Steve Kovach January 27, 2015 at 07:25AM
For the first time ever, Apple is the top smartphone vendor in China, according to a new report from research firm Canalys.
Here's the note from Canalys:
The incredible popularity of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in China in Q4 2014 has led Apple to take first place in the Chinese smart phone market for the first time by units shipped. This is an amazing result, given that the average selling price of Apple’s handsets is nearly double those of its nearest competitors.
While Chinese smart phone vendors are quickly gaining ground internationally, Apple has turned the tables on them in their home market. The company is finally riding the large screen and LTE trends in China, which have been vital to its success, along with a well-timed launch and a clampdown on grey exports of its products out of Hong Kong. The top four vendors in Q4 in China by units shipped were Apple, Xiaomi, Samsung and Huawei, respectively.
This is big news for Apple as it prepares to deliver what analysts say will be a blowout quarter for iPhone sales. Over the last year, the top smartphone vendor in China has shifted between Samsung, Lenovo, and the startup Xiaomi.
Apple has never been able to claim the top spot, but according to Canalys, the iPhone 6 launch was massive in China.
China is one of the most important markets for smartphone vendors. Most people there are still making the transition from regular phones to smartphones. Xiaomi, a four-year-old startup based in China, has been particularly interesting to watch over the last two years or so. Its phones are very popular in China, and until now, it usually sold more units than Apple.
More to come...refresh for the latest.
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Apple Beats Its Biggest Rivals In China To Become The Top Smartphone Maker For The First Time (AAPL) from Business Insider: Steve Kovach
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