San Francisco, May 11 (IANS): Apple iPhone 7 has emerged as the worlds best-selling smartphone model in the first quarter of 2017, with an estimated shipment of 21.5 million units that captured six per cent market-share worldwide, a new report said.

Apple iPhone 7 Plus, with a bigger screen and higher price, shipped 17.4 million units for second place and 5 per cent market-share worldwide in first quarter of 2017, according to market research firm Strategy Analytics.

"Global smartphone shipments reached a robust 353.3 million units in first quarter of 2017. The top-five most popular models together accounted for 1 in 6 of all smartphones shipped worldwide during the quarter," said Neil Mawston, Executive Director Strategy Analytics, in a statement on Wednesday.

Apple today accounts for two of the world's top five smartphone models.

Meanwhile, Apple iPhone 5S has emerged as the top premium smartphone in seven states of India while other versions of iOS-driven devices occupy the top five premium spots in non-metro states.

OPPO R9s was declared as the star performer, shipping 9 million units globally and becoming the world's third most popular smartphone model.

OPPO R9s shipped 8.9 million units for third place and 3 per cent market-share worldwide in first quarter and is a popular brand in China and growing rapidly across India.

"Samsung was still gearing up for the launch of its new Galaxy S8 portfolio, but managed to get two models in the top five during first quarter of 2017," noted Linda Sui, Director Strategy Analytics.

Samsung Galaxy J3 captured 2 per cent global smartphone market-share and fourth place, while Galaxy J5 took 1 per cent global share to become the world's fifth most popular model.

"Samsung's J3 and J5 are midrange devices that sell very well across Europe and Asia and they helped to offset Samsung's troubles with the Note 7 battery fiasco in the quarter," Sui added.