Many people who may look to use ink supplies to print items directly off a smartphone may have invested in an iPhone 4S, as the device has helped Apple increase its share of the UK market.

According to the latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, the manufacturer's gadgets are now responsible for 27.8 per cent of the sector, with the iPhone 4S accounting for 42.8 per cent of all smartphone sales in October.

"With nearly a year and a half between iPhone launches there has been huge pent-up demand for a new Apple device," stated Dominic Sunnebo, global consumer insight director at the firm.

He also highlighted statistics that revealed three-quarters of iPhone 4S buyers had previously owned an Apple smartphone – with many people buying themselves out of an existing iPhone 4 contract to make the upgrade – which is indicative of great consumer loyalty among the brand's customers.

Key features of the iPhone 4S include an improved camera, which could be attractive to amateur photographers, as well as a voice-activated 'virtual assistant' known as Siri that can interpret more natural speech patterns than previous technology.