Apple hits record Q3 iPhone shipments, narrowly trails Samsung globally

Apple's iPhone just had its best-ever third quarter, nearly surpassing Samsung for the top spot in global smartphone shipments, according to a report by Canalys.

The research firm revealed that iPhone shipments surged, buoyed by strong demand for the iPhone 15 series and previous models.

Apple achieved its highest third-quarter volume to date and has never been closer to leading the global smartphone market in a Q3 than now,

said Runar Bjørhovde, a Canalys analyst.

Now both Apple and Samsung have 18% of the global market share, with Samsung still slightly ahead of Apple.

Apple's strong position in regions such as North America and Europe, as well as the market's shift to premium devices, contributed to the outstanding results. With the upcoming release of the iPhone 16 and Apple Intelligence, the tech giant is poised for an impressive holiday season and potentially even stronger results in the fourth quarter.