Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp. overtook Apple Inc. in the second quarter to become the world's No. 2 smartphone maker, market research firm Canalys said in a report on Thursday.

Xiaomi took the second spot for the first time with a 17-percent share of worldwide smartphone shipments, up 3 percent from the previous quarter, according to the research firm.

Global smartphone shipments grew by 12 percent in the second quarter, led by Samsung Electronics with a 19-percent share, and Apple at third place with a 14-percent share.

The average selling price of Xiaomi phones is about 40 to 75 percent cheaper compared with Samsung and Apple respectively, Canalys Research Manager Ben Stanton said, adding that a major priority for Xiaomi this year is to grow sales of its high-end devices.

The company's shipments jumped by more than 300 percent in Latin America, 150 percent in Africa and 50 percent in Western Europe, the report said.