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Apple ([AAPL\-2.83%](https://qz.com/quote/AAPL)) is giving its Chinese customers a discount on iPhones as it [competes with homegrown rivals](https://qz.com/apple-losing-huawei-china-smartphone-iphone-ai-market-1851672936) such as Huawei. The iPhone maker is offering a [discount of up to 500 Chinese yuan](https://www.apple.com.cn/iphone/), or $68.50, on its latest iPhone models when customers use “eligible payment methods,” according to the Apple website. The 500 yuan discount applies to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, while the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will be discounted by 400 yuan during the promotion, which runs from January 4 to 7. In the third quarter of last year, Apple [re-entered the top five smartphone makers](https://qz.com/apple-china-smartphone-market-share-huawei-iphone-16-1851681264) in the Chinese market, capturing a 15.6% share and coming in second place, according to [data](https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prAP52680124) from the International Data Corporation (IDC). The Cupertino-based company had previously [fallen to sixth place](https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prAP52467524) in the second quarter. Huawei, once the world’s largest smartphone maker before [U.S. sanctions hobbled](https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/28/huawei-q4-smartphone-shipments-plunge-41percent-as-us-sanctions-bite.html) its business in 2020, is slashing prices by up to 20% on its premium phones to compete with Apple in China. The company is also pushing innovation, launching its groundbreaking Mate XT smartphone with a 10-inch tri-fold display [just hours](https://qz.com/huawei-mate-xt-trifold-smartphone-apple-iphone-16-ai-1851644416) after Apple’s iPhone 16 debut in September. “Huawei has staged an impressive comeback, recording four consecutive quarters of at least double-digit growth,” the IDC said. “The launch of the world’s first tri-foldable phone is expected to further drive the foldable market development.” Huawei and other Chinese smartphone makers experienced double-digit growth last year, [boosting smartphone shipments in China by 8.9%](https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prAP52467524) year-over-year in the second quarter, according to a previous IDC report.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Huawei on Tuesday held a global launch for the industry’s first tri-foldable phone, which analysts said marked a symbolic victory for the Chinese tech giant amid U.S. technology curbs. But challenges over pricing, longevity, supply and app constraints may limit its success. Huawei said at a launch event in Kuala Lumpur that the Huawei Mate XT, first unveiled in China five months ago, will be priced at 3,499 euros ($3,662). Although dubbed a trifold, the phone has three mini-panels and folds only twice. The company says it's the thinnest foldable phone at 3.6 millimeters (0.14 inches), with a 10.2-inch screen similar to an Apple iPad. “Right now, Huawei kind of stands alone as an innovator" with the trifold design, said Bryan Ma, vice president of device research with the market intelligence firm International Data Corporation. Huawei reached the position despite “not getting access to chips, to Google services. All these things basically have been huge roadblocks in front of Huawei,” Ma said, adding that the “resurgence we're seeing from them over the past year has been quite a bit of a victory." Huawei, China’s first global tech brand, is at the center of a U.S.-China battle over trade and technology. Washington in 2019 severed Huawei’s access to U.S. components and technology, including Google’s music and other smartphone services, making Huawei's phone less appealing to users. It has also barred global vendors from using U.S. technology to produce components for Huawei. American officials say Huawei is a security risk, which the company denies. China’s government has accused Washington of misusing security warnings to contain a rising competitor to U.S. technology companies. Huawei launched the Mate XT in China on Sept. 20 last year, the same day Apple launched its iPhone 16 series in global markets. But with its steep price tag, the Mate XT “is not a mainstream product that people are going to jump for,” Ma said. At the Kuala Lumpur event, Huawei also unveiled its MatePad Pro tablet and Free Arc, its first open-ear earbuds with ear hooks and other wearable devices. While Huawei’s cutting-edge devices showcase its technological prowess, its long-term success remains uncertain given ongoing challenges over global supply chain constraints, chip availability and limitations on the software ecosystem, said Ruby Lu, an analyst with the research firm TrendForce. "System limitations, particularly the lack of Google Mobile Services, means its international market potential remains constrained,” Lu said. IDC's Ma said Huawei dominated the foldable phone market in China with 49% market share last year. In the global market, it had 23% market share, trailing behind Samsung's 33% share in 2024, he said. IDC predicted that total foldable phone shipments worldwide could surge to 45.7 million units by 2028, from over 20 million last year. While most major brands have entered the foldable segments, Lu said Apple has yet to release a competing product. “Once Apple enters the market, it is expected to significantly influence and stimulate further growth in the foldable phone sector,” Lu added.

