As of March 30th, for years, Apple has dominated the high-end smartphone market in China. No company could match the performance of the iPhone or its status as a symbol of affluence for wealthy, international shoppers. Particularly in the Chinese market, the iPhone has been widely acclaimed. However, increasingly, evidence suggests that the iPhone is no longer as appealing to many Chinese consumers as it once was.
Data from Counterpoint Research, a smartphone research firm, shows that iPhone sales have dropped by 24% year-on-year in the first six weeks of this year. In contrast, sales of Huawei's smartphones, a long-time competitor of Apple in China, have surged by 64%.
For the past decade, China has been Apple's second most important market after the United States, accounting for about 20% of Apple's revenue. Now, Apple's dominance in the Chinese smartphone market may be weakened by a series of factors: slowing consumer spending and the resurgence of Huawei.
"Apple's golden era in China has come to an end," said Linda Sui, Senior Director at market research firm TechInsights. "It's not just a consumer issue, but a broader one."
"Five years ago, Apple's brand influence in China was very strong. People would camp outside Apple stores all night long to welcome the launch of the new generation of iPhones," said Xiao Lei Zhong, an analyst at market research firm Canalys in Shanghai. "However, the launch of the iPhone 15 wasn't nearly as well-received."
However, Apple has been making efforts to address the challenges in the Chinese market. Previously, Apple CEO Tim Cook visited China, attending the grand opening ceremony of an Apple store near Jing'an Temple in Shanghai, and meeting with several partners including BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu.
