Apple’s smartphone sales in China fell sharply in the final quarter of 2024, hurt by the popularity of local rivals like Huawei and others expanding into the premium market, according to a closely followed research firm.

In China, Apple’s second largest market, iPhone sales fell 18% in the December ending quarter, according to Bloomberg.

The Counterpoint Research report reveals that Apple used to have about 19 per cent market share last year. But this year, the numbers have been abysmally low for Apple.

Worldwide smartphone sales grew in 2024 following two consecutive years of decline according to reports from Counterpoint, Canalys, and IDC. The bulk of the growth came from Chinese manufacturers including Xiaomi and Vivo, though Apple and Samsung are still holding strong as the undisputed market leaders.

This secured Apple a dominant 27 per cent share of the value market in India. Interestingly, this figure also highlights Apple’s competitive edge, capturing the second-highest value share of 22 per cent in the overall Indian smartphone market, closely trailing Samsung’s 17.7 per cent.

Sales of Apple Inc. iPhones dived 18.2% in China during the December quarter, according to independent research, a major setback for the company in its biggest market after the US.

Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhones sales fell 18.2% in China in the fourth quarter of 2024, while the resurgent Chinese rival Huawei Technologies took the top spot, according to Counterpoint Research. Apple slipped to third spot in the Chinese market with a 17.

Apple has experienced a significant decline in iPhone sales in China, dropping from the leading position to third place in the