In a recent report from a government-linked research organization, it was revealed that shipments of foreign-branded mobile phones in China, which includes brands like Apple, dropped by 9.7 percent in May compared to the same month last year.
Data collected by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) indicates that foreign-branded phone shipments amounted to 4.54 million units in May, down from the previous year.
Apple, being the leading foreign smartphone manufacturer in China’s highly competitive market, significantly influences the overall sales figures for foreign-branded devices within the country.
To maintain its market position amidst escalating competition from local manufacturers, Apple has implemented price reductions. In May, various Chinese e-commerce platforms provided substantial discounts on the latest iPhone 16 models, offering savings of up to 2,530 yuan ($351).
The CAICT report did not specify the sales figures attributed to Apple individually.
Overall, the data also highlighted a substantial decline in total phone shipments within China, which fell by 21.8 percent year-on-year, totaling 23.72 million units for the month.
© Thomson Reuters 2025
