Apple narrows gap with Samsung in global smartphone sales

Apple gained ground on smartphone leader Samsung Electronics in global sales during the second quarter. But the market recorded its slowest growth in two years, according to market researcher Gartner.The iPhone maker sold 48 million smartphones in the second quarter, up 36%. Samsung sales dipped 5.3%, to 72 million. Apple market share increased from 12% during the same time period last year to 14.6%, while Samsung share dipped to 21.9% from more than 26%.Apple’s double-digit growth in the high-end segment continued to negatively impact its rivals’ premium phone sales and profit margins,” Gartner said in a statement accompanying the report. “Many vendors had to realign their portfolios to remain competitive in the midrange and low-end smartphone segments.