An earlier NPD report pointed to a surge in iPhone sales in Nov. / Dec. 2011, and a new report by Nielsen echoes that, and puts the iPhone within a whisker of Android in terms of market share.

In October of 2011, prior to the launch of the latest iPhone model, the iPhone 4S, Apple’s market share among recent U.S. smartphone buyers was just 25.1 percent, a staggering 36.5 percent behind Android’s 61.6 percent. The latest Nielsen report put them within shouting distance of each other, with Apple now being chosen by 44.5 percent of recent buyers, while Android sat slightly ahead at 46.9 percent.

Also of note: 57 percent of new iPhone owners surveyed in December said they purchased Apple’s flagship iPhone 4S.

Remember, though, that surge is among recent buyers, and in terms of overall market share, Android still holds the top by a large margin.