Competition in the smartphone industry is currently at its fiercest, with numerous brands battling it out to survive and expand their market presence in a highly competitive landscape. Additionally, economic challenges like inflation are adding to the complexities faced by these companies.
Smartphone Sales Decline in China
A recent market research study by Counterpoint revealed a 7% year-over-year decrease in smartphone sales in China during the initial six weeks of 2024. This downward trend has particularly impacted major players like Apple and Oppo, with both facing significant challenges and witnessing a decline of more than 24%.
Apple's Struggles in the Chinese Market
Apple, along with OPPO and vivo, experienced substantial drops in sales within the Chinese smartphone market during the same period. The report indicates that overall smartphone sales in China plummeted by 7% in the first six weeks of 2024 compared to the prior year. Apple, in particular, encountered significant hurdles, partly due to the resurgence of Huawei and the similarity in design between the iPhone 15 series and the previous iPhone 14 series.
Market Challenges for Various Brands
While the decline in sales is a common trend across many brands, Oppo faced an even more challenging situation than Apple, witnessing a significant 29% decrease compared to the first six weeks of 2023. Xiaomi also experienced a 7% decline, while vivo saw a 15% drop in sales. Contrarily, Huawei and Honor have shown resilience during this period, with Huawei marking a 64% sales increase and Honor growing by 2%. Notably, Honor and vivo emerge as the only pair with increased market shares compared to the previous year.
