Apple passes Samsung to lead global smartphone market in Q4

(Telecompaper) Apple surpassed Samsung to take the top position in the global smartphone in the fourth quarter of 2016, according to research from Strategy Analytics. Apple had an estimated 17.8 percent of the market, after shipping 78.3 million iPhones, while Samsung took 17.7 percent with 77.5 million phones shipped. Overall the market improved to 9 percent annual growth in Q4, for total volume of 4338.7 million units. Over the full year, unit sales were up just 3 percent, but still set a new