Apple Takes The Cake Again In China As Top Smartphone Seller Amid Odds

Apple Inc AAPL became the leading smartphone seller in China in Q4, despite Covid disruptions and economic slowdown.
Apple accounted for nearly 24% of China's smartphone sales in the last three months of 2022, according to Counterpoint Research.
In 2022, vivo retained the first spot with a 19.2% market share, followed by Apple at 18.0% and OPPO at 17.5%.
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Apple again impressed despite shortages faced by the iPhone 14 Pro versions and the comparatively lower popularity of the iPhone 14 series' non-Pro versions due to limited upgrades compared to the iPhone 13.
Apple's sales outperformed the country's market in 2022, falling by only 3% Y/Y.
Major Android OEMs like OPPO (-27% Y/Y), vivo (-23% Y/Y), and Xiaomi Corp XIACF XIACY (-19% Y/Y) saw significant Y/Y declines.
China's smartphone sales declined 14% Y/Y in 2022 to record their fifth consecutive year of decline.
In Q4 2022, China's smartphone sales declined 15% Y/Y despite China's Covid relaxations. Apple posted a double-digit decline Y/Y in Q4.
Counterpoint expects a market turnaround once COVID-19 herd immunity happens, likely in Q2 2023.
Price Action: AAPL shares closed higher by 1.37% at $145.93 on Friday.