Charts of the Day: China’s Smartphone Brands Take a Bite Out of Apple

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Chinese smartphone-makers’ shipments jumped in the second quarter, squeezing out American rival Apple Inc. as the domestic handset market rebounded.

In the quarter ending June, the top five brands in the Chinese mainland’s smartphone market were all domestic, according to a report by market research firm Canalys on Thursday. The last time local players comprised all of the top five brands by number of units shipped was nearly four years ago, another research firm, IDC, said Friday.

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Chinese smartphone shipments surged in Q2, surpassing Apple, with Vivo, Oppo, and Honor leading the market.
Huawei's shipments increased 41% to 10.6 million, achieving a 15% market share; Xiaomi reentered the top five with a 17% increase.
The Chinese market grew 10% YoY, driven by heavy discounts and promotions, with domestic brands integrating AI features and planning overseas expansion.

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

Apple Inc.: In the second quarter, Apple Inc.'s shipments in China declined by 6.7% to 9.7 million units, resulting in a 14% market share, the same as Xiaomi. This decline caused Apple to fall out of the top five brands in China's smartphone market.

Vivo Mobile Communications Co. Ltd.: Vivo Mobile Communications Co. Ltd. took the top spot in Chinese smartphone shipments in the second quarter, with a 15% increase to 13.1 million units, securing a 19% market share, according to a Canalys report.

Oppo Co. Ltd.: Oppo Co. Ltd. was ranked second in the Chinese mainland's smartphone market in the second quarter. It was among the top five domestic brands in terms of shipment numbers as the market rebounded. The company benefited from local supply chain collaborations and high-end product strategies.

Honor Device Co. Ltd.: Honor Device Co. Ltd. ranked third in the Chinese mainland’s smartphone market during the second quarter. This marks a significant position among the top five brands dominating the market, all of which are domestic players, according to Canalys. The company's performance contributed to a robust recovery in the Chinese smartphone market.

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.: Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. saw a 41% increase in shipments to 10.6 million units in the second quarter, securing a 15% market share. The Shenzhen-based giant’s Pura 70 series, released in April, was highly popular among Chinese consumers. Despite U.S. trade restrictions, Huawei closed the gap with Apple in the $600 and above segment during the first half of the year.

Xiaomi Corp.: Xiaomi Corp. reentered the top five in the Chinese smartphone market with a 17% increase to 10 million shipments, attributed to the marketing buzz from its launch of the first electric vehicle, the SU7, in March. Xiaomi now holds a 14% market share, the same as Apple, according to Canalys data.

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What Happened When

March 2024：: Xiaomi Corp. launched its first electric vehicle, the SU7, generating significant marketing buzz.

April 2024：: Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. released the Pura 70 series, which proved highly popular among Chinese consumers.

June 2024：: Heavy discounts and promotions during the “6.18” shopping event in June 2024 helped drive the market recovery.

The quarter ending June 2024：: The top five brands in the Chinese mainland’s smartphone market were all domestic as the market rebounded.

Thursday, July 4, 2024：: Market research firm Canalys reported that in the quarter ending June 2024, the top five brands in the Chinese mainland’s smartphone market were all domestic.

AI generated, for reference only