Apple’s iPhone retakes top spot in China smartphone market: research

BEIJING: Apple reclaimed its position as the top smartphone seller in China after six years, clocking a record market share in the final quarter of 2021 as US sanctions hit rival Huawei, according to researchers.

A surge in sales saw the iPhone maker account for 23% of the highly competitive market in October-December, industry analysis firm Counterpoint said in a report released Wednesday.

That put the US giant in pole position for the first time since the final three months of 2015, toppling China’s Vivo.

Vivo and another local brand Oppo were not far behind, driven in part by their “strong offline penetration”, Counterpoint said.

But smartphone sales in the country also dropped 9% on-year in the period.

“Apple’s stellar performance was driven by a…