Apple lost its position as China’s top smartphone seller in 2024, with Vivo and Huawei surpassing it after a 17% drop in shipments, marking its largest-ever annual decline. Rising competition, Huawei’s comeback, and shifting consumer trends challenge Apple’s market position.
Apple has lost its position as China's top smartphone seller in 2024, with local rivals Vivo and Huawei surpassing the company after its shipments in the country fell by 17%, according to data released by research firm Canalys on Thursday.
This marks Apple’s largest-ever annual sales decline in China, with a drop seen in all four quarters of the year, including a significant 25% dip in the final quarter. For the year, Vivo, known for its budget smartphones, captured 17% of the market share, followed by Huawei at 16%, and Apple at 15%. The shift highlights the increasing competition Apple faces from domestic brands in one of its most important global markets.
The decline also underscores how factors such as the lack of artificial intelligence features in the latest iPhones—especially in a China where ChatGPT is not accessible—are impacting Apple’s competitive edge. Canalys analyst Toby Zhu remarked, "This is Apple's worst performance in China to date."
He further pointed out the challenges facing Apple's premium market position, noting the strong presence of Huawei’s flagship releases, the rise of foldable Android phones in the high-end market, and growing consumer loyalty to brands like Xiaomi and Vivo, which continue to innovate with new technologies.
Apple had experienced four years of consistent growth following U.S. sanctions on Huawei in 2019, which limited its access to American tech. However, since launching new phones with domestically-produced chipsets in August 2023, Huawei has made a strong return to the premium segment, posting a 24% increase in shipments in the fourth quarter.
Apple has responded to the market pressure by offering rare discounts, including a four-day promotion in China from January 4-7, where it offered price cuts of up to 500 yuan ($68.50) on its iPhone 16 models through its official channels. E-commerce giants, such as Alibaba’s Tmall, followed suit with their own price cuts, offering discounts up to 1,000 yuan ($137) on the latest iPhone 16 series.
Among the top five vendors, Xiaomi showed the strongest growth, with a 29% increase in shipments in the fourth quarter, while Oppo and Vivo saw increases of 18% and 14%, respectively, according to Canalys data. Overall, smartphone shipments in China grew by 4% year-on-year in 2024, reaching 285 million units.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday (October 31) that the United States will not restart trade negotiations with Canada, a week after he halted...
China has expressed readiness to work with Japan to foster a stable and constructive relationship, state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) r...
China successfully carried out its latest crewed space mission on Friday night. The Shenzhou-21 spacecraft was launched at 23:44 (Beijing Time) from t...
For the first time in decades, the South Caucasus' political gravity appears to be shifting, with Brussels not Moscow increasingly shaping the languag...
The United States will not send senior officials to the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, according to a White House statement to Reuters, easing fears ...
Apple’s latest smartphone, the iPhone Air, sold out within minutes of its launch in China on Friday, highlighting the brand’s enduring appeal among Chinese consumers despite growing competition from local Android makers.
Apple has pledged to increase its investment in China despite ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing, CEO Tim Cook said during a meeting with China’s industry minister.
Apple (AAPL.O) on Tuesday opened its annual showcase, where it is expected to reveal a new range of iPhones, including a slimmer “Air” model that could foreshadow the launch of a folding phone next year.
Apple has pledged an additional $100 billion investment in the U.S., bringing its total commitment to $600 billion over four years, in a move seen as easing tensions with President Donald Trump over potential iPhone tariffs.
Reliable sources have confirmed to AnewZ that the United States has asked Azerbaijan to join a Stabilisation Force in Gaza, as part of a proposed international mission to secure the territory.
Tanzanian police fired tear gas and live rounds on Thursday to disperse protesters in Dar es Salaam and other cities, a day after a disputed election marked by violence and claims of political repression, witnesses said.
Reports from CNN say the Pentagon has approved the provision of long range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine after assessing its impact on U.S. stockpiles, while leaving the ultimate decision to President Trump.
U.S. President Donald Trump agreed with President Xi Jinping to trim tariffs on China in exchange for Beijing cracking down on the illicit fentanyl trade, Trump said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that the most difficult situation on the front line remains the eastern city of Pokrovsk, where fighting continues to be most intense due to a strong concentration of Russian forces.
Chinese electric carmaker BYD is making major strides in Europe, with sales surging nearly fivefold in September from a year earlier to just under 25,000 new registrations.
U.S. stocks were mixed late Wednesday as traders digested comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who signaled that another interest rate cut in December is far from guaranteed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 edged slightly lower, while the Nasdaq climbed on continued gains
U.S. chipmaker Nvidia has made history by becoming the first company in the world to reach a market value of 5 trillion dollars, driven by soaring demand for artificial intelligence technologies.
Nokia announced on Tuesday that chipmaker Nvidia will acquire a $1 billion stake in the company.
Türkiye’s main stock index, BIST 100, closed on Friday at 10,941.79 points, recording a 3.14% increase.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment