Huawei’s smartphone sales came out ahead of Apple in the crucial holiday season shopping period of Q4 2024. New data from Counterpoint Research shows that Huawei took the top spot for smartphone sales in China in the final quarter of last year,

The Counterpoint Research report reveals that Apple used to have about 19 per cent market share last year. But this year, the numbers have been abysmally low for Apple.

Apple’s smartphone sales in China fell sharply in the final quarter of 2024, hurt by the popularity of local rivals like Huawei and others expanding into the premium market, according to a closely followed research firm.

Huawei has been the top smartphone brand with a strong 18.1% market share in Q4 2024 in China, ahead of Xiaomi with 17.2% and Apple at 17.1%, noted the Counterpoint’s Market Pulse Service

Local smartphone makers Vivo and Huawei leapfrogged Apple to become the top two sellers in the Chinese market last year, dealing a blow to the iPhone maker as it struggles to introduce AI features on the mainland and fight competition from domestic rivals.

Apple's iPhone sales in China reportedly took a tumble at the end of 2024, with a considerable reduction in sales putting it in a dead heat with homegrown Xiaomi.