AFP
Apple saw iPhone sales decline in China in the third quarter despite reclaiming its top five spot, while rival Huawei saw sales rise amid increased competition in one of the world’s largest smartphone markets. did.
Reuters reported that the mobile phone giant’s sales fell by 0.3%. Huawei, on the other hand, soared 42% during the same period.
Apple has returned to the top five smartphone companies, taking second place with the launch of the new iPhone 16 series, according to data released by researcher IDC on Friday. The iPhone maker’s market share was 15.6%, down 0.5 points from the previous year.
IDC said, “Initial sales are on par with previous models, and the company expects upcoming promotions and the expected launch of Apple Intelligence to drive future demand.”
IDC reports that Vivo leveraged an effective strategy of clear product positioning across main and sub-brands to remain the top vendor with a market share of 18.6%.
Meanwhile, Huawei gained 4.2 points to gain 15.3% market share, taking third place after offering high-end phones with last year’s Mate 60 series. Analysts say the phone is equipped with a “domestic chip.”
Apart from the Mate 60 series, Huawei has released another eye-catching advanced phone, the Pura 70. This was just released earlier this year.
IDC added that Xiaomi’s market share increased by 1.2 points to 14.8%, with the company achieving its fifth consecutive quarter of growth by pushing the boundaries of the high-end segment while continuing to cater to budget-conscious consumers. Xiaomi secured 4th place.
Honor secured fifth place in the top five, led by popular models such as the X50, making Honor the number one in the $100 to $200 price range. Additionally, new models like Magic Flip and Magic V3 propelled Honor to second place in the foldable market this quarter.
Jacob Zhu, Research Analyst, Client Devices, IDC Asia/Pacific. “This momentum will be further strengthened by the early release of flagship models from major brands and the early kick-off of the Singles’ Day shopping festival.”
China is a key market for Apple, where smartphone shipments rose 3.2% to 68.78 million units in the third quarter.
The iPhone maker remains popular among Chinese consumers, but it has ceded ground to domestic rivals in recent years as the Asian country faces slowing economic growth and sluggish consumption.
Moreover, Apple is facing many problems in the Chinese market. Several government agencies have imposed restrictions on iPhone usage, prompting tech giants to respond with numerous discount campaigns to boost sales.
The company’s third-quarter sales were boosted by the launch of the iPhone 16. However, on the same day, Huawei also launched a tri-fold phone that directly competes with the iPhone 16.
Separate data from researcher Counterpoint shows that the launch of the new iPhone in China has gotten off to a strong start. In 2023, it recorded 20% higher sales in the first three weeks compared to other mobile phones.
Meanwhile, Apple CEO Tim Cook made his second visit to China as the US technology giant seeks to revive sluggish sales in key overseas markets.
