Apple iPhone beats Xiaomi, others- in CHINA! How it was done and role of iPhone 13
Yes, you read that right. Apple iPhone has actually beaten Xiaomi in China itself. Role of iPhone 13 was significant.
The Apple vs Xiaomi rivalry is pretty fierce, and for the iPhone to triumph in China is a major victory. The latest smartphone sales report of Q4 FY21 has highlighted that when it comes to China, Apple iPhone has surpassed Xiaomi in the fourth quarter of financial year 2021.It is not merely Xiaomi, even Vivo, Oppo and Honor were left behind. Of course, the rising popularity of Xiaomi cannot be ignored. The popular smartphone makers of Mi and Redmi brands have taken up a large share of the market in India. Xiaomi retained its top position in India according to a report by Counterpoint research. The report also highlighted that the brand witnessed a 258 per cent growth in the premium smartphone category (smartphones priced above Rs. 30,000). Additionally, it has also been capturing consumer's attention in the US and European markets.
Apple iPhone growth in the latest quarter was surprising as in the previous few quarters it struggled to capture even 15 per cent of China's market share, something Vivo, Oppo and Xiaomi were consistently doing. Further, Apple did go through some difficult periods as 2020 sales were postponed resulting in diminished sales. Despite that, the last quarter has become the strongest for Apple, which followed on the heels of its latest iPhone 13 series launch.
Apple iPhone surpasses Xiaomi in its domestic market
The year 2021 was relatively smoother for the iPhone makers and it was seen in the sales report shared by GizChina. Apple usually has a weak Q3 every year as the iPhone reaches the end of yearly cycle and people start waiting for the new iPhone launch which takes place in September or October. In Q3 FY21, Apple had only 13 per cent of the smartphone market, as opposed to 23 per cent by Vivo, 20 per cent by Oppo, 15 per cent by Honor and 14 per cent by Xiaomi. However, Q4 has bolstered the sales for Apple after launching its iPhone 13 series which included the base model of iPhone 13, the smaller iPhone 13 Mini and the Pro lineup of iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
In the Q4 FY21, Apple has come out with the highest share of China's smartphone market with 23 per cent of the share, while Vivo, Oppo and Honor have staggered behind at 19, 17 and 15 per cent respectively. Xiaomi has ended up further behind at only 13 per cent of the market.
What these numbers mean for India
Apple's bolstered numbers in Q4 make sense as Apple generally witnesses a high rise in sales after its smartphone launch. However, the growth witnessed this time around has been one of the highest. In general, Apple has always struggled to mark its presence in Chinese markets. Xiaomi and other brands usually have the upper hand due to multiple releases held in every quarter but it seems like people are leaning towards Apple.
For Indian markets, this trend is definitely interesting as Xiaomi has been aiming to become the Apple of China for a number of years now. It was marked by its aggressive marketing, competitive pricing and creating an ‘Applesque' celebration around the launch of its flagship devices. With a dip in sales number and the rise of iPhone, Xiaomi will surely look to push further forward with its marketing and aggressive sales tactics. As a result, India may benefit with better pricing offers and additional benefits when it comes to future releases by iPhone. With the Redmi Note 11 Pro series expected to launch next month, India may get a taste of Xiaomi's new strategies sooner than expected.
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