According to Nielsen, among recent acquirers, meaning those who said they got a new device within the past three months, 44.5 percent of those surveyed in December said they chose an iPhone, compared to just 25.1 percent in October. Furthermore, 57 percent of new iPhone owners surveyed in December said they got a 4S.

Android continues to hold the lead among all smartphone users, with 46.3 percent of all smartphone owners surveyed in the fourth quarter reporting they have an Android-based mobile phone.

Nielsen reports that as of the fourth quarter, 46 percent of U.S. mobile consumers had smartphones, and that figure is growing quickly. In fact, 60 percent of those who said they got a new device within the last three months chose a smartphone over a feature phone.