Sales of Apple’s latest iPhone 15 models in China have slowed down compared to last year, while tensions between the United States and China continue to escalate, according to analysts.
In the first two weeks after its release, iPhone 15 sales in China dropped by 4.5% compared to the previous iPhone 14 models, as reported by Counterpoint Research.
Additionally, financial firm Jefferies noted a significant double-digit decrease in iPhone 15 sales due to strong demand for Huawei’s new Mate 60 smartphone line. This news caused Apple’s shares to dip by 0.08%.
China’s economy has been facing difficulties, including a struggling housing market and increased competition from other high-end smartphone makers, particularly Chinese giant Huawei.
Jeff Fieldhack, research director at Counterpoint, explained, “We’re seeing a lot of nationalism right now as Chinese consumers who think they’ve been wronged by the US government and sanctions are gravitating toward the Mate 60 and that is edging into Apple volumes.”
He believes that Huawei may not surpass Apple in smartphone sales right away but anticipates that the Mate 60’s popularity will continue to affect Apple’s sales.
While China remains a crucial market for Apple, as the second-largest market after the US, Fieldhack expressed concerns due to the political tensions and increasing competition.
However, in the United States, iPhone 15 sales have seen a healthy 10% increase compared to the previous year, according to Counterpoint.
This is a positive sign for Apple, especially after experiencing a decline in sales for three consecutive quarters leading up to the iPhone 15 release.
The new iPhone 15 lineup boasts a sleeker design, an upgraded main camera system, and an innovative customizable Action button, providing additional functions like starting voice memos and writing notes.
One significant change is the transition to a USB-C charging cord, ending an 11-year era of Apple’s Lightning charging cable.
The Mate 60 made headlines following its late August launch when the US government sought more information about its 5G Kirin 9000s processor, developed specifically for Huawei.
Experts were surprised by this development, considering the US had been making efforts to restrict China’s access to foreign chip technology due to national security concerns.
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