![Apple Is Now the World's Third Biggest Phone Manufacturer [REPORT]](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/archives/009ATtc5Jj544JNe33t1jJW/hero-image.fill.size_1248x702.v1647020641.jpg)
According to IDC's numbers, Apple shipped 37 million units in Q4 2011, which secured it 8.7% market share, behind Nokia's 26.6% and Samsung's 22%. Next is LG Electronics, which has narrowly beaten Chinese manufacturer ZTE for the fourth spot.
On a yearly basis, the list looks very similar: Nokia holds the top spot with a 27% market share, followed by Samsung with 21.3%, Apple with 6.0%, LG with 5.7% and ZTE with 4.3%.
Of course, the numbers alone don't tell the entire story. Nokia has been steadily losing market share in the past couple years, and with the Finnish giant's boss Jorma Ollila recently warning that Nokia's progress will be slow throughout a significant part of 2012, Nokia might not sit in the front seat next year.
On the other end of the spectrum, by far the biggest gainer is Apple, which doubled its market share year-over-year thanks to great iPhone 4S sales.
Overall, the phone market has grown 11.1% in 2011, says IDC, down from 18.7% year-over-year growth experienced in 2010. But there's more good news for Apple, which only produces smartphones: IDC expects "continued double-digit growth" on the smartphone front.
Read IDC's full report here.