Samsung shipped 43 million smartphones in Q1 2012, beating Apple’s 35 million and wiping the floor with HTC (6.9 million down from 10.1 million Q4 2011) and Motorola (5.1 million).  HTC’s sharp decline is being blamed on a lack of demand for their LTE devices.  Even Nokia and RIM are looking healthy in comparison, having shipped 11.9 and 11.1 million respectively.

One consideration with these figures, is what constitutes a smartphone.  HTC have said they don’t want to destroy their brand image by pursuing volume sales of entry-level smartphones.  Hopefully this strategy will remain competitive with the likes of Samsung who ship handsets in every conceivable form factor and price point.

via ars technica