Apple’s iPhone 6 was the best-selling smartphone in Taiwan in December, taking the top three places and accounting for 26 per cent of the sales volume, according to data from retail channels.

Asus was number two and Samsung was number three.

The iPhone 6 64GB was the number one selling smartphone, followed by the iPhone 6 Plus 64GB and the iPhone 6 16GB, DigiTimes reported.

Apple accounted for 53 per cent of the smartphone market’s sales value in December. Samsung was in second position and HTC third.

Sales are expected to remain strong until the Chinese New Year holidays, which begin on February 18.

In Japan Apple’s share of the smartphone market rose to more than 50 per cent in October and November (up from about 20 per cent from May to August), Counterpoint Research reported. In South Korea Apple’s market share increased to 33 per cent in November – up from below 10 per cent between May and October.

The ratio of iPhone 6 to iPhone 6 Plus devices in circulation in China is now estimated at 60:40. Based on data usage patterns, AppLovin estimates that in the US the ratio was 75:25 as of 7 January. That ratio is up from 65:35 in China and 80:20 in the US when AppLovin first estimated the split in November.