Customers buy iPhone13 phones at Apple’s flagship smart product store in Shanghai, China, on October 12, 2021.
Xing Yun | Costfoto | Barcroft Media | beautiful pictures
Apple The smartphone market share in China hit a record high in Q4 2021, with the iPhone maker regaining the number one spot in the country for the first time in six years.
The Cupertino giant had 23% of the market and sales grew 32% year-on-year in the December quarter, according to market analysts Counterpoint Research.
Apple saw solid growth despite a 9% drop in overall Chinese smartphone sales, thanks to iPhone 13 lineup, to be launched in September.
“The new iPhone 13 has successfully led the way due to its relatively lower starting price upon release in China, as well as new cameras and 5G features,” said Counterpoint Research analyst Mengmeng Zhang.
5G refers to the next generation super fast Internet that is rolling out around the world and especially rapidly in China.
“Moreover, Huawei, Apple’s main competitor in the high-end market, faces a sales slump due to the ongoing US sanctions.”
Chinese giant Huawei – used to be the number one smartphone player in China and the world – was crippled by US sanctions this cut the company off from key components and software for its devices.
According to Counterpoint Research, Huawei had only 7% market share in China in the fourth quarter, and sales fell 73% year-on-year.
Chinese brand Vivo is in second place with 19% market share, followed by Oppo with 17%.
Honor, the smartphone brand formerly owned by Huawei but split into a separate businessis the fourth largest player with 15% market share, followed by Xiaomi with 13%.
All these brands are domestic Chinese smartphone manufacturers that have grown in the global market.
Chinese market decline
Counterpoint Research says sales in China’s smartphone market fell 2% year-on-year for a number of reasons.
According to Counterpoint Research senior analyst Ivan Lam, the global shortage of components and semiconductors has affected the ability of suppliers to ship phones.
Meanwhile, “China’s average smartphone replacement cycle is getting longer,” Lam said.
The analyst added that China is “going through a complicated economic environment, where exports are driving growth and domestic spending remains lackluster.” Slow consumer spending is already a pull the Chinese economy.
