Apple is on the cusp of becoming the world's largest mobile processor manufacturer thanks to the booming number of iPhone and iPad devices sold globally according to a report to be published by analyst firm Instat.

In 2011, Intel was still the biggest mobile processor company around but Apple is likely to overtake Intel as shipments of iPhone and iPad products grow at an even faster pace.

Apple shipped a whopping 176 million processors last year, a 13.5 per cent market share while Intel topped the leaderboard with 181 million processors and 13.9 per cent of the market.

Samsung Semiconductors is Apple's only partner for processors although this may change over the next couple of years and Apple uses its chips solely in its devices.

In comparison, Intel produces its own processors and sells them to third parties to be used mainly in tablets, laptops and other portable devices but virtually nothing in smartphones.

This could change though as Intel has struck partnerships with ZTE, Motorola and Lenovo to sell smartphones based on its Intel Atom Medfield processor.

Instat's study looked at mobile processors in media players, handheld gaming consoles as well as e-readers, smartphones, and tablets.

Source : Instat