Nokia was third with a 14.4 percent share.

Apple became the world's largest smartphone vendor by volume with 18.5 percent market share in the second quarter, ahead of Samsung and Nokia, according to Strategy Analytics. Samsung also overtook Nokia in the second quarter to become the world's second largest smartphone vendor with a 17.5 percent share to Nokia's 15.2 percent.

Samsung shipped 27.8 million units, up from 7.5 million units in the same quarter last year, while Apple shipped 17.1 million units as customers and operators waited for the fourth-quarter launch of the iPhone 4S amidst stiff competition from Samsung's Galaxy S2 model, and volatile economic conditions in several key countries, Strategy Analytics said.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Global smartphone shipments grew 44 percent annually to reach a record 117 million units in the third quarter, the research firm said.