Apple's iPhone Sales Dip in China as Huawei Sees Growth Post Mate XT Launch

Cupertino: Apple’s iPhone sales in China dipped by 0.3 percent, while its main competitor, Huawei, experienced a remarkable 42% surge in sales, intensifying competition in the world’s largest smartphone market in the third quarter of 2024. Apple retained second place with a 15.6 percent market share, despite a year-on-year decline of 0.5 percentage points, according to data from research firm IDC. Meanwhile, Huawei closely followed, taking third place with 15.3 percent of the market, a significant 4.2 percentage-point increase from last year.

Vivo, primarily known for its budget-friendly phones, maintained the top spot with an 18.6% market share. Huawei's resurgence in the premium smartphone segment has been led by its Mate 60 series, which features what analysts believe to be a domestically produced chip, strengthening its appeal to Chinese consumers. Additionally, Huawei’s newly released Pura 70 model earlier this year has added further pressure on Apple’s market position.

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Apple has also faced regulatory challenges in China, with certain government agencies restricting iPhone use. To counter these challenges, the U.S. tech giant has launched several discount campaigns to stimulate demand. The recent iPhone 16 launch on September 20 provided a boost to Apple, helping Q3 performance. Sales for the new model were reportedly 20 percent higher in the first three weeks than the 2023 models, according to Counterpoint Research. Huawei, meanwhile, introduced a competitive tri-foldable Mate XT, the world's first tri-foldable smartphone, on the same day in September, further intensifying the rivalry in China’s high-end smartphone sector.