Apple’s Smartphone China Shipments Decline As Competition Picks Up
The decline in shipments resulted in a drop in Apple’s market share from 16 per cent to 14 per cent
Apple’s smartphone shipments in China fell by 6.7 per cent in the second quarter of 2024, according to data from Canalys. The tech giant’s shipments totaled 9.7 million units, down from 10.4 million in the same period last year.
The decline in shipments resulted in a drop in Apple’s market share from 16 per cent to 14 per cent and the company slid from third to sixth place in the Chinese smartphone market.
The downturn points to the challenges Apple faces in its third-largest market, as competitors like Huawei gain ground. Huawei’s shipments grew by 41 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to reach 10.6 million units, buoyed by the launch of its new Pura 70 series in April. The company has successfully navigated US sanctions by using domestically-made chips, allowing it to make a strong comeback in the high-end smartphone segment.
Overall, the Chinese smartphone market grew by 10 per cent during the quarter, with Vivo leading the market with a 19 per cent share.
Oppo, Honor and Huawei followed with shares of 16 per cent, 15 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively.
In response to declining sales, Apple has intensified its discounting efforts, rolling out a significant promotional campaign in May. This campaign doubled the scale of an earlier promotion in February, offering price cuts of up to 2,300 yuan (USD 318.84) on select iPhone models in an effort to boost consumer interest.
