For the fourth month in a row, iPhone sales in China have experienced a decline, reflecting a broader sharp drop in all foreign smartphone brands.
According to official statistics, shipments of smartphones from non-Chinese brands plummeted by 47% year-over-year, which helps explain Apple’s unusual choice to lower prices on current iPhone models in the region.
iPhone Sales in China
In recent years, iPhone sales in China have faced escalating challenges, influenced by government pressures encouraging consumers to opt for Chinese brands and the unexpected resurgence of Huawei as a competitor in the premium smartphone segment.
The pressure on Chinese consumers has escalated over the years, rooted in a trade conflict with the United States that began in 2019.
According to a local report, some consumers now consider using an iPhone in China to be embarrassing. The compounded effects of the Trump administration’s trade policies and the export ban on Huawei are further fueling the ‘Boycott Apple’ movement within the country.
For a brief period, Apple enjoyed protection from competition due to a ban on exporting 5G chips to China, which hindered Huawei’s ability to rival the iPhone. However, in 2023, Huawei successfully sourced 5G chips, enabling it to re-enter the competition with Apple.
While Apple has generally been hesitant to implement official pricing discounts, opting instead for discreet reductions through third-party resellers, it started officially offering iPhone discounts in 2022 and has done so multiple times since. A recent example includes a new year promotion set to begin tomorrow.
Decline of Foreign Smartphone Sales Continues
The decline isn’t limited to Apple alone; recent government data referenced by Reuters indicates that sales of all non-Chinese smartphone brands continue to decrease.
According to data from a government-affiliated research organization released on Friday, shipments of foreign-branded smartphones, including the iPhone, fell by 47.4% in November compared to the same month the previous year, marking the fourth consecutive month of decline.
This decrease follows a 44.25% year-on-year drop in foreign smartphone shipments recorded in October, continuing a downward trend in the world’s largest smartphone market.
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