Folks stroll previous an commercial for the iPhone 16 Professional at an Apple retailer throughout Nationwide Day vacation on October 3, 2024 in Chongqing, China.
Cheng Xin | Getty Pictures Information | Getty Pictures
Apple rejoined the ranks of the highest 5 smartphone distributors within the China within the third quarter, helped by the launch of the iPhone 16, knowledge launched on Friday confirmed — however its progress was nonetheless outpaced by home rival Huawei.
Apple stood at second place by market share within the third quarter, in response to Worldwide Information Company (IDC). The tech large took a 15.6% slice of the Chinese language market over the interval, down from 16.1% within the third quarter of final 12 months. The corporate’s cargo progress to China flatlined year-on-year within the third quarter. Apple stood at second place by market share within the third quarter.
Huawei trailed Apple in third place with 15.3% market share, IDC knowledge confirmed. Nonetheless, the corporate’s smartphone shipments in China grew by 42% year-on-year, because it continues to stage a revival on the planet’s largest smartphone market.
Apple and Huawei have been locked in an intense battle for the reason that Chinese language tech large launched its new Mate 60 smartphone final 12 months that contained a surprisingly superior chip. Huawei has been battered over the previous couple of years by U.S. sanctions which have restricted its entry to superior semiconductors, together with software program. The measures have crippled its smartphone enterprise.
The Mate 60 has led to a Huawei revival in its house market, and the corporate has since launched a lot of new gadgets, together with a so-called trifold telephone, the Mate XT.
Huawei’s resurgence has put intense strain on Apple in China, considered one of its largest and most necessary markets. Within the second quarter, Apple was knocked out of the highest 5 rating in China by market share.
“Huawei has staged a powerful comeback, recording 4 consecutive quarters of not less than double-digit progress. The launch of the world’s first tri-foldable telephone is anticipated to additional drive the foldable market growth,” IDC stated in its report.
The Cupertino large is hoping the iPhone 16 sequence will assist it stage a comeback in China, with the corporate promising many new AI software program options known as Apple Intelligence. The corporate has stated that Apple Intelligence will launch within the U.S. this fall, however there is no such thing as a clear timeline as to when it is going to be launched in China, primarily resulting from extra sophisticated regulation within the nation.
Within the absence of Apple Intelligence, Chinese language rivals together with Oppo, Huawei and Honor have been touting their very own AI options.
Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner visited China this week, assembly with prime authorities officers and executives on the nation’s tech corporations. One analyst informed CNBC this can be an try to shore up partnerships with Chinese language corporations to launch Apple Intelligence.
Home rival Vivo stood in first place with 18.6% of the Chinese language market share within the third quarter and year-on-year cargo progress of 21.5%, IDC stated. Xiaomi and Honor have been in fourth and fifth place, respectively.
Separate numbers launched on Friday by Canalys confirmed Apple’s China shipments within the third quarter declined 6% year-on-year. Canalys stated Apple was fifth place by market share in China. In the meantime, the info firm put Huawei in second place by market share, with 24% year-on-year progress within the third quarter of this 12 months.
