Currently, China is slowly reopening after a recent COVID-19 wave that began in March 2022. The lockdowns and health measures have also led to a broader smartphone downturn in the country which in turn resulted in Apple iPhone shipments decline in the country.
Based on the information on the latest smartphone sales provided by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee wrote that iPhone shipments were “below seasonal” in April 2022.
Apple iPhone shipments declined by 26% MoM in April due to the broader smartphone downturn
iPhone 13 series has been a massive hit in China. The strong demand for the latest flagship as early November 2021, earned Apple the title of China’s largest smartphone brand, after six years, with 46% MoM growth. And in the fourth quarter of 2021, the tech giant became China’s #1 smartphone brand with a 23% market share driven by iPhone 13.
However, a broader smartphone downturn in China has led to a 26% MoM decline. In his new note to investors, Chatterjee wrote:
International shipments in China, which are mostly comprised of iPhones, tracked at 1.7 million units in April. That’s below the historical average of 3.1 million shipments.
Shipments decreased 26% month-over-month in April — a reversal of a small seasonal uptick of 1% between March and April.
Having said that, the analyst also details that iPhone performed better in comparison to previous cycles.
The iPhone seems to be a casualty of a broader smartphone downturn in China. Between March and April, shipments declined by 16% month-over-month. On average, shipments have tended to climb by as much as 27% during the same timeframe in past years.
Total international smartphone shipments in China clock in at 36.4 million since the release of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro. Despite the downturn in April, that’s still 11% higher than shipments during previous cycles.
It must also be kept in mind that Apple will be launching new iPhone 14 series with allegedly redesign iPhone 14 Pro models in September this year. Ahead of the launch, a shift is observed in consumers buying trends.
via Apple Insider
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