Phablet

The global smartphone market grew 9.1 percent in the first quarter of this year, according to Gartner technology research. Apple and Samsung were the top smartphone makers but growth was driven by a trio of Chinese firms.

A total of 380 million smartphones were shipped worldwide between January and March, compared with 348.2 million during the same period in 2016.

South Korean giant Samsung Electronics posted an 8.0 percent fall in second quarter net profit July 30 and promised "flexible" pricing of its new flagship smartphone after less than stellar sales contributed to a slump in its mobile unit's earnings.

Samsung Electronics posted a near 40 percent fall in first quarter net profit April 29, missing analyst estimates despite a surge in memory chip demand that cushioned a slump in smartphone sales.