Smartphone sales grew 20% during the third quarter as momentum continued to swing towards emerging markets and low-cost smartphones, according to Gartner.
Total mobile phone sales were flat during the quarter, Gartner said, with a 25% slump in feature phone sales being counterbalanced by smartphone growth.
Emerging markets recorded some of their highest ever growths in smartphone shipments, but in more mature markets it was a mixed bag. Sales in the US grew 18.9% but the Western Europe region saw a 5.2% decline.
Samsung remained the world's top smartphone vendor, selling 73.2 million units, but its market share fell from 32.1% a year earlier to 24.4% by the end of the third quarter.
Xiaomi by contrast jumped into the top five list of smartphone vendors for the first time, with its market share increasing from 1.5% to 5.2% during the same period. Chinese vendors now hold positions 3-5 on the top five list, with Huawei in third place and Lenovo in fifth position.
“With the ability to undercut cost and offer top specs Chinese brands are well positioned to expand in the premium phone market too and address the needs of upgrade users that aspire to premium phones, but cannot afford Apple or Samsung high-end products,” Gartner research director Roberta Cozza said.
Second-ranked Apple improved its global market share to 12.7% from 12.1% thanks to sales of its new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.