Apple flagship store in Shanghai, China, October 15, 2024.
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Sales of foreign phone brands fell in China in November, according to official data released Friday, underscoring more pressure on the country. applethe largest global seller of phones in the country.
In November, foreign mobile phone shipments in China reached 3.04 million units, according to CNBC calculations based on data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, or CAICT.
This represents a 47.4% decrease from November 2023, and a 51% decrease from October of last year.
CAICT does not break down numbers for individual brands, but Apple accounts for the majority of foreign mobile phone shipments in China, and competitors like Samsung make up only a small portion of the market.
These numbers highlight the increasing pressure that Apple is under in the world's largest smartphone market, as it battles increasing competition from local brands.
Huawei, for example – whose business was in mobile phones affected by US sanctions – saw A Recovery at the end of 2023 It aggressively launched advanced smartphones in China It proved popular With local buyers.
Huawei's growth far exceeds Apple's In the third quarter of last year, according to the latest data from research firm IDC.
Apple hopes that the iPhone 16 series, which was released in September, will help the company regain momentum in China, as the Cupertino, California, technology giant has promised a host of new artificial intelligence features across its company. Apple intelligence programming.
However, Apple Intelligence is not yet available in China because of this Complex regulations around artificial intelligence in nation.
Meanwhile, some of Apple's local competitors Promote their AI features Available on devices now.
In a display of how important China is to the iPhone giant, Apple CEO Tim Cook said He visited the country several times Last year trying to Support partnerships Apple Intelligence with local Chinese companies.
In an attempt to stimulate interest in the iPhone 16, Apple will start discounts for the device on Saturday as part of a promotion for the Lunar New Year holiday.
