The US-based company lost its leadership position last year, but it still had the best Q4 - only just. Canalys reports that 2024 was a year of recovery

Apple smartphone shipments in China fell 25% in the fourth quarter, while Huawei's rose 24%, data from research firm Canalys showed on Thursday.Apple shipped 13.1 million units versus Huawei's 12.9 million,

Apple ( NASDAQ:AAPL) slips fractionally in premarket trading after losing its top spot in China's smartphone market in 2024. Local brands Vivo and Huawei move ahead as Apple's shipments drop 17% to 42.9 million units, bringing its market share down to 15%, according to Canalys.

Apple took the number one spot but saw a 25% year-over-year decline after having shipped 13.1M units in the fourth quarter of 2024. The company had 17% of the Chinese smartphone market at the end of the fourth quarter, compared to 24% in the year-ago period.

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.

Apple lost its No. 1 spot in China as domestic rivals took advantage of the iPhone maker’s lack of artificial intelligence features available on phones purchased in the country, according to data from research firm Canalys.