Apple loses smartphone sales crown in China, drops to third in 2024

BEIJING (Reuters) -Apple was dethroned as China's biggest smartphone seller in 2024, with local rivals Vivo and Huawei overtaking the iPhone maker after its annual shipments in the country declined 17%, data from research firm Canalys showed on Thursday. It was Apple's largest-ever annual sales decline in China and involved contraction in all four quarters, including a 25% drop in the final quarter, according to the data. For the full year, budget smartphone maker Vivo captured a 17% market share in China, followed by premium rival Huawei with 16% and Apple with 15%, demonstrating the growing sales pressure it faces from domestic manufacturers in one of its biggest global markets.