Apple's iPhone 16e has achieved a 60% higher sales rate in its initial three days compared to the third-generation iPhone SE released in 2022. Despite this strong performance, analysts project that Apple's overall sales in China will decline by approximately 2% in 2025.
Key Factors Influencing Apple's Sales in China
- Intensified Android Competition: Chinese Android manufacturers are benefiting from national subsidies, enhancing their competitiveness against Apple.
- Delayed AI Feature Rollouts: Apple's postponement of new AI features for Siri has dampened expectations for a significant iPhone upgrade cycle, potentially affecting sales.
- Recent Sales Declines: In the last quarter of 2024, Apple's iPhone sales in China experienced a significant drop, with reports indicating an 18.2% decrease year-over-year.
These challenges suggest that while the iPhone 16e's initial success is notable, it may not be sufficient to counteract the broader downward trend in Apple's Chinese market share.