<p>Apple Inc cornered nearly a quarter of the global smartphone market in the fourth quarter, making it the world's biggest seller, while shipments for Huawei plunged as U.S sanctions against it took effect.</p>.<p>Data from research firm IDC showed Apple's shipments surged 22% to a record 90.1 million phones in the quarter, giving it global market share of 23.4%.</p>.<p>The shipment data comes after the US tech giant reported record holiday quarter sales on Wednesday, with revenue crossing $100 billion for the first time.</p>.<p>Apple shipped its iPhone 12 lineup, its first 5G-enabled devices, several weeks later than usual, but an expanded number of models and new look tapped pent up demand for upgrades, especially in China.</p>.<p>Sales in Greater China, which includes Hong Kong and Taiwan, surged 57% over the quarter.</p>.<p>"We had two of the top three selling smartphones in urban China," CEO Tim Cook told Reuters in an interview, adding that "upgraders in particular set an all-time record in China."</p>.<p>Apple took the top spot from Samsung Electronics which shipped 73.9 million devices over the quarter, a year-on-year increase of 6.2%.</p>.<p>Huawei shipments tumbled 42.4% in the quarter to 32.3 million, IDC said.</p>.<p>The Chinese tech powerhouse has been battered after the previous U.S. administration blacklisted it on national security grounds, preventing overseas companies from supplying it with key parts including semiconductors.</p>.<p>Huawei is now in early-stage talks to sell its premium smartphone brands P and Mate, two people with direct knowledge of the matter have told Reuters, a move that could see the company eventually exit from the high-end smartphone-making business.</p>
<p>Apple Inc cornered nearly a quarter of the global smartphone market in the fourth quarter, making it the world's biggest seller, while shipments for Huawei plunged as U.S sanctions against it took effect.</p>.<p>Data from research firm IDC showed Apple's shipments surged 22% to a record 90.1 million phones in the quarter, giving it global market share of 23.4%.</p>.<p>The shipment data comes after the US tech giant reported record holiday quarter sales on Wednesday, with revenue crossing $100 billion for the first time.</p>.<p>Apple shipped its iPhone 12 lineup, its first 5G-enabled devices, several weeks later than usual, but an expanded number of models and new look tapped pent up demand for upgrades, especially in China.</p>.<p>Sales in Greater China, which includes Hong Kong and Taiwan, surged 57% over the quarter.</p>.<p>"We had two of the top three selling smartphones in urban China," CEO Tim Cook told Reuters in an interview, adding that "upgraders in particular set an all-time record in China."</p>.<p>Apple took the top spot from Samsung Electronics which shipped 73.9 million devices over the quarter, a year-on-year increase of 6.2%.</p>.<p>Huawei shipments tumbled 42.4% in the quarter to 32.3 million, IDC said.</p>.<p>The Chinese tech powerhouse has been battered after the previous U.S. administration blacklisted it on national security grounds, preventing overseas companies from supplying it with key parts including semiconductors.</p>.<p>Huawei is now in early-stage talks to sell its premium smartphone brands P and Mate, two people with direct knowledge of the matter have told Reuters, a move that could see the company eventually exit from the high-end smartphone-making business.</p>