According to reports from Chinese media on March 27th, iPhone shipments in China plummeted by a staggering 33% compared to the same period last year.
This marks the second consecutive month of declining iPhone sales, with official data indicating a total shipment of approximately 5.5 million units in January, down by around 39% from the previous year.
Analysts point out that the reasons for this decline in iPhone sales are complex and multifaceted. On one hand, the later timing of the Lunar New Year has impacted consumer purchasing decisions and overall market performance.
On the other hand, Apple has been struggling in the Chinese market since the launch of new models in September last year. Huawei, as a strong competitor in the high-end smartphone market, has been able to snatch away a considerable share from Apple.
Additionally, industry experts believe that Apple's retail channels in the Chinese market are still working through inventory from the fourth quarter of last year, which is further evidence of recent sluggish sales. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg for Apple's slowdown in China. Over the coming months, as competition intensifies in the Chinese market, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence smartphones, Apple may face even greater sales pressure. Analysts at Jefferies, led by Edison Lee, predicted in a report this week that iPhone sales will continue to deteriorate, with market declines expected to exceed 20% year-to-date.
