In a surprising turn of events, Huawei's Mate 60 Pro has outperformed Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)'s iPhone 15 in the Chinese market, marking a shift in consumer preferences. According to data released on Tuesday, Huawei has secured a 19.4% market share for the week of October 2-8, driven by the popularity of its Mate 60 Pro models. This development comes amid an overall market decline of 3%.
The introduction of the Mate 60 Series in September has catalyzed an annual sales surge of 95% for Huawei, starkly contrasting with the broader market trend. Over the preceding three weeks, Huawei's sales growth reached impressive figures of 91%, 46%, and 83% respectively.
On the other hand, Apple's iPhone 15 is underperforming in the Chinese market, with sales figures showing a significant double-digit drop compared to its predecessor, the iPhone 14. This decline is attributed to decreased smartphone demand and increased competition from Huawei's successful Mate 60 Pro. Despite advanced features like a titanium build and A17 Pro chipsets, the iPhone 15 line has been affected by heating issues linked to "background activity", as stated by Apple. This problem has led to user discomfort, especially with the iPhone 15 Pro models which have been reported as uncomfortably warm to the touch.
Analysts from Counterpoint Research and Jefferies Group, including Edison Lee, suggest that a shift towards Huawei products is being driven by Chinese consumers' nationalism, stemming from perceived wrongs due to US sanctions.
If these trends continue, forecasts from Jefferies report indicate that Huawei is set to surpass the iPhone by 2024. These developments underline the growing competition in China's smartphone market and highlight the impact of geopolitical factors on consumer preferences.
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