



Apple is now the number one smartphone manufacturer in the world (surpassing Samsung for the first time in last five years), according to a new report from market research firm Strategy Analytics.





The report reveals that the iPhone maker shipped a total of 78.3 million smartphones in Q4 2016, capturing 17.8% market share.

According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global smartphone shipments grew 3 percent annually to hit a record 1.5 billion units in 2016. Apple iPhone recaptured first position with 18 percent global smartphone marketshare in Q4 2016, while OPPO grew 99 percent annually and was the star performer.





Global smartphone shipments grew an improved 9 percent annually from 403.0 million units in Q4 2015 to 438.7 million in Q4 2016. This quarter was the smartphone industry’s fastest growth rate for over a year. Smartphone growth is recovering slightly due to stronger demand in major developing markets like China and Africa. Global smartphone shipments grew 3 percent annually from 1.44 billion in full-year 2015 to a record 1.49 billion in 2016.





Apple shipped 78.3 million smartphones worldwide and captured 18 percent marketshare in Q4 2016, rising a steady 5 percent annually from 74.8 million units in Q4 2015. This was the iPhone’s best performance for over a year, as Apple capitalized on Samsung’s recent missteps. Samsung shipped 77.5 million smartphones worldwide in Q4 2016, dipping 5 percent annually from 81.3 million units in Q4 2015. Samsung lost momentum in the quarter as a result of its Note 7 battery fiasco.





Samsung captured 18 percent share for the quarter and 21 percent share for the full year, its lowest level since 2011. Samsung will be banking on the rumored Galaxy S8 model in a few weeks’ time to reignite growth and return to the top spot in quarterly smartphone shipments. On an annualized basis, Samsung maintained first position with 309 million units shipped worldwide in 2016.





On the other hand, the South Korean tech giant managed to ship a total of 77.5 million units in the quarter, which translates into 17.7% share of the market.





"This was the iPhone’s best performance for over a year, as Apple capitalized on Samsung’s recent missteps," the report said. " Samsung lost momentum in the quarter as a result of its Note7 battery fiasco."





China's Huawei, Oppo, and vivo rounded up the top 5 with 10.2%, 6.7%, and 5.8% share, respectively.



