Apple faced a 19.1% decline in iPhone sales in China during the first quarter of 2024, as reported by Counterpoint Research. Despite this, the overall Chinese smartphone market saw a growth of 1.9% year-over-year and 4.6% quarter-over-quarter, making it a highly competitive landscape.

Here are some key highlights from the report:

– Apple ranked third in smartphone market share in China with 15.7% of total sales.
– Local brands like vivo and HONOR secured first and second place with 17.4% and 16.1% market share, respectively.
– Huawei made a strong comeback with its 5G-capable Mate 60 series, posing a challenge to Apple in the premium segment.
– The iPhone 15 received a lukewarm reception, impacting upgrade demand for Apple’s premium offerings.

Despite these challenges, there is hope for Apple’s turnaround in the Chinese market:

– Slow but steady improvement is being observed week by week.
– Apple has started offering discounts on the iPhone 15 series to boost demand.
– Anticipated new color options and aggressive sales initiatives could help Apple regain positive momentum in the second quarter.
– Enhanced Siri and generative AI features are expected to be introduced at WWDC 2024 in June.

As we look forward to potential developments at WWDC, it remains to be seen how these initiatives will impact Apple’s performance in China moving forward. Stay tuned for more updates on Phones Canada’s blog!