Apple’s smartphone shipments in China fell by 9% in the first quarter compared to the same period last year, marking the company’s seventh consecutive quarter of decline. According to research firm IDC, Apple remains the only major smartphone manufacturer to experience a drop in shipments.
The company, which holds the fifth spot in China’s competitive smartphone market, saw its shipments decline to 9.8 million units. As a result, Apple’s market share dropped to 13.7%, down from 17.4% in the previous quarter.
In contrast, Xiaomi, the market leader, reported a significant 40% increase in shipments, reaching 13.3 million devices. Industry-wide, shipments grew by 3.3%.
IDC analyst Will Wong attributed Apple’s decline to its premium pricing strategy, which has hindered the company from benefiting from government subsidies introduced in January. These subsidies, which refund consumers 15% of the price for smartphones and some other electronics under 6,000 yuan ($820), contributed to growth in the broader market during the first quarter.
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