The iPhone is no longer the best-selling smartphone in China, after two domestic company took over the top spots.
A new report on the Chinese phone market revealed that Dongguan-based company Vivo was now the leader in the Chinese market. Huawei placed second.
Newsweek contacted Apple for comment via email.
Apple’s dethroning as the best-selling smartphone brand in China highlights a significant shift in one of the world’s most competitive and lucrative tech markets. China, the second-largest economy globally, is a critical battleground for smartphone makers, and Apple’s decline represents a challenge to U.S. control of the tech industry.
This highlights the developing festival between the United States and China for global influence. A change in market dynamics could be limited to innovation, pricing and product availability for American consumers. Apple’s functionality influences US employment, the stock market and overall economic health.
In 2024, Apple’s iPhone sales in China fell to 42. 9 million units, a sharp decline from the 51. 8 million sold last year, when they still occupied the most sensitive spot, according to a new report from the supplier of Canalys analysis.
While Apple remained tied with Oppo and Honor with a 15 percent market share, it was outpaced in shipments by domestic companies Vivo and Huawei, which led with 17 percent and 16 percent, respectively.
Vivo’s arrival at the most sensible spot means that a domestic corporate has sold more of Apple’s flagship products for the first time in the industry’s history.
Huawei, meanwhile, saw a 37 percent year-on-year increase in smartphone shipments, making gains in the industry despite years of sanctions and trade restrictions imposed by the U.S. The report cited brand loyalty as one of the main reasons Huawei was able to maintain its foothold.
Apple’s shipments suffered a sharp 25% drop in the fourth quarter of 2024, even as China’s overall smartphone market grew 5% year-on-year, with total shipments reaching 77. 4 million units.
This expansion has been driven in part by political decisions. The Chinese government provided subsidies in 2024 for individual purchases of smartphones, helping to boost customer spending and support market expansion.
Amber Liu, head of research at Canalys, in the report: “The intense festival has resulted in an ever-changing landscape, with suppliers actively increasing their investments in their advantageous field.
“Vivo has demonstrated momentum by capitalizing on opportunities across online and offline channels, strengthening its partnerships with operators and leveraging marketing efforts and product methods to consolidate its position in the entry-level and mid-to-high-end segments. ” . »
The Chinese smartphone market is expected to grow further in 2025. Vivo and Huawei are likely to continue their upward trajectory for China’s internal market.
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Theo Burman is a Newsweek Live News journalist based in London, United Kingdom. It focuses on American politics and foreign news, as well as the effect of virtual culture on elections. He has extensively covered electoral and cultural issues in the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as high-profile legal instances such as the trials of Andrew Tate and Donald Trump. Theo joined Newsweek in 2024 and has previously written for Dexerto, PinkNews and News UK. He graduated from Durham University and News Associates. You can contact Theo by emailing t. burman@newsweek. com. Languages: English.