Apple has been identified as the biggest buyer of semiconductors in 2011.

The research firm Gartner revealed in its latest research that Apple ranked as the top buyer of semiconductors. Gartner also revealed that Apple increased its spending rate for semiconductors of up to 34.6 percent, and is estimated at around US$17.3 billion. This spending rate enabled Apple to claim 5.7 percent share in the worldwide market. Gartner mentioned that one of the reasons why Apple increased its spending rate for semiconductors was the fact that there was an increase in demand for Apple gadgets such as iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Air.

Korean-based firm Samsung was ranked at second place, as it has been for two years in a row. Research shows that the company increased its spending rate to 9.2 percent. Samsung spent US$16.7 billion for the year 2011 which was up from the US$15.3 billion the company spent for the year 2010. HP (Hewlett-Packard) was next on list with 5.5 percent market share, which was also the share for Samsung. HP spent US$16.6 billion in the year 2011 which was down from the company's spending amount in the year 2010 (US$17.6 billion).

Claiming the number four spot was Dell, which bought US$9.8 billion worth of semiconductors last year which is 6.7 percent lower if compared in the year 2010. Nokia was able to place fifth with US$9 billion spent for semiconductors. Despite nabbing the fifth spot, Nokia was identified as the company that had the highest decrease in spending rate (20.1 percent) for semiconductors. Other companies that were able to make it in the top 10 list were Sony, Toshiba, Lenovo, LG Electronics, and Panasonic.

Masatsune Yamaji, a principal research analyst at Gartner, described the outcome of the firm's research. He said, "Those companies that gained share in the smartphone market, such as Apple, Samsung Electronics and HTC, increased their semiconductor demand, while those who lost market share in this segment, such as Nokia and LG Electronics, decreased their semiconductor demand."

In summary, Gartner revealed that equipment vendors were able to spend a total of US$9.8 billion for semiconductors in the year 2011. This amount comprised 35 percent of the total chip revenue of semiconductor vendors.