Apple Watch sales are enduring a years-long backslide. While Apple first launched its watch in 2015, sales didn’t spike until the pandemic, when consumers were highly focused on their health. But competitors quickly caught up, with fitness-focused companies like Garmin integrating more smart technology. Meanwhile, Apple stumbled in adding compelling new features—getting into some legal spats along the way. For the past three years, Apple Watch sales have declined year-over-year, according to research firm IDC. In 2022, Apple sold 43 million units; by 2024, that number dropped to 34 million. The Apple Watch also lost market share, falling from 29.6% to 22.5%, while high-end competitor Garmin and budget alternatives like Huawei and Xiaomi gained ground. And although Apple doesn’t break out revenue by individual product, its “Wearables, Home and Accessories” segment was the only one to [decline](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/pdfs/fy2025-q1/FY25_Q1_Consolidated_Financial_Statements.pdf) year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2024. “Apple is in a weird spot,” says Jitesh Ubrani, a research manager at IDC studying wearables. “They make great stuff but, at least on the watch side, things are a little bit iterative.” _ The final deadline for Fast Company’s [Best Workplaces for Innovators Awards](https://www.fastcompany.com/apply/best-workplaces-for-innovators) is this Friday, March 28, at 11:59 p.m. PT. [Apply today.](https://www.fastcompany.com/apply/best-workplaces-for-innovators) _

 TMTPOST -- The global smartphone industry is losing momentum in 2025, with demand softening across key emerging markets despite early-year optimism and AI enhancements on new devices. According to the latest IDC data, smartphone shipments are now forecast to grow just 0.6% this year to 1.24 billion units, a sharp downgrade from February's 2.3% projection. Macroeconomic headwinds—including inflation, tariff uncertainty, and unemployment—have dampened consumer sentiment worldwide. The sector's traditional growth engines, China, the U.S., and Europe, are increasingly saturated, intensifying competition and narrowing room for expansion. That's pushed global players like Xiaomi, OPPO, vivo, Samsung, and Apple to chase growth in developing markets. But that strategy is faltering. First-quarter data shows smartphone shipments declined in India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East—regions that until recently were seen as crucial growth pillars. "2025 marks the tail end of the post-pandemic device replacement cycle," said Amber Liu, Research Manager at Canalys, which recently merged with Omdia. "Rising costs, inventory adjustments, and macroeconomic uncertainty are making consumers more hesitant." Canalys data shows India's smartphone shipments dropped 8% year-on-year to 32.4 million units in Q1. Southeast Asia saw a 3% decline—its first contraction since early 2024—while the Middle East slipped 4% to 11.7 million units. IDC noted the Philippines plunged 20.3% due to excess inventory, while Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand showed tepid growth. "Emerging markets have always been defined by large populations, fast economic development, and low smartphone penetration," said IDC's Asia-Pacific Senior Research Manager Huang Zixing. "But when household expenses rise, phones are no longer top priority." Tariff shifts, such as U.S. duties on Chinese electronics, are another drag. "Brands and distributors are acting cautiously," said Huang. "Even after COVID, the level of risk aversion has only deepened." Despite short-term weakness, manufacturers are being urged to stay agile—diversifying supply chains, adjusting product strategies, and localizing operations to adapt to volatile conditions. Still, some segments are holding up. Premium devices priced over $800 continue to grow, showing resilience at the top end. "Even in a flat market, the high-end is expanding," said Liu. "This year's growth opportunities are tied to AI innovation, ecosystem integration, and premium experiences." This polarization has given rise to a "dumbbell" market structure in emerging economies. On one end are price-sensitive users scaling back; on the other, aspirational consumers still splurging on premium brands. Apple, in particular, is capitalizing. In the Middle East, devices priced above $600 rose 17% in Q1, with iPhone sales up 10% year-on-year. In India, Apple logged its best-ever first quarter on the back of the iPhone 16 series, boosted by e-commerce deals and deeper penetration into tier-two and tier-three cities. "There's