Apple was dethroned as China's biggest smartphone seller in 2024, with local rivals Vivo and Huawei overtaking the iPhone maker after its annual shipments in the country declined 17%, data from research firm Canalys showed on Thursday.

The US-based company lost its leadership position last year, but it still had the best Q4 - only just. Canalys reports that 2024 was a year of recovery

Canalys reported that iPhone shipments in China fell by 25% in the fourth quarter of 2024, while Huawei's shipments rose by 24% during the same period. This significant shift highlights Apple's growing challenges in China,

Apple's smartphone shipments in China plunged 25% in the fourth quarter of 2024, data from research firm Canalys showed, as the iPhone maker faced mounting pressure from a resurgent Huawei in one of its biggest global markets.

Apple ( NASDAQ:AAPL) slips fractionally in premarket trading after losing its top spot in China's smartphone market in 2024. Local brands Vivo and Huawei move ahead as Apple's shipments drop 17% to 42.9 million units, bringing its market share down to 15%, according to Canalys.