According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics (www.strategyanalytics.com), global smartphone shipments grew 10 percent annually to reach 354 million units in the third quarter of 2015. Samsung grew its smartphone shipments six percent and finally returned to positive growth for the first time in over a year.

Global smartphone shipments grew just 10 percent annually from 323.4 million units in the third quarter (Q3) 2014 to 354.2 million in Q3 2015, according to the research. This quarter was the smartphone industry's slowest growth rate for six years, since the depths of the global economic recession back in 2009. Smartphone growth is slowing due to increasing penetration maturity in major markets of the US, Europe and China.

Samsung shipped 83.8 million smartphones worldwide in Q3 2015, growing 6 percent annually from 79.2 million units in Q3 2014. Samsung has finally returned to positive smartphone growth for the first time in six quarters since Q1 2014. Its smartphone division is back on the road to recovery.

Apple shipped 48.0 million smartphones worldwide and captured 14 percent marketshare in Q3 2015, rising from 12 percent in Q3 2014. Apple's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models remained popular worldwide, especially in China and the United States.