Apple is about to launch its AI-powered iPhones at a time when its sales in China have been sliding and local competitors are gaining market share.
When Tim Cook was last in China on official duties, he made no secret about his mission to charm.
During a March trip to the Far East, the Apple CEO posted videos of his culinary adventures to the social media app Weibo, met with local stars, and celebrated with employees in Shanghai at the opening of a new store in the city.
He’ll be hoping the charm offensive paid off.
On Monday, Apple is set to unveil its newest slate of iPhones from its Cupertino headquarters at a time when its sales in China — the company’s most important international market — have been falling in the face of weakening consumer interest.Apple is losing ground in China
Apple received strong warning signals in China in the first six weeks of the year, as iPhone sales dropped by a staggering 24%, according to data from research firm Counterpoint. The downward trend has continued in the following months.
Counterpoint data published at key points throughout the year showed a 19.1% year-on-year drop in Apple’s share of smartphone market sales in China in the first quarter, followed by a 5.7% drop in the second quarter.
It’s a worrying sign for Apple, which had already got a hint of the shifting consumer sentiment in China in its last full fiscal year.
