Warning Signs Grow Apple Is Losing China Consumers to Huawei

  • Data from GfK and IDC show iPhone down as much as 6% in China
  • Huawei recorded more than a million sales in its launch month
A display of the new range of iPhone 15 smartphones.Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg
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There is growing evidence that Apple Inc.’s latest iPhone is falling shy of its predecessor in China, suggesting a setback for the world’s most valuable company in its most important overseas market.

The iPhone 15 series saw a 6% decline in sales in its launch month compared with the prior year, according to data from market researcher GfK that covers end-consumer sales for all channels. Mobile industry tracker IDC estimates Apple’s shipments were down 4% in the third quarter, with both identifying Huawei Technologies Co.’s return to the mobile arena spotlight as a key event in the period. Huawei’s Mate 60 series recorded sales of close to 1.5 million in its launch month, more than doubling from a year ago, GfK said, despite facing supply constraints.