Apple Falls to Third in China Smartphone Market as Local Brands Surge

Apple's iPhone shipments in China dropped 17% in 2024, with Vivo and Huawei overtaking the tech giant in market share.

Apple's iPhone sales in China fell to 42.9 million units in 2024, down from 51.8 million in 2023, marking a 17% annual decline and its worst performance in the region to date.
Chinese brands Vivo and Huawei captured 17% and 16% of the market, respectively, surpassing Apple's 15% market share for the year.
Apple's inability to launch its generative AI tools, such as Apple Intelligence, in China due to regulatory restrictions has been cited as a key factor in its declining competitiveness.
Huawei's resurgence, driven by locally produced chipsets and AI-powered features, resulted in a 37% year-on-year increase in shipments in 2024.
In response to declining sales, Apple implemented rare price cuts for its iPhone 16 models in early January, but these efforts have yet to reverse its market share losses.