Smartphones, tablets show Q3 growth. By Editorial Staff, E-Scrap News

Smartphone and tablet shipments worldwide continued to grow in the third quarter, new trade analysis shows.

According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), 327.6 million smartphones shipped during the third quarter of 2014. That figure is 25.2 percent higher than 2013 third-quarter shipments and 8.7 percent above 2014 second-quarter shipments.

«Despite rumors of a slowing market, smartphone shipments continue to see record-setting volumes,» said Ryan Reith, program director with IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.

Instrumental to the growth for the quarter were record-breaking shipments from the three smartphone makers behind leader Samsung and runner-up Apple. Xiaomi (up 211.3 percent), Lenovo (up 38.0 percent) and LG (up 39.8 percent) all had resounding third quarters compared with last year.

Similarly strong overall third-quarter numbers were released for global tablet shipments.

During the quarter, a total of 53.8 million tablets shipped, IDC says – up 11.5 percent compared with the same period in 2013 and 11.2 percent higher than last quarter’s showing. Apple continues to lead the tablet pack, with 22.8 percent of market share during the quarter, followed by Samsung (18.3 percent market share).

Despite slower tablet growth than last year, the new numbers suggest a strong U.S. demand for tablets, paired with back-to-school consumption, led to the high numbers.

The fourth quarter of 2014, however, may have the most to say about the state of smartphone and tablet markets. Major releases from Apple, with two new iPhone models and the iPad Air 2, and Samsung, with an update for its Note product, are likely to further push consumer upgrades around the world.