Apple CEO Tim Cook Visits China Amid Huawei’s Growing Market Share

Apple has seen huge demand for the new iPhone 15 series models in most countries except one of its key markets this year. Industry reports claim that sales of iPhone 15 models in China have been lower than last year, which appears to have prompted Apple CEO Tim Cook to make a surprise visit to the country.

According to a Bloomberg report, Cook landed and went to the city of Chengdu, where he reportedly spoke to the players. The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are aggressively targeted at gamers, which could explain his decision to visit the region. Cook has even shared a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo where he is seen interacting with players in Chengdu.

In fact, the Apple Chief even met with Tencent, the developers behind the popular game Honor of Kings. It is likely that Cook headed to the Apple Taikoo Li Store in Chengdu. But it goes without saying that Cook’s visit coincides with the company’s iPhone sales faltering amid a surge in demand for Huawei phones in the country.

Apple must be concerned that the Huawei Mate 60 Pro has outsold the iPhone 15 models in China, as highlighted in a recent report by Counterpoint Research. Purely based on the numbers, iPhone 15 sales in China have been 4.5 percent lower than iPhone 14 sales last year. Huawei is a strong competitor in its home market, and based on these reports, it looks like the local tie-in has helped its cause.

Apple’s US links invariably affect its image in the country, and ongoing geopolitical tension is unlikely to make it any simpler. Huawei is expected to overtake Apple as China’s top brand by 2024, according to Jeffries’ industry report. Analysts also point out that the pandemic had a dramatic impact on the smartphone market in China, and the country is still reeling from its aftermath.

Apple has already realized that it needs to reduce its dependence on China for its production by bringing the likes of Vietnam and India into the picture. In fact, the new iPhone 15 series has already undergone a mixed approach, with the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus assembled in India, while the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are still manufactured in China.