Counterpoint: iPhone sales in China fell 19% in Q1 2024, and iPhone activations fell to a six-year low

According to the latest data from market research firm Counterpoint, iPhone sales in the Chinese market fell 19% in the first quarter, dropping to third place in the fiercely competitive Chinese market.

The decline is considered the worst quarterly performance for the iPhone in the Chinese market since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Some industry insiders pointed out that the decline in sales was partly due to Apple's abnormal increase in shipments in early 2023, and was also affected by the intensified competition from local brands such as Huawei.

Not only that, Apple's performance in the US market is also unsatisfactory, and the activation rate of iPhone has dropped to a new low in recent years.

According to the latest data, iPhone now accounts for only one-third of all new smartphone activations in the United States, a significant drop from 40% last year.

Apple once dominated the smartphone market but now faces stiff competition from Android devices, which currently account for two-thirds of the new activations market.

The shift in the market landscape mirrors what happened six years ago, when iOS and Android squeezed rivals like BlackBerry and Windows out of the market.

There are several reasons for the decline in iPhone sales. As smartphones have become more expensive, their durability has also decreased, causing users to hold onto older devices longer.

The longer life cycle of smartphones has primarily affected Apple, which has relied on frequent upgrades to drive sales growth. Currently, the decline in activation rates is an important indicator of changing consumer behavior in the smartphone market.

People are increasingly reluctant to upgrade their devices as quickly as they once did, preferring to wait for more substantial updates or technology shifts .

Zikuai Technology