Apple tops smartphone market in China once again

Apple took the top spot for annual shipments in the Chinese market for the first time in 2023, with a slight year-on-year increase of 1 percent. Its annual market share increased to 19 percent, shipping 51.8 million units. Vivo, Oppo and Honor competed closely, each capturing a 16 percent market share, with annual shipments of 44.5 million, 43.9 million and 43.6 million units, respectively, according to the latest market research firm Canalys’ report. Also Read: Apple iPad Pro Launched In India With New M5 Chip, Ultra Retina XDR Display: Price, Specs

For a long time, Apple had struggled to sell iPhone units in China as much as its competitors. The company even resorted to doling out heavy discounts on iPhone models to entice buyers. The offers from Apple may have helped the company increase sales. Also Read: Apple Launches 14-inch MacBook Pro With M5 Chip And Up To 24-Hour Battery Life: Check Price And Availability

Xiaomi held fifth place in the annual market with a 13 percent market share. Huawei, ranking sixth, witnessed its full-year market share jump from 8 percent in 2022 to 12 percent in 2023, with a year-on-year increase of 48 percent. The latest data revealed that in Q4 2023, the decline in Mainland China’s smartphone market narrowed further, with total shipments reaching 73.9 million units, signalling a year-on-year decrease of just 1 per cent. Also Read: iPhone 13 vs iPhone 14 vs iPhone 15: Best Deal To Grab This Diwali Under Rs 50000

Apple took the pole position in Q4, shipping 17.5 million units. With an adequate supply of the new iPhone 15 series, Apple’s shipments increased by 6 percent year-on-year. Huawei, breaking into the top five and ranking fourth, shipped 10.4 million units in Q4, witnessing a year-on-year increase of 47 per cent due to its flagship new products.

“Huawei has become the biggest dark horse this quarter, returning to the top five league table of Mainland China’s smartphone market after 10 quarters,” said Lucas Zhong, a research analyst. The Huawei Mate 60 Pro, with its in-house Kirin chip and innovative features such as satellite calling, has become the leading model driving Huawei’s shipment recovery.

“Looking forward to 2024, the Chinese smartphone market is expected to enter a path of moderate recovery, supported by channel profitability and exciting new products,” stated Amber Liu, research manager.

— Written with inputs from IANS