Apple Dominates China’s Smartphone Market as No.1 Player

In a surprising turn of events, Apple has emerged as the leading smartphone company in China for the first time. According to IDC, Apple captured a market share of 17.3% in 2023, surpassing its competitors. This achievement is a significant milestone for Apple, as it marks their first time at the top of the Chinese smartphone market.

The year 2023 saw a decline in smartphone shipments in China, with a total of 271.3 million units, representing a 5.0% decrease compared to the previous year. This decline is the lowest volume recorded in the past decade. However, despite the overall decline, Apple managed to secure its position as the market leader.

During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Chinese smartphone market experienced a year-on-year growth of 1.2%, with shipments reaching 73.6 million units. This growth put an end to ten consecutive quarters of decline, indicating a positive shift in the market. The driving force behind this growth was the resilient high-end consumers in tier 1-3 cities, who showed a strong demand for flagship products.

While the high-end segment flourished, the demand for low- to mid-range devices remained weak, hindering the overall growth of the market. These devices make up over half of the smartphone market in China. Despite this challenge, Apple managed to stimulate demand through timely price promotions in its third-party channels, according to IDC's Arthur Guo.

Another noteworthy development in the fourth quarter of 2023 was the return of Huawei to the top 5 ranking after more than two years. This comeback highlights Huawei's resilience and ability to regain its position in the highly competitive Chinese smartphone market, as pointed out by IDC's Will Wong.