Overview
- Apple's iPhone shipments in China dropped to 9.8 million units in Q1 2025, a 9% year-over-year decline, reducing its market share to 13.7%.
- Xiaomi regained the top spot in China's smartphone market with a 40% surge in shipments, reaching 13.3 million units, driven by government subsidies.
- A 15% rebate program for electronics under 6,000 yuan introduced by the Chinese government in January 2025 excluded most iPhones due to their premium pricing.
- Apple was the only major smartphone maker to see a decline in shipments, while the overall Chinese smartphone market grew by 3.3%.
- Analysts attribute Apple's struggles to its high pricing strategy, inability to capitalize on subsidies, and intensifying competition from domestic brands like Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo.