(REUTERS) - Apple increased its market share in the second quarter when global smartphone sales grew at the slowest pace since 2013, according to market research firm Gartner.

The iPhone maker's share of the worldwide smartphone sales market rose to 14.6 per cent in the quarter from 12.2 per cent a year earlier.

Rival Samsung Electronics's share fell to 21.9 per cent from 26.2 per cent, Gartner said on Thursday.