Samsung is expected to widen its lead over Apple in global smartphone sales this year with 35 per cent growth, helped by a broad product line-up, according to market researcher Strategy Analytics.

Apple could roll out a smaller, cheaper “iPhone Mini” next year to grab market share by targeting demand from users of lower-end smartphones, Strategy said. “We expect Samsung to slightly extend its lead over Apple this year because of its larger multi-tier product portfolio,” Neil Mawston, Strategy executive director said.

Global smartphone shipments will jump 27 per cent to 875 million this year, slowing from last year’s torrid 41 per cent pace as growth is easing in many key markets such as North America, China, the developed economies of Asia, and Western Europe, Mr Mawston added. – (Reuters)