Huawei, Xiaomi, and Honor Outperform Apple in China's Smartphone Market
A recent shift in China's smartphone market has seen domestic brands like Huawei, Xiaomi, and Honor outperforming global tech giant Apple. The first four weeks of October witnessed an impressive 11% rise in smartphone sales, indicating a recovery from a prolonged slump.
Huawei's Revival Driven by Mate 60 Pro
Leading this resurgence, Huawei has made a remarkable comeback with a staggering 90% increase in sales year-on-year. This success can largely be credited to its Mate 60 series, particularly the Mate 60 Pro. These handsets have gained attention for their advanced, locally produced 5G chips, a significant achievement considering the U.S. sanctions imposed on the company. The surge in Huawei's sales is not limited to its new releases, but also extends to its other models.
Xiaomi's Strong Performance with Xiaomi 14
Xiaomi, another key player in the market, reported a 33% jump in sales during the same period. This increase was driven by the launch of its Xiaomi 14 flagship smartphone, which quickly became a sensation, selling over a million units in less than two weeks. The Xiaomi 14 dominated sales during the Singles' Day shopping festival, contributing to the brand's robust performance. It recorded record-breaking Singles' Day sales, surpassing 22.4 billion yuan in revenue across various online platforms.
Honor's Solid Performance
Honor, originally a Huawei spin-off, also showed a solid performance with a 10% rise in sales. These gains by domestic brands stand in contrast to Apple's 12% decline in sales in China during the same period. Despite launching the iPhone 15, Apple has not been able to replicate its previous success in the Chinese market, as indicated by the initial sales data.
A Broader Narrative in China's Smartphone Market
This trend highlights a broader narrative in China's smartphone market, which is poised to exit an extended period of stagnation. However, the recovery is contingent on how these companies tackle production constraints and supply chain challenges. For example, the high demand for Huawei phones has led to shortages, affecting the availability of their latest models like the Mate 60 Pro. Similarly, Apple has faced production issues, particularly with certain color variants of the iPhone Pro Max.
