BEIJING: Apple last year took the largest share of smartphone shipments in the Chinese market for the first time, new data revealed on Friday, despite a tough competition from local players that included a resurgent Huawei.
The US tech giant’s market share in the world’s second-largest economy came in at 19%, industry data provider Canalys said.
Apple’s strong performance in China last year came after 2022 sales were affected by curtailed production at factories as a result of the Beijing’s zero-Covid policy.
Its showing also follows a hardening stance towards the company by China as competition heightens between the US and China in the technology sector.
Media reports in 2023 said that employees at certain Chinese government agencies were asked not to use iPhones for work, due to concerns about data security.
The foreign ministry insisted in September last year that there was no such ban, but said that reports had exposed “security incidents relating to Apple mobile phones”.
Apple enjoys ‘symbiotic’ relationship with China
During a trip to Beijing in March, Apple CEO Tim Cook said his firm enjoyed a “symbiotic” relationship with China.
Coming in behind Apple in 2023 — with annual smartphone shipment market shares in the country of 16% each — were three local manufacturers: Oppo, Vivo, and Honor.
Last year also witnessed the resurgence of Huawei, a Shenzhen-based tech company that was once the target of tough sanctions imposed by the US, which warned its equipment could be used by China for espionage.
In August, Huawei released its Mate 60 Pro handset, powered by an advanced domestically produced chip, during a trip to Beijing by US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
The new product generated debate about whether attempts by the US to curb China’s technological advancements have been effective.
Huawei notched 47% annual growth in fourth-quarter smartphone shipments in 2023.
