Apple also had its share of the problems in the smartphone market in China. According to data published by the Chinese Academy of Information and Communication Technology (CAICT), smartphone sales of foreign brands fell by 47.4% in November 2024 compared to the previous year. Apple has been one of the brands most affected by this decline in the world’s largest smartphone market. Details in our news…

Apple iPhone sales in China continue downward trend

In November, shipments of foreign brands in China fell from 5.77 million to 3.04 million units. For Apple, the downward trend has continued for four consecutive months. There was also a 44.25% decline in October. This negative picture is reportedly attributed to the slowdown in China’s economy and consumers’ cautious approach to spending. In November, consumer prices hit a five-month low and families were less inclined to spend. But is this the only reason?

Another reason for Apple’s struggles in China is local competition. Huawei in particular made a strong return to the premium smartphone segment in August 2023 with locally produced processors. Huawei, which recorded a 42% sales increase in the third quarter of 2024, has become a serious competitor for Apple.

Meanwhile, Apple organized a four-day discount campaign to reverse this downward trend in the Chinese market. As part of this campaign, discounts of up to 500 yuan (about 68.50 dollars) were offered on some iPhone models. Apple, which we know as a brand that traditionally does not favor the discount policy, surprised everyone with this move.

Not only foreign brands, but also total smartphone shipments in China fell 5.1% year-on-year to 29.61 million units. In short, local brands are facing both economic and competitive challenges. What do you think about this? Please share your views in the comments section below.