In China, there is an unexpected decline in the sales of Apple’s latest iPhone model, the iPhone 15, and analysts state that this decline indicates the problem of not being able to keep up with the iPhone 14. Although at first glance, the Chinese launch of the iPhone 15 created a very positive impression, the expected sales figures were not achieved.

Unexpected decline in iPhone sales in China!

According to a report by Counterpoint Research, sales of the iPhone 15 series in China dropped by 4.5 percent compared to the iPhone 14 in the first 17 days after its launch. Analysts, however, claim that this decline is at a sharper double-digit rate. This shows that Apple’s latest model failed to attract the expected attention compared to its predecessor.

However, there are many factors behind this decline. Huawei’s influence is particularly striking. Huawei launched the Mate 60 Pro, which topped the DxOMark charts weeks before the iPhone 15’s China launch. This negatively affected Apple’s sales and increased competition.

Additionally, false claims of a ban on the sales of these phones also caused confusion in the market. All these factors indicate that iPhone sales in China in 2023 may be the lowest in recent years.

Counterpoint Research research director Jeff Fieldhack states that the recovery process of the Chinese economy after COVID-19 is still continuing. This economic uncertainty may cause consumers to be more cautious when purchasing new phones. However, in the US, the iPhone 15 is said to have seen a double-digit increase in the first nine days. This shows that the USA is still the most important market for Apple.

According to analysts, it is thought that Huawei will continue to increase its market share in China. It is also estimated that it will continue to negatively affect Apple’s sales in the upper segment. Analysts predict that Huawei may surpass the iPhone in 2024. They believe this decline could push global shipments of the iPhone to a lower level than expected.

As a result, the decline in iPhone 15 sales in China poses a significant problem for Apple. But increased sales in the U.S. could bolster the company’s efforts to rebalance globally. Huawei’s strong competition and economic factors stand out as important factors that challenge Apple in the Chinese market. Apple may have to develop new strategies to succeed in this challenging market.