Apple ceded its top spot in China’s smartphone market to Huawei during the fourth quarter of 2024. Market observations, based on Counterpoint Research data, show Huawei reclaiming the lead as the sector shifted.
iPhone shipments in China fell 18% year over year, a figure highlighted by Counterpoint Research. This marks Apple’s first quarterly decline in China for 2024 and places the brand in third position behind Huawei and Xiaomi.
Huawei led the market with a 15.5% rise in sales. Data from Counterpoint Research note the momentum comes with the rollout of the Nova 13 mid-range and the Mate 70 family, with senior analyst Mengmeng Zhang remarking that this signals Huawei’s return to the top after the sanctions era. “This is the first time since the U.S. sanctions that Huawei has regained its leadership position,” Zhang said.
Apple’s sales decline is tied to intensified competition from Chinese makers offering strong premium models, and to the company not having access to the latest AI services in China. Apple is engaging with Chinese AI firms to explore partnerships to bring AI services to the Chinese market.
Overall, China’s smartphone market declined 3.2% in the fourth quarter of 2024, the sole quarterly drop across the year. Analysts attribute this to cautious consumer spending amid ongoing economic headwinds.
In second place, Xiaomi enjoyed solid demand for its Mi 15 flagship alongside positive spillovers from gains in its electric vehicle lineup, which boosted brand perception and helped smartphone sales.
Counterpoint Research projects a modest rebound in China’s smartphone market in 2025, despite persistent economic headwinds, with a forecast of around one percent growth.
Earlier discussions about the fate of the upcoming iPhone 16E circulated among industry watchers, reflecting ongoing chatter about new models and market impact.