Sales of Apple Inc. iPhones dived 18.2% in China during the December quarter, according to independent research, a major setback for the company in its biggest market after the US.

Apple’s smartphone sales in China fell sharply in the final quarter of 2024, hurt by the popularity of local rivals like Huawei and others expanding into the premium market, according to a closely followed research firm.

Apple ( NASDAQ:AAPL) is feeling the heat in China. iPhone sales slid 18.2% in Q4 2024, dropping its market share to 17.1%, down from 20.2% a year ago. Meanwhile, Huawei is back on top for the first time since U.S. sanctions hit in 2019, grabbing an 18.1% share.

The company's flagship handsets, China's top sellers a year earlier, relinquished the top spot to Huawei Technologies Co., Counterpoint Research found

Apple's smartphone shipments in China plunged 25% in the fourth quarter of 2024, data from research firm Canalys showed, as the iPhone maker faced mounting pressure from a resurgent Huawei in one of its biggest global markets.

Huawei has been the top smartphone brand with a strong 18.1% market share in Q4 2024 in China, ahead of Xiaomi with 17.2% and Apple at 17.1%, noted the Counterpoint’s Market Pulse Service

Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhones sales fell 18.2% in China in the fourth quarter of 2024, while the resurgent Chinese rival Huawei Technologies took the top spot, according to Counterpoint Research. Apple slipped to third spot in the Chinese market with a 17.