Huawei is giving Apple’s latest iPhones a run for their money in the Chinese market. A recent report by Counterpoint Research reveals that Huawei Technologies has managed to sell a staggering 1.6 million units of its Mate 60 series smartphones in just six weeks. What’s even more impressive is that this surge in sales is happening at a time when the global smartphone market is facing a slowdown, making it a remarkable achievement for the Chinese tech giant.
Notably, over 400,000 of these units were sold in the last two weeks, coinciding with the release of Apple’s iPhone 15 in China. The flagship Huawei Mate 60 Pro stands out, accounting for nearly three-quarters of the Mate series phones sold. The Mate 60 Pro, launched in late August, is gaining significant attention, thanks in part to its use of domestically produced chips, a remarkable feat given the years of US technology sanctions against Huawei.
The demand for this smartphone has reached such heights that it appears nearly impossible to keep it in stock, as noted by Counterpoint senior analyst Ivan Lam. This achievement is particularly striking given the broader context of a global smartphone market that contracted by 8%, reaching its lowest third-quarter level in a decade due to reduced demand for major brands.
In the same timeframe, only Huawei, its former unit Honor, and Transsion Group managed to achieve year-on-year growth, highlighting the significance of their success.
Switching gears, it’s worth mentioning that the report indicates that sales of the iPhone 15 in its first 17 days were 4.5% lower compared to the previous iPhone 14 series. Chinese e-commerce platforms like Pinduoduo and Taobao are currently offering substantial discounts on Apple’s latest iPhone 15 series, with prices dropping by as much as 900 yuan ($123) below the retail price.
While Apple occasionally permits partner vendors to offer discounts in China, this price competition reflects the intensifying “value for money” battle among Chinese e-commerce platforms. Consumers are tightening their belts in the face of a slowing economy, making discounts a pivotal strategy, especially as the annual Singles Day shopping festival approaches.
Interestingly, the iPhone 15 series has received an exceptionally warm reception in countries beyond China, such as India and the US. Apple is poised to achieve its highest-ever sales in these markets, making it a significant success story for the latest iPhone release.
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