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| Samsung's Galaxy S3 beats Apple's iPhone in 3Q sales | Samsung's Galaxy S3 beats Apple's iPhone in 3Q sales |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| South Korean electronics firm Samsung's Galaxy S3 has outsold Apple's iPhone 4S for the first time, becoming the world's best-selling smartphone, says research firm Strategy Analytics. | South Korean electronics firm Samsung's Galaxy S3 has outsold Apple's iPhone 4S for the first time, becoming the world's best-selling smartphone, says research firm Strategy Analytics. |
| Samsung sold 18 million models, compared with Apple's 16.2 million sales, in the third quarter of 2012. | Samsung sold 18 million models, compared with Apple's 16.2 million sales, in the third quarter of 2012. |
| The Galaxy S3 "has proven wildly popular with consumers and operators," said Strategy Analytics' Neil Mawston. | The Galaxy S3 "has proven wildly popular with consumers and operators," said Strategy Analytics' Neil Mawston. |
| However, Apple's new iPhone 5 is widely expected to reclaim the top sales spot. | However, Apple's new iPhone 5 is widely expected to reclaim the top sales spot. |
| Strong Galaxy smartphone sales helped Samsung report record profits in the three months to September. Net profit was 6.5tn won ($5.9bn; £3.7bn), up 91% from a year earlier. | Strong Galaxy smartphone sales helped Samsung report record profits in the three months to September. Net profit was 6.5tn won ($5.9bn; £3.7bn), up 91% from a year earlier. |
| But analysts say that one reason Samsung's phone was able to wrest the top sales spot from Apple's iPhone 4 was because many customers were waiting for the iPhone 5, which was launched during the third quarter. | But analysts say that one reason Samsung's phone was able to wrest the top sales spot from Apple's iPhone 4 was because many customers were waiting for the iPhone 5, which was launched during the third quarter. |
| The Apple iPhone 5 has already got off to a solid start and "we expect the new iPhone 5 to out-ship Samsung's Galaxy S3 in the coming fourth quarter", said Neil Mawston. | The Apple iPhone 5 has already got off to a solid start and "we expect the new iPhone 5 to out-ship Samsung's Galaxy S3 in the coming fourth quarter", said Neil Mawston. |
| "Apple should soon reclaim the title of the world's most popular smartphone model," he added. | "Apple should soon reclaim the title of the world's most popular smartphone model," he added. |
| Legal struggle | |
| Samsung and its rival Apple have been locked in a series of ongoing legal battles over patent infringement claims in various countries. | |
| In October, sales bans in the US on Samsung's Galaxy Nexus phone and its Galaxy 10.1 tablet computer were lifted, in a blow to Apple. | |
| Meanwhile, earlier this year, a US court awarded Apple $1.05bn (£652m) in damages, after ruling several of its software and design technologies had been infringed by Samsung. | |
| Samsung has challenged that verdict and called for a retrial. | |
| Analysts say that given the tremendous growth potential of the sector, the two firms' legal battle is likely to continue. |