Apple reclaims No. 1 spot in China, hits report iPhone marketplace proportion within the fourth quarter

Shoppers purchase iPhone13 telephones at apple’s flagship good merchandise retailer in Shanghai, China, on Oct. 12, 2021.

Xing Yun | Costfoto | Barcroft Media | Getty Photographs

Apple’s smartphone marketplace proportion in China hit a report prime within the fourth quarter of 2021, with the iPhone maker reclaiming the #1 spot within the nation for the primary time in six years.

The Cupertino large had 23% of the marketplace and gross sales grew 32% year-on-year within the December quarter, in keeping with marketplace analysts Counterpoint Analysis.

Apple noticed forged enlargement regardless of a 9% decline in China’s total smartphone gross sales, because of its iPhone 13 line-up, which used to be introduced in September.

“The brand new iPhone 13 has led the luck because of a slightly decrease beginning worth at its unencumber in China, in addition to the brand new digital camera and 5G options,” Counterpoint Analysis’s analyst Mengmeng Zhang, stated in a press unencumber.

5G refers to next-generation super-fast web which is rolling out around the globe and in particular temporarily in China.

“Moreover, Huawei, Apple’s major competitor within the top class marketplace, confronted declining gross sales because of the continued US sanctions.”

Chinese language large Huawei — as soon as the #1 smartphone participant in China and the sector — has been crippled by way of U.S. sanctions which minimize the corporate off from key elements and device for its units.

Huawei had simply 7% marketplace proportion in China within the fourth quarter and gross sales declined 73% year-on-year, Counterpoint Analysis stated.

Chinese language logo Vivo sat in 2d position with 19% marketplace proportion, adopted by way of Oppo with 17%.

Honor, the smartphone logo that used to be in the past owned by way of Huawei however spun off right into a separate industry, used to be the fourth greatest participant with 15% marketplace proportion, adopted by way of Xiaomi with 13%.

All of those manufacturers are Chinese language home smartphone makers that experience grown within the international markets as neatly.

China marketplace declines

Counterpoint Analysis stated gross sales in China’s smartphone marketplace fell 2% year-on-year for a number of causes.

The worldwide semiconductor and part scarcity has impacted the power for distributors to send telephones, in keeping with Counterpoint Analysis senior analyst Ivan Lam.

In the meantime, “China’s reasonable smartphone substitute cycle is changing into longer,” Lam stated.

The analyst added that China is “experiencing a fancy financial setting the place exports are riding the expansion and home spending stays lackluster.” Slow shopper spending has been a drag at the Chinese language financial system.