The global smartphone market is in a bit of a flux right now and China is one country where smartphone sales in general are in the middle of a huge downturn. That is, assuming you aren’t Apple.
New numbers show that while China’s smartphone sales fell by 5% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2023, Apple actually produced its best Q1 share and sales in years.
It’s thought that strong iPhone 14 sales, boosted by price cuts, are to thank for Apple’s impressive sales numbers in the country.
Apple’s up when everyone else is down
Numbers shared by Counterpoint Research (opens in new tab) have China’s smartphone sales reaching their lowest Q1 results since 2014, although that was actually better than the fall experienced during previous quarters. YoY figures for some preceding quarters saw double-digit negative growth. Counterpoint Research believes that the Chinese new year and price reductions helped out.
It’s price reductions that are also thought to have helped Apple shift its best iPhones in large enough numbers to manage such impressive results.
“In Q1 2023, Apple recorded the biggest share in the China smartphone market, increasing sales by 6% YoY in a declining market,” the report says. “Apple’s market share in Q1 came to 19.9%, its highest Q1 share since 2014, while its sales were also the highest Q1 sales since 2015.”
Just in from our Research Analyst @archiezhcp: Despite a 5% YoY decline in China’s smartphone sales, @Apple achieved its highest Q1 share and sales in years!Read the full blog here: https://t.co/khGkJa57z2#Apple #smartphones #China #technews #technology pic.twitter.com/evubcjVw20April 27, 2023
The report goes on to note that some “retail channels cut prices of the iPhone 14 series by RMB 600-RMB 800 and some e-commerce websites offered additional RMB 800 subsidies.” Those discounts are said to have helped retailers move inventory more quickly.
Without Apple, all other companies saw their sales drop 8% YoY. Companies like Oppo, Vivo, Honor, and Xiaomi were all impacted although Huawei performed well thanks to the release of the midrange Nova 10 series and high-end Mate 50 phones.
