Canalys reports that 2024 was a year of recovery for the smartphone market in China. A total of 285 million units were shipped, up 4% from last year.
The top 5 are mostly local brands with only Apple breaking this pattern at third place. Vivo became the new market leader with 49.3 million units shipped, while the rebounding Huawei also overtook Apple with 37% growth year-on-year (for a total of 46.0 million units shipped).
Apple, which was the #1 company in 2023, has now dropped to third place behind Oppo and Honor.
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People’s Republic of China (Mainland) Smartphone Shipments and Annual Growth
Canalys Smartphone Market Pulse: Full Year 2024 |
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| Seller | 2024 Shipment (million) | 2024 market share | 2023 Shipment (million) | 2023 market share | annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vivo | 49.3 | 17% | 44.5 | 16% | 11% |
| huawei | 46 | 16% | 33.5 | 12% | 37% |
| Apple | 42.9 | 15% | 51.8 | 19% | -17% |
| OPPO | 42.7 | 15% | 43.9 | 16% | -3% |
| Respect | 42.2 | 15% | 43.6 | 16% | -3% |
| Other | 61.6 | 22% | 55.3 | 20% | 12% |
| Total | 284.6 | 100% | 272.5 | 100% | 4% |
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Note: OnePlus is included in the Oppo shipment. Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding Source: Canalys Smartphone Analysis (sell-in shipments), January 2025 |
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These were the figures for the entire year 2024. Apple’s best quarter is usually Q4 – when new iPhones launch – and this traditionally pushes Apple into the top spot for the quarter. As happened again this year, but only fair.
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People’s Republic of China (mainland) smartphone shipments and annual growth
Canalys Smartphone Market Pulse: Q4 2024 |
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| Seller | Q4 2024 Shipments (million) | Q4 2024 market share | Q4 2023 Shipments (million) | Q4 2023 market share | annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | 13.1 | 17% | 17.5 | 24% | -25% |
| Vivo | 12.9 | 17% | 11.3 | 15% | 14% |
| huawei | 12.9 | 17% | 10.4 | 14% | 24% |
| Xiaomi | 12.2 | 16% | 9.5 | 13% | 29% |
| OPPO | 10.6 | 14% | 9 | 12% | 18% |
| Other | 15.6 | 20% | 16.3 | 22% | -4% |
| Total | 77.4 | 100% | 73.9 | 100% | 5% |
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Note: OnePlus is included in the Oppo shipment. Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding Source: Canalys Smartphone Analysis (sell-in shipments), January 2025 |
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Apple shipped 13.1 million units in Q4 2024, which is 25% less than the same period in 2023. Both were breathing down Apple’s neck, with growth from Vivo and Huawei (up 14% and 24%, respectively) – both companies shipped 12.9 million units in Q4.
Analysts expect the smartphone market to grow to more than 290 million units by 2025. “Further upgrades in product experience, such as longer battery life, slimmer and lighter designs, innovative form factors and enhanced AI-powered operating system experiences, will benefit and attract consumers across all price segments.” Lucas Zhong, research analyst at Canalys, commented.
