iPhone Shipments Crash 50% in China as Local Brands Dominate

Foreign-branded smartphone shipments successful China, dominated by Apple's iPhone, dropped dramatically successful March 2025, plunging 49.6% year-over-year according to information released by The China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT).


The steep diminution saw shipments autumn to conscionable 1.89 cardinal units, down from 3.75 cardinal during the aforesaid play past year. That shrinks Apple's stock of the Chinese marketplace to astir 8%, portion home brands present power 92% of smartphone shipments.

For the full archetypal quarter, non-Chinese marque shipments declined implicit 25%, portion full smartphone shipments successful China really accrued by 3.3%.

Apple's struggles travel arsenic home competitors person gained ground. Counterpoint Research reports Huawei present leads with a 19.4% share, followed by Vivo (17%), Xiaomi (16.6%), and Oppo (14.6%). Apple has slipped to 5th spot with 14.1%.

Several factors are driving Apple's declining fortunes. The institution faces contention from rejuvenated section brands similar Huawei, which has rebounded with proprietary chips and its HarmonyOS Next software.

Chinese authorities policies look to beryllium playing a relation too. Under authorities subsidies, consumers of electronics get a 15% refund of products that are priced nether 6,000 yuan ($820). Apple's modular iPhone 16 starts astatine 5,999 yuan.

In effect to the declines, Apple is reportedly cutting prices connected immoderate iPhone 16 Pro models up of China's "618" buying festival.

Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged the challenges during his recent net call, noting that gross from Greater China dropped 2% successful the 4th ending March 2025. That was really an betterment compared to the 11% diminution during the 2024 vacation season.

Analysts besides judge Apple's slower adoption of generative AI features is simply a disadvantage successful the innovative Chinese market.

(Via DigiTimes.)
This article, "iPhone Shipments Crash 50% successful China arsenic Local Brands Dominate" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

Discuss this article successful our forums