Huawei’s Mate 60 series made a strong comeback last summer, despite U.S. restrictions on obtaining 5G processors. The series features Huawei’s Kirin 9000s 5G application processor built by China’s largest foundry, SMIC. This marked Huawei’s return to the 5G segment since the Mate 40 series in 2020.
In addition, Huawei is set to reach a billion active devices running its HarmonyOS operating system, posing a challenge to Apple in China’s premium market segment. The release of the Mate 60 series sparked nationalistic pride among consumers, boosting sales of the new phones.
Meanwhile, iPhone sales in China faced challenges due to a ban on government workers using Apple smartphones for work-related activities. To combat this, retailers offered discounts on iPhones before the country’s June shopping festival. The 1TB iPhone 15 Pro Max received a discount of 2,300 yuan ($318), while the 128GB iPhone 15 saw a price cut of 1,400 yuan ($194).
As a result of these price cuts and other factors, smartphone shipments in China rose by over 13% in May. Deliveries of foreign-made handsets, including iPhones, increased by 52% year-on-year. According to the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, over five million units from foreign smartphone brands were shipped into China in May.
Overall, Huawei’s success with the Mate 60 series and Apple’s strategic pricing adjustments have reshaped the competitive landscape in China’s smartphone market. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest developments in telecommunications technology!
