Huawei is making a significant resurgence in the Chinese smartphone market and is poised to surpass Apple as the leading smartphone brand in the world's largest market. In the first quarter of this year, Huawei experienced a remarkable 70% year-on-year growth in smartphone sales in China, while Apple saw a decline of over 19%, according to Counterpoint Research.
The competition between the two tech giants has intensified, with Huawei's comeback directly impacting Apple's sales in the premium segment. Apple, which held nearly 20% market share in China in the first quarter of 2023, has now slipped to the third position with a market share of 15.7%, while Huawei's market share has surged to 15.5% from 9.3% last year.
Huawei's success can be attributed to its popular Mate 60 Pro smartphone, which garnered attention for its advanced processor. Despite challenges posed by US restrictions on chip technology, Huawei managed to secure cutting-edge components for its devices, surprising industry experts.
Recent data from Counterpoint and IDC indicates a decline in Apple's global smartphone sales, with a significant drop of 10% in the first quarter, largely due to a loss of momentum in China. The Chinese market, crucial for Apple, is becoming increasingly challenging as local consumers are favoring Chinese smartphone brands over Apple.
In the first quarter, overall smartphone sales in China grew by 1.5%, with local brands Vivo and Honor leading the market in terms of market share. This shift in consumer preferences underscores the changing dynamics of the smartphone industry in China, with Huawei emerging as a formidable competitor to Apple.
