Photograph: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Apple’s struggles in China proceed. In Q1 2025, the corporate fell to fifth place, regardless of the general smartphone market rising by 3.3%.
Huawei and Oppo made essentially the most of Apple’s fall, registering double-digit development.
Xiaomi and Huawei gained at Apple’s expense
In a report from earlier this week, IDC’s preliminary information indicated Apple led the worldwide smartphone market in Q1 2025. The market itself grew by 1.5%, whereas Apple recorded a development of 10%. It shipped 57.9 million iPhones, up from 52.6 million in the identical quarter final yr.
Regardless of this spectacular development, Apple has seen a big decline in iPhone gross sales in China. A brand new IDC report backs up these rumors. It means that Apple misplaced 9% market share in Q1 2025, with iPhone shipments declining to 9.8 million items. That’s one million items lower than Q1 2024.
Photograph: IDC
Whereas the worldwide smartphone market grew by 1.5%, the Chinese language market registered a better development of three.3%. This was because of the Chinese language authorities providing subsidies on smartphones in January 2025, adopted by the Spring Pageant in February. Xiaomi made the many of the authorities subsidies, topping the market and delivery 13.3 million smartphones within the quarter. That’s a whopping 39.9% development from 2024 Q1.
Reductions failed to spice up iPhone gross sales
iPhones didn’t qualify for presidency subsidies, however Apple supplied its personal reductions in China to bolster gross sales. It appears the transfer had little influence. This was not the case in 2024, when iPhone gross sales rebounded following hefty reductions.
Huawei got here second, delivery 12.9 million telephones and capturing 18% market share. Oppo and Vivo have been third and fourth, respectively, delivery 11.2 million and 10.3 million smartphones.
Whereas IDC’s report relies on preliminary information, it ought to nonetheless give a good thought of the Chinese language smartphone market. With the commerce conflict between the US and China intensifying and difficult competitors from Chinese language gamers, Apple will doubtless see an additional decline in iPhone gross sales within the coming quarters.
