"US-China Conflict Irrelevant" iPhone Holds 46% Share of China's Premium Smartphone Market

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Despite escalating tensions between the U.S. and China, Chinese consumers' preference for iPhones has reportedly increased.

According to a Counterpoint Research report on the 24th, Apple iPhone ranked first in China's premium smartphone market priced above $400 (approximately 530,000 KRW) in the second quarter of this year, capturing a 46% market share. This is an increase from 43% during the same period last year.

In the ultra-premium smartphone segment priced above $1,000 (approximately 1,330,000 KRW), iPhone sales in the second quarter grew by 147% compared to the same period last year. Samsung Electronics' smartphone sales in this segment also increased by 133% year-over-year. However, total sales in China's premium smartphone market for the second quarter declined by 10% compared to the same period last year.

Counterpoint Research analyst Zhang Mengmeng stated, "Both Apple and Samsung benefited from Huawei's decline and the shift in Chinese consumer trends toward premium phones." This is because sales rates of products priced between $600?$799 and above $1,000 increased year-over-year in the second quarter premium smartphone sales.

Huawei's premium smartphone market share in China was 19% in the second quarter last year but dropped to 11% this year, placing it third. Instead, China's Vivo secured 13% market share, rising to second place in the domestic premium smartphone market for the first time. Fourth place was Honor, which Huawei sold in 2020, recording a 9% market share.

Analyst Zhang added, "Lockdowns in major cities such as Shanghai during the second quarter affected premium smartphone sales because most customers in this segment reside in those cities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.