iPhone sales in China plunge 50% as Huawei reclaims market lead

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Apple has seen iPhone sales in China plunge by roughly 50% as Huawei surges back into the lead. According to a new report from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, fierce competition from Huawei and strong showings by fellow domestic brands like Honor, Xiaomi, and others has driven this steep drop.

In March 2025, Apple sold just 1.89 million iPhones in China, down from 3.75 million units in the same period of 2024 a 49.6% year‑over‑year decline. This stark contraction highlights mounting headwinds for foreign manufacturers in the world’s largest smartphone market.

Foreign brands now account for only 8% of China’s smartphone shipments, down from 16% a year ago. Huawei reclaimed first place with a 19.4% share in Q1 2025, followed by Vivo, Xiaomi, and OPPO. Apple has slipped to fifth. Huawei’s dominance has been fueled by its in‑house Kirin chipsets and the AI‑rich HarmonyOS NEXT platform.

Even heavy discounts on the iPhone 16 series up to $346 off, or 15% haven’t been enough to counter the appeal of AI‑powered rivals. With China’s 618 shopping festival approaching, Apple is once again trimming prices to boost demand. But with domestic contenders roaring back, the company is reportedly shifting its growth strategy toward India and other emerging markets.