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.

Huawei has reclaimed the top spot in China’s smartphone market, according to a report by Counterpoint. That’s a big milestone for the Chinese tech giant, which had been struggling in recent years due to US sanctions.

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.

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.

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

Huawei has been the top smartphone brand with a strong 18.1% market share in Q4 2024 in China, ahead of Xiaomi with 17.2% and Apple at 17.1%, noted the Counterpoint’s Market Pulse Service

Apple ( NASDAQ:AAPL) is feeling the heat in China. iPhone sales slid 18.2% in Q4 2024, dropping its market share to 17.1%, down from 20.2% a year ago. Meanwhile, Huawei is back on top for the first time since U.S. sanctions hit in 2019, grabbing an 18.1% share.

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

Apple's iPhone sales in China reportedly took a tumble at the end of 2024, with a considerable reduction in sales putting it in a dead heat with homegrown Xiaomi.