still strong upgrade demand in the premium space," said Huang. "Apple's brand appeal remains a status symbol." Thanks to this momentum, Apple grabbed 19% global market share in Q1 2025, the first time it's topped the charts, according to Counterpoint. CEO Tim Cook has emphasized the company's long-term strategy in India and Southeast Asia, with a third Apple Store opening soon in Bangalore. But as competition intensifies, low-price strategies aren't enough. "AI-driven experiences and value-added services—like subscriptions—are becoming new levers," said one local channel partner. Last year, Chinese smartphone brands crossed the 50% overseas market share mark. Yet challenges loom. Near-term pressures include softer demand and the need to defend share in competitive markets like India. Longer term, success depends on navigating regulatory risks, refining local operations, and deepening partner alliances. Regulatory pitfalls are rising. Both vivo and Xiaomi have faced scrutiny in India. In Indonesia, Apple's iPhone 16 faced a sales ban last October for failing to meet local sourcing rules. The government requires 40% of smartphone components to be locally produced. "Global expansion today is about more than shipping phones," said Huang. "It's a negotiation. Emerging markets need investment, and brands need access. It's a mutual dependency—but one shaped by complex, shifting conditions." Despite the near-term slump, analysts believe emerging markets will remain the key engine of smartphone growth through 2029—if economic conditions stabilize. Until then, companies will need to shift from pure scale to strategic resilience.

178091151 story [](//mobile.slashdot.org/index2.pl?fhfilter=iphone)[](//mobile.slashdot.org/index2.pl?fhfilter=apple) Posted by [BeauHD](https://www.linkedin.com/in/beauhd/) on Wednesday June 18, 2025 @08:02PM from the would-you-look-at-that dept. iPhone sales [jumped 15% year-over-year in April and May 2025](https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/17/iphone-sales-jump-apple-reclaims-china-lead/), "signaling Apple's strongest two-month performance for the period since the pandemic," reports MacRumors, citing preliminary data from [Counterpoint Research](https://www.counterpointresearch.com/report/market-pulse-early-look-oem-sales-may-2025). From the report: _The growth was driven mainly by the United States and China, Apple's two largest markets. Both regions returned to positive year-over-year growth after three years of declines during what is typically a less seasonal period. China sales were particularly notable, with Apple capturing the top spot in May. It's quite the turnaround, after Apple only recently sustained market share losses to Huawei and other local mobile vendors. \[...\] The report showed Japan also indicated strong iPhone demand, with the more affordable iPhone 16e proving especially popular among consumers who favor smaller devices. The device's entry-level pricing apparently appealed to Japanese tastes, while Apple also maintained strong sales for the iPhone 16 base model and even the older iPhone 14. India continued its growth trajectory as Apple expands both manufacturing and market presence in the world's most populous country. _

178980488 story [](//tech.slashdot.org/index2.pl?fhfilter=chrome)[](//tech.slashdot.org/index2.pl?fhfilter=internet) Posted by [BeauHD](https://www.linkedin.com/in/beauhd/) on Tuesday September 02, 2025 @07:20PM from the surprise-surprise dept. Chrome has extended its dominance in the browser wars, [surpassing 70% market share on desktops](https://www.neowin.net/news/chrome-increases-its-overwhelming-market-share-now-over-70/) while Edge, Safari, Firefox, and Opera trail far behind. Neowin reports: _According to \[Statcounter\], in August 2025, Chrome kept on increasing its overwhelming market share, which is now above the 70% mark (70.25%, to be precise) in the desktop browser market. The gap between Chrome and its closest competitor, Microsoft Edge, is immense, with Edge holding just 11.8% (+0.01 points over the previous month). Apple's Safari is third with 6.34% (+1.04 points); Firefox has 4.94% (-0.36 points); and Opera is fifth with a modest 2.06% market share (-0.13 points). Things look similar on the mobile side of the market, with Google Chrome having 69.15% (+1.92 points) and Safari being second with 20.32% (-2.2 points). Samsung Internet is third with 3.33% (-0.17 points). As for Microsoft Edge, its mobile share is only 0.59% (+0.06 points). _The findings can be found [here](https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share#monthly-202408-202508).