The latest data released by market research company Counterpoint Research on Wednesday showed that in the first quarter, China ’s smartphone sales fell 22% year-on-year, of which sales in February were particularly bleak, and demand this month fell by 35% compared with the same period last year. However, the demand for Apple ’s iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro has not suffered the same damage.
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Counterpoint senior analyst Ethan Qi explained that both Apple and Huawei ’s “market share has increased over the same period last year, and the performance in the first quarter of 2020 was significantly better than the overall market. Huawei ’s smartphone sales have achieved With a 6% year-on-year increase, iPhone sales fell only slightly by 1%, and their peers suffered a double-digit sales plunge. "
"The iPhone 11 was the best-selling smartphone in the first quarter; it has been the number one best-selling model in China for seven months in a row." Qi added, "Although Apple stores across China are closed in February, consumers are still Continue to buy iPhones from e-commerce platforms. "
Apple is still the largest supplier of high-end mobile phones, while sales of some of the largest Android manufacturers have fallen by about 30%.
Considering that several domestic brands offer 5G models for less than $ 400, including Vivo Z6 5G, Xiaomi K30 5G, Realme X50 5G, and ZTE Axon 11 5G, Apple ’s ability to take the top spot in China with the iPhone 11 is particularly noteworthy. Compared with other markets, 5G mobile networks are relatively widely adopted in China. Despite the attractiveness of 5G mobile phones, the vast majority of high-end buyers in China have chosen to buy more expensive iPhones without 5G support.
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Although Apple was forced to close all retail stores in China in the first quarter, Counterpoint noted, "We estimate that the share of Chinese smartphone online sales has soared from about 30% in the first quarter of 2019 to 50 %the above."
Counterpoint predicts that in the second quarter or after the New Corona virus pandemic is "substantially under control", the share of Chinese smartphone online sales will decline.
This shows that although Apple ’s retail store is important, the temporary closure will not end the sale of its products. Consumers who need a mobile phone or want to upgrade will still choose to buy products online.
