Samsung’s Galaxy S3 Now Top Selling Smartphone, Even Over The iPhone

Earlier this month, we told you about Samsung's great success with the Galaxy S III, having sold 30 million devices worldwide. Obviously, that's quite the feat by itself. Now, new data from research firm Strategy Analytics indicates the Galaxy SIII has become the world's best-selling smartphone in the last quarter.

The Galaxy SIII overtook Apple's iPhone to become the world's best-selling smartphone. The iPhone has dominated the chat for more than two years. Estimates from Strategy Analytics indicate Samsung sold 18 million Galaxy SIII smartphones in the third quarter while Apple iPhone 4S sales were 16.2 million.

Although Samsung has had great success with the Galaxy SIII, it's likely the smartphone won't remain at the top for long: analyst Neil Mawston expects the new iPhone 5 will knock the Galaxy SIII from the No. 1 spot for the current quarter.

Thanks in good part to the strong sales numbers of the Galaxy SIII, Samsung was able to post a record $7.3 billion operating profit in the July-September quarter.