China's Smartphone Market: Who’s on Top and What’s Next?

In the third quarter of 2024, China's smartphone market saw a slight bump, with around 69 million phones shipped—a 3. 2% increase from last year. This marks the fourth straight quarter of growth, mostly thanks to local brands. Vivo, for instance, boosted its sales by 21. 5%, staying at the top spot it snagged in the second quarter. Huawei, despite falling to third place, saw a huge jump in shipments—up by 42% over last year. Apple, surprisingly, climbed to second place from being out of the top five last quarter. However, its iPhone sales in China are barely up—only 0. 3% over last year.

The race is tight at the top. Apple's market share is just 0. 3% ahead of Huawei. Xiaomi edged out Honor this quarter, but both are close in market share. Apple will need to innovate with its iPhone 17 lineup and the upcoming iPhone SE 4 to stay competitive. Huawei, with its impressive foldable phones, is coming back strong. Xiaomi and Honor also pose threats, with Xiaomi aiming high in the premium segment and Honor dominating the lower-cost market. Samsung, meanwhile, is barely present in China. Vivo continues to lead the pack, with a strong local advantage and affordable high-end foldables that are gaining popularity.

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