Huawei is quickly taking a larger share of the global smartphone market, even as it faces allegations including violating US sanctions. The Chinese company's shipments last year brought it nearly even with the world's number-two handset maker, Apple.
US research firm IDC says South Korea's Samsung Electronics kept the top share of 20.8 percent.
Apple was in second place with a 14.9 percent share. Huawei's share grew rapidly over the year to lift it into the number-three slot with 14.7 percent.
Chinese firms that offer low-priced smartphones also saw rapidly expanding sales. Xiaomi came in fourth with 8.7 percent and Oppo fifth with 8.1 percent.
IDC says a total of 1.4 billion smartphones were shipped in 2018. That's down about 4 percent from the previous year.
It's the second decline in a row. The main reason is a drop of sales in China. IDC expects shipments to fall again this year, as the market is already saturated.
NHK
