iPhone Shipments Crash 50% in China as Local Brands Dominate

[MacRumors]

Foreign-branded smartphone shipments in China, dominated by Apple's iPhone, dropped dramatically in March 2025, plunging 49.6% year-over-year according to data released by The China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT).

The steep decline saw shipments fall to just 1.89 million units, down from 3.75 million during the same period last year. That shrinks Apple's share of the Chinese market to approximately 8%, while domestic brands now control 92% of smartphone shipments.

For the entire first quarter, non-Chinese brand shipments declined over 25%, while total smartphone shipments in China actually increased by 3.3%.

Apple's struggles come as domestic competitors have gained ground. Counterpoint Research reports Huawei now leads with a 19.4% share, followed by Vivo (17%), Xiaomi (16.6%), and Oppo (14.6%). Apple has slipped to fifth place with 14.1%.

Several factors are driving Apple's declining fortunes. The company faces competition from rejuvenated local brands like Huawei, which has rebounded with proprietary chips and its HarmonyOS Next software.

Chinese government policies appear to be playing a role too. Under government subsidies, consumers of electronics get a 15% refund of products that are priced under 6,000 yuan ($820). Apple's standard iPhone 16 starts at 5,999 yuan.

In response to the declines, Apple is reportedly cutting prices on some iPhone 16 Pro models ahead of China's "618" shopping festival.

Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged the challenges during his recent earnings call, noting that revenue from Greater China dropped 2% in the quarter ending March 2025. That was actually an improvement compared to the 11% decline during the 2024 holiday season.

Analysts also believe Apple's slower adoption of generative AI features is a disadvantage in the innovative Chinese market.

(Via DigiTimes.)

Article Link: iPhone Shipments Crash 50% in China as Local Brands Dominate

 

[DHagan4755]

I wonder how much intellectual property theft is incorporated into the local Chinese brands?

 

[JanoschR]

There have been many stories like this over the years and every time the impact was vastly overstated. Normally, there is then a slight decline in China but thats usually far away from "crash".

 

[Steve121178]

Chinese citizens are actively steered away from buying "foreign" tech these days. So it's no wonder iPhone sales have tanked.

 

[KillerTree]

I wonder how much intellectual property theft is incorporated into the local Chinese brands?

You mean learning?

 

[Digital Dude]

I’ve been buying Apple products since 1983—always among the first to grab the latest gear. For decades, Apple meant innovation, and I stayed loyal because the difference between them and everyone else was clear. But over the years, that edge has dulled. These days, I’m still using an iPhone 12 Max and older versions of just about everything else—and honestly, I’m not even in a hurry to upgrade.

When the original HomePod launched, I bought ten of them. I’ve got nine still running. Back then, Siri could actually answer questions. Now? It’s become a joke. Siri has gotten worse—significantly worse—in the last three or four years, and the software across the board feels like it’s running on fumes. The one thing keeping me tied to the ecosystem is the Apple Watch and how well it works with the iPhone.

Tim Cook’s Apple isn’t about leading anymore—it’s waiting around for other companies to innovate, so that they have something to copy or purchase. It was a good run while it lasted. 🫡

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

Foreign-branded smartphone shipments in China, dominated by Apple's iPhone, dropped dramatically in March 2025, plunging 49.6% year-over-year according to data released by The China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT).

The steep decline saw shipments fall to just 1.89 million units, down from 3.75 million during the same period last year. That shrinks Apple's share of the Chinese market to approximately 8%, while domestic brands now control 92% of smartphone shipments.

For the entire first quarter, non-Chinese brand shipments declined over 25%, while total smartphone shipments in China actually increased by 3.3%.

Apple's struggles come as domestic competitors have gained ground. Counterpoint Research reports Huawei now leads with a 19.4% share, followed by Vivo (17%), Xiaomi (16.6%), and Oppo (14.6%). Apple has slipped to fifth place with 14.1%.

Several factors are driving Apple's declining fortunes. The company faces competition from rejuvenated local brands like Huawei, which has rebounded with proprietary chips and its HarmonyOS Next software.

Chinese government policies appear to be playing a role too. Under government subsidies, consumers of electronics get a 15% refund of products that are priced under 6,000 yuan ($820). Apple's standard iPhone 16 starts at 5,999 yuan.

In response to the declines, Apple is reportedly cutting prices on some iPhone 16 Pro models ahead of China's "618" shopping festival.

Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged the challenges during his recent earnings call, noting that revenue from Greater China dropped 2% in the quarter ending March 2025. That was actually an improvement compared to the 11% decline during the 2024 holiday season.

Analysts also believe Apple's slower adoption of generative AI features is a disadvantage in the innovative Chinese market.

(Via DigiTimes.)

Article Link: iPhone Shipments Crash 50% in China as Local Brands Dominate

iPhone 17 ULTRA
will be the only way they will sell more iPhones in general.

 

[TheGenerous]

The tech is there in those chinese phones, but are there any good apps on Android that will be worth to make the switch? I doubt it

 

[jmonster]

I wonder how much intellectual property theft is incorporated into the local Chinese brands?

That's a weird top comment to distract from the numerous reasons someone might be fed up with Apple, the USA, or simply found a better product for them

Care to offer anything more than an influential suggestion?

 

[headlessmike]

Can't be certain if this is the case here, but I've experienced a lot of people turning their backs on American companies following the trade wars of the last few months and the perceived hostility of the US. Tesla is an obvious example, but I've heard similar sentiments against Apple, Microsoft, and Google just to name a few examples.

