Apple's iPhone is continually losing share in the Chinese mobile phone market, a new research study revealed.
According to Counterpoint Technology Market Research, iPhone sales have taken a deeper decline. Apple, who dominated the market in 2003, is now at the fifth place. This translates to only 11 percent of the market. The slump in iPhone sales is greater in mainland China and Hong Kong, where there was a 26-percent decrease in the first quarter, marking Apple's biggest sales loss since 2003.
Local domestic manufacturers such as Huawei, Oppo and Xiaomi continue to be Apple's biggest competition. According to China Daily, local brands are getting more attention from consumers because their phones are cheaper and have comparable features to high-end Apple's and Samsung's phones.
Latest market findings from the International Data Corporation revealed that the iPhone is losing edge against competitors' features and lower prices. Huawei has steadily increased from 11 percent to 16 percent of shares from the first to the second quarter. Oppo and Vivo, both lower-end phones, had doubled their market share.
At present, eight of the top 10 top mobile phone sellers in China are domestic manufacturers.
Market research firm Canalys reported that shipping of smartphones slacked in 2012. This was also the same time that local manufacturer Xiaomi entered the market. Xiaomi is now valued at $45 million and has put up sales offices in India and Brazil.
Total sales of the iPhone have declined to its lowest in years. Based on the findings of CCID Consulting Company Limited, total iPhone sales amounted to 11.5 million units, 2 million units fewer than the amount sold in 2015.
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, made numerous trips to China in an attempt to resuscitate sales.