The world is collectively buying more factory-fresh smartphones again, with Chinese homegrown brands driving shipments. Meanwhile, Apple reported a near-double-digit decline, and Samsung also saw declines, albeit at a slower pace.

Preliminary sales data for calendar Q1 was published by IDC today, showing that total handset shipments to the channel rose 7.8 percent year-on-year to 289.4 million – marking the third consecutive quarter of expansion.

The industry is "not completely out of the woods," the analyst said, as many households continue to stretch their budgets amid a strained economy in many parts of the world, although the upward direction of travel is clear.

Samsung jumped back to the top of the market, according to IDC, after its shipments declined more slowly than Apple. Samsung fell 0.7 percent in the first quarter to 60.1 million, and Apple fell 9.6 percent to 50.1 million iPhones.