In a significant shake-up of the Chinese smartphone market, industry titan Apple has fallen out of the top five rankings due to declining sales, as revealed by a recent report from TechInsights. This marks the first time Apple has slipped so far down the order in China, with OPPO, Honor, Huawei, Vivo, and Xiaomi now commanding dominance.
The TechInsights report classified Apple within the category of “others,” highlighting the stark shift in market dynamics. This development underscores the growing influence of Chinese brands in the domestic smartphone landscape.
During the first quarter, China’s smartphone sales witnessed a modest 1 percent increase, totaling 63.3 million devices, signaling an end to an 11-consecutive-quarter slump. However, Apple’s performance did not mirror this growth, experiencing a decline in iPhone sales both globally and within the Chinese market.
A key factor contributing to Apple’s decline in China was the resurgence of Huawei, whose growth in the country posed a significant challenge. Despite offering rare discounts on iPhones, Apple failed to sway Chinese consumers who increasingly perceive other brands as more technologically advanced.
Huawei’s resurgence in the Chinese smartphone market, following a period of decline due to US tech sanctions, is evident in recent research findings. The company reclaimed its market share as domestic sales rebounded in the first quarter of 2024. Canalys statistics and International Statistics Corp data both depict Huawei, along with its subsidiary Honor, leading the top rankings with a market share of approximately 17 percent each.
This shifting landscape underscores the competitive nature of the Chinese smartphone market and the rapid evolution of consumer preferences. With Chinese brands dominating the scene and Huawei’s resurgence signaling renewed competition, Apple faces challenges in regaining its foothold in one of the world’s largest smartphone markets.
