Apple’s iPhone sales in China fell 9% year-over-year during the recent 618 shopping festival.
Counterpoint Research reported the decline despite steep discounts of up to 2,000 yuan ($290) on latest models. These promotions helped Apple temporarily regain the number two position in the Chinese smartphone market.
The broader Chinese smartphone market contracted 13% during the promotional period. Huawei was the only major brand to achieve year-over-year growth during the event.
Analysts attribute the slump to difficult year-over-year comparisons and cooling consumer demand. The data suggests Apple faces significant challenges in one of its most critical international markets.