Close Menu
    Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Instagram X (Twitter)
    Blue Tech Wave Media
    Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Instagram X (Twitter)
    • Home
    • Leadership Alliance
    • Exclusives
    • Internet Governance
      • Regulation
      • Governance Bodies
      • Emerging Tech
    • IT Infrastructure
      • Networking
      • Cloud
      • Data Centres
    • Company Stories
      • Profiles
      • Startups
      • Tech Titans
      • Partner Content
    • Others
      • Fintech
        • Blockchain
        • Payments
        • Regulation
      • Tech Trends
        • AI
        • AR/VR
        • IoT
      • Video / Podcast
    Blue Tech Wave Media
    Home » Apple slips in China as local brands surge ahead
    IT Infrastructure

    Apple slips in China as local brands surge ahead

    By Ashley TangApril 21, 2025No Comments2 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
    • Apple’s Q1 smartphone shipments in China fell to 9.8M, down 9% year-on-year
    • Xiaomi saw a 40% surge in sales, buoyed by government subsidies targeting mid-range devices

    What happened: Apple lags as rivals ride market rebound

    Apple’s smartphone shipments in China declined 9% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, falling to 9.8M units, according to data from research firm IDC. It was the only major brand to record a drop, and its seventh straight quarter of decline in the country. Apple’s market share shrank to 13.7%, down from 17.4% in the previous quarter.

    By contrast, Xiaomi—the top smartphone vendor in China this quarter—saw shipments soar 40% to 13.3 million units. Overall, the Chinese smartphone market grew 3.3% year-on-year, indicating Apple’s struggles are more about its pricing and positioning than weak consumer demand.

    Also read: Trump urges Apple to move iPhone production to U.S.
    Also read: Tribunal blocks UK’s bid to hide Apple encryption case

    Why it’s important

    Apple’s sales decline comes at a time when the Chinese government is actively encouraging consumer spending on electronics through targeted subsidies. The initiative, introduced in January, offers a 15% refund on devices priced below $820, a segment Apple largely does not participate in due to its premium pricing strategy.

    IDC analyst Will Wong noted that this pricing mismatch has placed Apple at a disadvantage, as mid-range Android manufacturers are better positioned to attract cost-conscious buyers. As a result, Apple risks losing further ground in a market where value-for-money is increasingly prioritised over brand prestige.

    market trends Sales Decline Smartphones
    Ashley Tang

    Ashley is a community engagement specialist at BTW Media, having studied Global Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Contact her at a.tang@btw.media.

    Related Posts

    The Mauritius internet battle: A warning for all small democracies

    August 13, 2025

    GPT-4o Returns After GPT-5 Backlash—but with Conditions

    August 13, 2025

    Nokia deploys new optical backbone to speed southeast Mexico

    August 13, 2025
    Add A Comment
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    CATEGORIES
    Archives
    • August 2025
    • July 2025
    • June 2025
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • February 2025
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • March 2024
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • August 2023
    • July 2023

    Blue Tech Wave (BTW.Media) is a future-facing tech media brand delivering sharp insights, trendspotting, and bold storytelling across digital, social, and video. We translate complexity into clarity—so you’re always ahead of the curve.

    BTW
    • About BTW
    • Contact Us
    • Join Our Team
    TERMS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Use
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.