Apple is struggling to maintain its smartphone market over the past year in China. Many local companies including Huawei and Xiaomi are giving stiff competition to the Cupertino giant. There are many reports citing reasons behind such a decline, but no one confirmed the actual numbers. Thanks to a new report from Reuters highlighting the extent of how many Chinese are moving away from Apple.
The report cites that Apple’s share in the Chinese market tumbled from 81.2 percent to 54.6 percent in the past year. Majorly, the products falling under $500-$800 categories are worst hit with the increasing competition from local brands. While referring to the iPhone X line, Neil Shah research director at Counterpoint said: “Most Chinese smartphone buyers are not ready to shell out beyond $1,000 for a phone, and This left a gap in the below-$800 segment which Chinese vendors grabbed with both hands.”
Chinese are also missing some key features on Apple devices, it constitutes either a single or a dual rear camera while its competitors like Huawei are flocking their devices with new innovations. These days Chinese consumer look for multiple cameras, and other premium features at an affordable price.
Huawei market share improved a lot in China, jumped from 26.6 percent from 8.8 percent within a year. Huawei P20 Pro and Mate 20 are the main attractions among smartphone users in China. Even confirmed by smartphone reseller He Fan, CEO of Huishoubao, said, “Huawei’s cameras have become noticeably better than Apple’s in that they suit the tastes of Chinese consumers more.”
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Apple’s poor sales are not only limited to China but worldwide, many factories are running at half-capacity from past sometime. To overcome this situation, Apple needs to develop cheap phones, maintaining the same build quality and better specifications. More innovative features will also ensure Apple to earn back its share in China.
