Apple lost the top spot as China's largest smartphone seller in 2024, with local rivals Vivo and Huawei Technologies dethroning the iPhone maker after its annual shipments in the Asian nation fell 17%, according to data from Canalys.

Apple shipped 42.9 million smartphones in China in 2024, compared to 51.8 million in 2023, taking a 15% market share.

Vivo took the top spot, capturing a 17% market share in China, shipping 49.3 million smartphones in 2024, growing 11% compared to 2023.

The resurgent Huawei — which was once in competition with Apple and Samsung to be the world's biggest handset maker until U.S. restrictions, starting in 2019, began to curb its access to chip manufacturing tools needed to produce its most advanced models — shipped 46 million units, seeing a 37% growth versus 2023. The company had 16% market share in 2024, compared to 12% in 2023.

seekingalpha.com - Apple loses top spot to local rivals in china smartphone shipments for canalys