Huawei overtakes Apple to become the leading smartphone brand in China

Emmanuel Oyedeji -
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Key takeaways: Huawei reclaimed the top spot in China’s smartphone market in Q4 2024 with an 18.1% share. • Apple fell to third place in China in the quarter, with iPhone sales dropping 18.2% • While Q4 sales declined 3.2% year-over-year, full-year performance was brighter, with the market growing 1.5% overall.

Just a few years ago, Huawei’s future seemed uncertain as U.S. sanctions cut it off from crucial chip supplies and the global smartphone market moved on.

Fast forward to the end of 2024, and Huawei is staging one of the most remarkable comebacks in tech history. Armed with its own Kirin 5G chips and a killer lineup of devices, the Chinese giant has reclaimed the top spot in its home market, dethroning Apple in dramatic fashion.

According to Counterpoint, Huawei’s Q4 sales grew 15.5% year-over-year, securing an 18.1% market share. This jump from its 15.2% share in Q4 2023 highlights its rapid ascent. The Mate 70 series, powered by the domestically made Kirin 9020 chip, and the AI-driven Nova 13 mid-range lineup were key drivers of success, appealing to both premium and mid-range buyers.

Meanwhile, Apple's fortunes in China continued to slide. Once the market leader with a 20.2% share in Q4 2023, Apple fell to third place with a 16.1% share after a steep 18.2% drop in sales. Xiaomi climbed to second with a 17.2% market share, buoyed by 3.9% growth. Vivo also improved, taking fourth place with an 8% sales increase, while Honor and Oppo saw declines of 12.8% and 9.3%, respectively.

Despite Huawei’s dominance, the Chinese smartphone market as a whole faced challenges. Q4 sales declined 3.2% year-over-year, the only quarterly decline of 2024.

However, the full-year 2024 picture was brighter, with the market growing 1.5% overall. Vivo led the annual rankings with a 17.8% share, edging out Huawei, which finished second at 16.3% and Xiaomi at 15.7%.

Overall, Huawei’s strong finish in Q4 sets the stage for a competitive 2025, but reclaiming the annual top spot will require sustained growth and continued innovation. With Apple and Xiaomi remaining strong contenders, Huawei’s path to the full-year crown is anything but guaranteed.