Apple

Apple has scored a victory in the U.S. with its biggest market share ever, according to data out today from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.

Looking at the 12 weeks ending November 25, the research firm pegged Apple's U.S. smartphone share at 53.3 percent, thanks in part to strong sales of the iPhone 5. That number was up from 35.8 percent a year prior. And it's likely to grow.

"Apple has reached a major milestone in the U.S. by passing the 50 percent share mark for the first time, with further gains expected to be made during December," Dominic Sunnebo, Kantar's global consumer insight director, said in a statement.

At the same time, Android's U.S. market share showed a drop to 41.9 percent from 52.9 percent a year prior.

But the picture in Europe wasn't as sunny for Apple. Over the same 12-week period, Samsung continued to reign as the No. 1 smartphone maker with a 44.3 percent share across Europe's top five countries. That left Apple with 25.3 percent of the market and HTC, Sony, and Nokia battling for the third spot.

Overall, Android phones dominated Europe with a 61 percent share, up from 51.8 percent for the same period a year ago.

Sales of Nokia's Windows phones remain subdued in the U.S., according to Kantar.

The company is trying to make headway in the U.K. by offering prepaid deals on the Lumia 610 and 800. But Nokia is facing challenges drawing in the younger crowd.

"Over the past six months, just 28 percent of Nokia Lumia 800 sales have come from under 35's, compared with 42 percent of all smartphone sales," Sunnebo said. "With the Nokia Lumia 920 being one of the few handsets available on [mobile carrier] EE 4G, new tariffs may help to change this by attracting early adopters in the coming months."

Kantar Worldpanel ComTech compiles its data through consumer panels from across 12 different countries.