Samsung Regains Smartphone Crown From Apple

Samsung has regained its position as the largest smartphone maker in the world from Apple and has usurped Nokia as the world’s largest mobile phone maker.

The Korean manufacturer also posted record profits during the first quarter of 2012, with the popularity of its Galaxy range of smartphones a major factor.

Double Crown

According to the Financial Times, Samsung sold 44.5 million smartphones during the period, which equates to 30.6 percent of the global market. Apple posted a £7.2 billion net profit earlier this week, with record iPhone and iPad sales a major factor. The Cupertino-based company shipped 35.1 million iPhones, but this 24.1 percent market share was not enough to retain top spot. Analysts say that the two companies control 90 percent of the high-end smartphone market.

In total, Samsung sold 93.4 million handsets, or 25.4 percent of the market, during the same period, ending Nokia’s 14-year reign as the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer. The title had been something to cling onto for the beleaguered Finnish manufacturer, whose recent struggles have been compounded by a lukewarm consumer reception to its Lumia range of Windows Phones.

However it was claimed that the delay to the UK launch of the Lumia 900 was due to “overwhelming demand” for the device in the US.

Samsung also reported a record quarterly profit of $4.5 billion (£2.8bn) during the period between January and April. The company has high hopes of its good fortune continuing, with the arrival of the successor to its flagship smartphone, the Galaxy SII, just around the corner.

How much do you know about the iPhone’s rivals? Find out with our quiz!