Apple Inc. has taken the pole position in global smartphone shipments in the fourth quarter, confirming the current strength of the iPhone cycle. Apple Reigns Supreme Cupertino’s share of worldwide smartphone shipments stood at 22 percent in the fourth quarter, according to a preliminary report from Canalys. That’s an increase from the 14 percent market share the iPhone held in the third quarter, and reclaims Apple’s top spot in terms of smartphone shipments after a 3-year hiatus. Apple’s performance was driven by stellar iPhone 13 shipments, the firm said. “Apple saw unprecedented iPhone performance in Mainland China, with aggressive pricing for its flagship devices keeping the value proposition strong,” Canalys analyst Sanyam Chaurasia noted. The company was forced to cut production in the quarter due to shortages of key components and could not make enough iPhones to meet demand, the analyst added. In prioritized markets, it maintained adequate delivery times, but in …