After a difficult first quarter, sales of smartphones from foreign manufacturers in China rose in April (according to new data published on Friday by a state research institute).
Specifically, smartphone shipments from foreign companies reached 3.52 million units, compared to 3.50 million in the same period in 2024.
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Apple plays a major role in increasing sales of non-domestic smartphones
As the dominant foreign player in China's smartphone market , Apple has a significant impact on the overall numbers. The slight recovery in April improves the company's image, after a 9% drop in sales in the first quarter of 2025.
Faced with increasing pressure from Chinese rivals — such as Huawei and Xiaomi— Apple has adopted an aggressive pricing strategy. Huawei has begun to re-establish itself as a major player in the high-end smartphone, thanks to its advanced chips produced entirely in China. The country’s major e-commerce platforms have offered discounts of up to 2,530 yuan (about $351) on newer iPhone 16 models in an effort to boost demand.
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The small but significant recovery in iPhone sales in China is a breather for Apple, which is trying to balance tough local competition and ongoing geopolitical pressure. While aggressive promotions have helped, the company's strategy going forward should include more adaptation to the Chinese ecosystem — not just in pricing, but in product.
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China: One of the most important smartphone markets
China is one of the largest smartphone markets in the world, so any increase or decrease in sales of foreign phones can have a direct impact on the global sales of these companies.
Source: Reuters
