iPhones account for 42% of smartphones owned in the U.S.

Apple’s iPhone is owned by more than 40% of smartphone users in the U.S., giving the Cupertino tech company a larger share of the national smartphone market than any of its rivals, according to a report Thursday.

Apple’s U.S. iPhone ownership grew from 35% during the fourth quarter of 2012 to 42% during the same period in 2013, according to a study by NPD Group.

The study found that Samsung came in second place, with 26% of smartphone users reporting they own a device by the South Korean tech giant -- up from 22% during the fourth quarter of 2012.

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Apple and Samsung combine to represent 68% of the smartphones owned in the U.S., placing the two companies well ahead of any competitors. While Apple and Samsung grew their ownerships, Motorola, HTC and BlackBerry saw their numbers drop.

According to NPD Group, HTC had the biggest drop, with ownership falling from 12% in 2012 to just 7% in 2013. That was followed by Motorola, which fell from 11% ownership in 2012 to 8% in 2013.

Only 5% of U.S. smartphone users reported owning a BlackBerry during the fourth quarter of 2012, but that number fell further in 2013, to 2%.

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