Sales of Apple’s iPhone 6 in China in Q1 are expected to remain at the same high level as in Q4 – 15-20 million units – and account for a third of total global shipments of the smartphone.

DigiTimes, citing sources at upstream suppliers, reported that global shipments are set to remain above 50 million units in Q1, which also is the same record level as in Q4.

Sources at analogue IC suppliers said sales of the iPhone 6 in China and other emerging markets have exceeded expectations, with no let up in demand since the launch in September.

Looking to Q2, the sources estimated that 45-50 million iPhone 6 devices again will be shipped worldwide, with China contributing about one-third of the total.

Apple shipped 74.5 million smartphones worldwide and captured a 19.6 per cent market share in Q4 2014, increasing from 17.6 per cent a year earlier, while Samsung grabbed the same share – but falling from 29.6 per cent in Q4 2013.

DigiTimes reported that sources at Taiwan-based IC design houses have said orders from Android device customers have been weaker than expected. Sales of Android-based smartphones have not picked up, except for Samsung, which has started to see growth in sales of its new Galaxy S6, the sources said.