iPhone sales continued to decline in China during the second quarter of 2016, despite a slight rise in overall smartphone shipments. High-end devices from Samsung are also struggling, and it seems unlikely the situation will change soon.
As an emerging market, China has been a top priority for Apple in recent years. But despite the effort it puts into carving out a name for itself locally, Apple continues to struggle to sell the iPhone at a premium price.
Overall smartphone shipments in China rose 2.7 percent on quarter and 14.3 percent on year during the second quarter to 149 million units. But with local vendors focusing on entry-level and mid-range devices, Apple struggled.
Just like Samsung, Apple suffered a decline in shipments during Q2 as ranked as the fifth smartphone maker, according to DigiTimes. Huawei was the top smartphone vendor, followed by Oppo, Vivo, and then Xiaomi Technology.
Smartphone shipments in China are expected to decline later this year, so it seems unlikely the iPhone will rise there anytime soon. However, Apple will be introducing the iPhone 7 series next month, and that should boost sales worldwide.
The refresh is expected to bring improved designs that could be water-resistant, improved cameras, and Apple’s new A10 processor. Recent reports have also promised a new Bluetooth chip for audio, touch-sensitive home buttons, and sharper displays.
