Foreign smartphone sales in China plunged by 44.25% in October, according to data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT). The report shows that foreign brands sold only 6.22 million units last month, a sharp decline from 11.149 million units in the same period last year, as reported by Reuters.
The decline reflects the significant influence of Apple, the largest foreign smartphone manufacturer in the Chinese market. While Apple launched its iPhone 16 series in September, some highly anticipated AI features tailored for Chinese users are not expected until next year.
Despite the overall rise in China’s smartphone market, with total sales increasing by 1.8% year-on-year to 29.67 million units in October, foreign brands experienced a steep drop in demand.
Analysts attribute this decline to intense competition from local brands and the lack of features specifically designed to cater to Chinese consumers. Local manufacturers’ focus on innovative features and competitive pricing has further strained the market share of foreign brands in China.