 

[iMac The Knife]

I’ve been buying Apple products since 1983—always among the first to grab the latest gear. For decades, Apple meant innovation, and I stayed loyal because the difference between them and everyone else was clear. But over the years, that edge has dulled. These days, I’m still using an iPhone 12 Max and older versions of just about everything else—and honestly, I’m not even in a hurry to upgrade.

When the original HomePod launched, I bought ten of them. I’ve got nine still running. Back then, Siri could actually answer questions. Now? It’s become a joke. Siri has gotten worse—significantly worse—in the last three or four years, and the software across the board feels like it’s running on fumes. The one thing keeping me tied to the ecosystem is the Apple Watch and how well it works with the iPhone.

Tim Cook’s Apple isn’t about leading anymore—it’s waiting around for other companies to innovate, so that they have something to copy or purchase. It was a good run while it lasted. 🫡

Right!? My entire ecosystem used to be Apple products. I had a bit of everything, and I owned every iPhone from the 4 to the 12PM. I abandoned the iPhone for the Z Fold 3 because I got sick of waiting for an Apple foldable and I've never looked back. I got rid of my last Apple product this past year (2017 27" iMac 5K) and I have zero regrets. But, I still hold out hope that Apple will get rid of Cook and put a product person at the helm sooner than later, and maybe then things will change. Until then, they're not getting another penny from me.

 

[Donkey Man]

That’s what happens when your main “innovation” consists of emojis, artificial “diversity” moves and a slightly better camera.
Time for Musk as Apple’s CEO.

 

[Yimbaz]

Makes sense. Chinese preferences are different to US ones. If I lived in China I wouldn't buy from Apple either, considering how many features are US- or English-only. And that's before getting into any political considerations.

 

[TechWhisperer]

Yeah Apple’s lame incremental upgrades don’t work anymore. Who would’ve thought?

 

[big_papa_johnny]

Can't be certain if this is the case here, but I've experienced a lot of people turning their backs on American companies following the trade wars of the last few months and the perceived hostility of the US. Tesla is an obvious example, but I've heard similar sentiments against Apple, Microsoft, and Google just to name a few examples.

Nobody’s doing that except some weird terminally online people.

 

[Fuzzball84]

I wonder how much intellectual property theft is incorporated into the local Chinese brands?

Probably less than is sucked up into the big LLMs

 

[WarmWinterHat]

That’s what happens when your main “innovation” consists of emojis, artificial “diversity” moves and a slightly better camera.
Time for Musk as Apple’s CEO.

I will sell every Apple product I own and never touch the ecosystem again if Musk gets anywhere near Apple.

Additionally, Apple needs a dedicated CEO..not one splitting their time 4-ways with other ventures.

Nobody’s doing that except some weird terminally online people.

That's just not true. My sister lives in Canada has observed a real pushback against buying American, especially with older/boomer people and those barely online...groceries, alcohol, consumer brands, etc. My German relatives have are very anti-US at the moment, and none are "terminally online".

I don't know any "terminally online" people. Personally, I don't use any social media, don't use Reddit, don't watch YouTube, don't play videogames (at all), etc.

 

[TechRunner]

This just seems like the natural order of things to me. Remembering that the whole world isn't as Apple crazy as the U.S., it shouldn't be a surprise that as Chinese companies innovate and evolve their products become more enticing to their citizens, who then change their buying habits accordingly.

 

[Channan]

That's a weird top comment to distract from the numerous reasons someone might be fed up with Apple, the USA, or simply found a better product for them

Care to offer anything more than an influential suggestion?

What does being fed up with the US have to do with not wanting an iPhone?

 

[arkitect]

I wonder how much intellectual property theft is incorporated into the local Chinese brands?

This is such a tired trope…

Look, I am not denying that there is/was and probably always will be IP theft.

But! The implication always ends up being that China cannot innovate and all they do is steal the US's great ideas.

Just do yourselves a favour and go to Beijing or Shanghai or any of the cities in China and be astonished by the innovation. No really, try it. You may find your head spinning and wishing some of that would come over to where you are.

That's a weird top comment to distract from the numerous reasons someone might be fed up with Apple, the USA, or simply found a better product for them

Care to offer anything more than an influential suggestion?

100% Agree.

 

[Dwalls90]

To anyone who is surprised non-US countries don't want to buy US products based on what's happened in the US since January, I have a bridge to sell you.

 

[big_papa_johnny]

This is such a tired trope…

It’s a well documented fact.

Just do yourselves a favour and go to Beijing or Shanghai or any of the cities in China and be astonished by the innovation.

Such as what?

 

[ctjack]

In that part of the world xiaomi and huawei and other brands are quite popular. 15 hr battery and huge screens. Can’t blame them and all for 200-400 dollars.

A lot of people drive corolla, civic, camry and accord but not mercedes? Because why not - i guess China shifted their mindset from Mercedes to normal cheaper cars in this example.

 

[tomtad]

And it soon will be 0. I’m not sure why exactly this is news?

 

[mushy peas]

Nobody’s doing that except some weird terminally online people.

I’m not terminally online, or left-wing either, just check my profile here. I barely have social media. But I’ve cut back on purchases from US companies, as has my wife, and a lot of family and friends. I know of at least 2 US-bound trips that have been cancelled because of fascist border control officers.

You really are underestimating the strong dislike that Trump and his tariffs have created, even in “friendly” countries like mine - Australia.

I’m not even sure I’ll buy another Apple product as long as Trump is president because of Apple’s quisling behaviour.