Apple Breaks Losing Streak In China With iPhone 8

Apple’s smartphone sales have been struggling in China for quite some time now. It wasn’t an ideal situation for the company that it was on an 18 month losing streak in the world’s most lucrative smartphone market. The iPhone 8 has helped Apple to finally break the losing streak in China. Apple has seen its smartphone sales in China rebound on the back of the iPhone 8.

Prior to this quarter, Apple posted year-over-year declines in iPhones sales for the Chinese market over the past six quarters straight. Market research firm Canalys reports that the iPhone 8 helped Apple’s smartphone sales rebound in the People’s Republic.

It’s an interesting observation, given that multiple reports have suggested that the iPhone 8 hasn’t sold well in other markets, particularly the United States. Customers in these markets reportedly chose to wait for the iPhone X.

Canalys reports that iPhone sales surged 40 percent this quarter to 11 million units compared to 8 million units from the same time last year. The iPhone 8 accounted for a higher proportion of sales this year than the iPhone 7 series did in the same quarter last year.

Despite renewed momentum in smartphone sales, Canalys believes that Apple won’t be able to carry this forward. It says that Apple’s growth this past quarter is only temporary and it won’t be able to sustain it in the fourth quarter.

There’s demand for the iPhone X but the high price coupled with limited quantities might not help Apple achieve another sales surge in China over the holiday season.

Adnan Farooqui
Categories: Cellphones
Tags: iPhone 8, iPhone X