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Apple’s iPhone sales in China plunge 19%, as Huawei grows smartphone sales by nearly 70%

  • Apple, which topped smartphone sales in China in the fourth quarter last year, ranked third in the first quarter, trailing Vivo and Honor
  • Huawei, in fourth place, is poised to regain the No 1 position in China this year with the launch of its Pura 70 flagship series

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iPhones seen at an Apple store in Shanghai. Photo: Reuters
Coco Fengin Beijing

Apple lost its throne as China’s bestselling smartphone brand, after sales declined 19.1 per cent in the first quarter amid rising competition from Huawei Technologies and other local rivals, according to market research firm Counterpoint.

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The US tech giant, which topped smartphone sales in China in the fourth quarter last year, saw its market share in the past quarter shrink to 15.7 per cent from 20.2 per cent previously. It ranked third, overtaken by Chinese manufacturers Vivo and Huawei spin-off Honor, which secured shares of 17.4 per cent and 16.1 per cent, respectively.

Huawei, in the fourth spot with a share of 15.5 per cent, achieved sales growth of nearly 70 per cent, “largely attributed to the successful launch of the 5G-capable Mate 60 series as well as its enduring brand reputation”, Counterpoint said in its report.

“Apple’s sales were subdued during the quarter, as Huawei’s comeback has directly impacted Apple in the premium segment,” said Ivan Lam, senior research analyst at Counterpoint.

People try out Huawei’s Pura 70 series smartphones at a store in Shanghai. Photo: AFP
People try out Huawei’s Pura 70 series smartphones at a store in Shanghai. Photo: AFP

Amid fierce competition in the world’s largest smartphone market, Apple last month launched its eighth store in Shanghai, which is touted to be the largest in the country and the second-largest in the world.

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