New research from web analytics firm StatCounter has found that more people are accessing the internet through Apple handsets than nearest rival Samsung or former leader Nokia.

Apple knocked Nokia off the top spot in global internet usage in January, with 25.86 per cent of the market. Samsung had 22.69 per cent and Nokia 22.15 per cent.

But Apple saw its internet usage slip from 28.67 per cent a year earlier, while Samsung gained from 14.67 per cent in the same period. Nokia lost about 15 per cent of its share over the year.