Apple Faces Sales Dip in China During Singles Day as Huawei and Xiaomi Surge

Key Details:

✅ Apple's smartphone sales dropped by 4% year-on-year during China's Singles Day festival, according to Counterpoint Research.

✅ Rivals Huawei and Xiaomi saw significant sales jumps, with increases of 66% and 28% respectively.

✅ Overall, the Chinese smartphone market experienced a 5% year-over-year increase in sales during the event.

✅ Apple’s iPhone 15 starts at 5,999 yuan, facing stiff competition from Huawei’s Mate 60 and Xiaomi’s Mi 14, priced lower at 5,499 yuan and 3,999 yuan respectively.

✅ http://JD.com reported over 10 billion yuan in transaction volume for Apple products, while Xiaomi's sales reached 22.4 billion yuan.

Context/Background:

Singles Day in China is a major shopping event, akin to Black Friday in the United States. Apple, traditionally strong in the high-end smartphone market, is facing intense competition from local brands like Huawei and Xiaomi.

Why This Matters:

👉 This shift in sales performance may indicate changing consumer preferences and a strengthening position of Chinese brands in the domestic market.

👉 The patriotic support for Huawei's Mate 60 series highlights a nationalistic trend in consumer behavior amid international trade tensions.

👉 Apple's supply chain issues, affecting the availability of its latest iPhone models, have contributed to the company's underperformance.

Market Insights:

📊 IDC anticipates a rebound in the Chinese smartphone market with growth expected in Q4, ending a ten-quarter streak of declining shipments.

Expert Opinions:

🗨️ "Apple is improving but still faces supply chain challenges," notes Ivan Lam, Senior Analyst at Counterpoint.