Apple iPhone sales drop 19% in China as demand for Huawei smartphones soars, research says

Apple’s iPhone sales in China fell 19.1% in the first quarter, while Huawei experienced a surge of 69.7% in smartphone sales, according to Counterpoint Research. Huawei’s success was attributed to the release of its Mate 60 smartphone featuring a high-end chip for 5G connectivity. The US-Huawei feud in 2019 impacted Huawei’s business, but it has made a comeback, becoming the third-largest smartphone maker in China. Overall, the Chinese smartphone market grew by 1.5% in Q1 2024, with low single-digit growth expected in the coming years. Chinese smartphone brands are incorporating AI features to drive demand.