Samsung's grip on the smartphone crown lasted so long that it seemed unbreakable. The South Korean tech giant achieved 14 unbroken years as the world's top shipper by volume. That pattern, however, was finally broken as Apple reclaimed the number‑one spot last year. According to full-year data from the Hong Kong-based Counterpoint Research, Apple achieved a 20% share of global shipments, versus Samsung’s 19%.  Yes, it's razor-close, but some analysts believe this could mark the beginning of a