New Delhi: According to the latest data from the Global Market Research Firm IDC, Apple’s smartphone delivery in China fell 9 % to 9.8 million iPhones in the first quarter of 2025, less than 10.7 million a year ago. The company was the only largest smartphone company that reported the reduction of shipment during the period – which highlighted its growing struggle in the world’s largest smartphone market.
In the last quarter, its market share was 13.7 percent, with less than 17.4 percent. This has reduced the seventh consecutive quarter for the US Tech Dev in China. On the contrary, Chinese smartphone leader Xiaomi saw a 40 % increase in shipment, which reached 13.3 million units.
Overall, the Chinese smartphone market increased by 3.3 % during the quarter, one of which is driven by the new government subsidy introduced in January. “The tensions of the US China have added to the challenges,” said Will Wong, a senior client’s research manager at IDC Asia/Pacific.
Wang said, “US tensions have sparked disturbing news, but the silver layer is that the first quarter growth has given market players a better position to tackle any challenges in the rest of the year.” As Apple is struggling in China, the company is allegedly focusing more on India as a manufacturing and export center.
Apple is looking for the possibility of an increase in iPhone exports to the United States from India, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report. The move aims to avoid the heavy rates imposed by the United States on Chinese imports, which now stands up to 245 %.
In comparison, India faces only 26 % of US tariffs, making it a more cost -effective alternative. Meanwhile, Apple India saw a 60 % increase in the manufacture of the iPhone in the financial year ended March 31, 2025, which, according to industry data last week, reached a business of about Rs 1.89 million.
According to Union Minister Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vishnu, in this whole, iPhones worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore were recovered from India during 2024-25.
