In a context in which Apple has reported record numbers for the last quarter of 2011 and researchers concluded that iOS has regained the number one spot in the U.S. market share, new numbers indicate that Cupertino bounced back to the number one spot in terms of devices shipped for Q4 2011.

Samsung is still in the lead if we consider the global shipments for the entire last year, moving 95 million units. However, after Q3, when Apple and its 17 million shipped units were trailing behind Samsung’s 28 million, the fourth quarter brought some changes. Apple shipped 37 million devices (boosted by the iPhone 4S) and Samsung moved 36 million for the second place.

Nokia is taking the third place with 20 million units shipped; fourth comes Sony (Ericsson) with six million units; Motorola takes fifth place with five million units.

Strategy Analytics numbers compare overall cellphone shipments and, in this context, Apple managed to more-than-double its volumes compared to 2010, bumping its market share to a record 8.3%. Nokia still leads with 25.5% followed by Samsung’s 21.3% (but these numbers refer to global handset shipments).