According to the U.S. Fox Business website reported on March 5, Hong Kong research organization "contrast method" technology market research company's latest report shows that Apple's iPhone sales in China this year got off to an unfavorable start, the first six weeks of sales fell 24% year-on-year.

　　According to analysts, the main reason for the decline in iPhone sales is the fierce competition in the market, especially from Huawei, which has seen its smartphone sales surge by 64 percent in the same period.

　　"Primarily, [Apple] faces stiff competition from the resurgent Huawei in the high-end market, while in the mid-range market it is being squeezed by aggressive pricing from the likes of OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi," said Mengmeng Zhang, senior analyst at "Comparative Law" technology market research firm, in a statement. "

　　Mengmeng Zhang added: "Although the iPhone 15 is a great device, it has not been significantly upgraded from its predecessor, so consumers feel fine about continuing to use the older generation of iPhones for now."

　　Apple shares fell 3% on Tuesday, and has fallen about 10% so far this year, underperforming large U.S. technology companies.

　　"Apple's share of China's smartphone market has fallen to 15.7 percent, ranking fourth, compared with 19 percent and second place in the same period last year, according to a report by Comparative Technology Market Research.

　　Apple's sales and profits exceeded Wall Street's expectations last quarter, driven by growth in its global iPhone business, but notably its sales in China lagged.

　　In an interview with Reuters last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook said, "We're pleased with the 6 percent (revenue growth) that iPhone achieved. iPhone achieved particularly strong double-digit growth in emerging markets outside of China. iPhone is performing well in those markets."

　　Cook added, "China is the most competitive smartphone market in the world, and that hasn't changed."