Apple Sales Fall y/y on China's Singles' Day, Huawei Up 7%

FILE PHOTO: A Chinese flag flutters near a Huawei store in Shanghai, China September 8, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Chinese flag flutters near a Huawei store in Shanghai, China September 8, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo
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Apple Sales Fall y/y on China's Singles' Day, Huawei Up 7%

FILE PHOTO: A Chinese flag flutters near a Huawei store in Shanghai, China September 8, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Chinese flag flutters near a Huawei store in Shanghai, China September 8, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo

Apple sold fewer smartphones during China's Singles' Day shopping festival this year as it faced pressure from an "abnormally high" number of rival handsets launched around the event, Counterpoint Research said on Wednesday.

The iPhone manufacturer saw its sales decline year-on-year by "double digit percentages" from Oct. 18 to Nov. 10, the research consultancy said. In comparison, its main rival in China, Huawei, recorded 7% sales growth, fueled by price cuts on its Pura 70 and Mate 60 models.

Xiaomi also saw sales decline, with volumes falling 6%, Reuters reported.

"To capitalize on one of the biggest sales festivals of the year, major Chinese OEMs (manufacturers) except Huawei launched their latest flagships ahead of the festival," Counterpoint said, describing this as a key reason for Apple's decline. Only Xiaomi did so last year, it noted.

Huawei declined to comment. Apple and Xiaomi did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Overall, smartphone sales in China during the event, the country's biggest online shopping festival, fell 9% year-on-year as a slowing economy weighed on consumer enthusiasm despite the promotions, Counterpoint said.

Apple's Singles' Day performance underscores the growing competition it faces in the world's largest smartphone market, especially from Huawei which has come back strongly in the premium segment.

The US tech giant has since responded with multiple discount campaigns to boost sales. Apple's iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max were the festival's best selling models, Counterpoint said.

China's e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba and JD.com did not release sales figures for the festival, having dropped the practice in 2022, but Alibaba said Apple and Xiaomi were among brands that surpassed 1 billion yuan in gross merchandising value.



Photos of Beijing’s World Humanoid Robot Games Show How a Human Touch Is Still Needed

 A robot falls after tagging off to the last leg of its team in the 4x100m final at the World Humanoid Robot Games held in Beijing, China, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (AP)
A robot falls after tagging off to the last leg of its team in the 4x100m final at the World Humanoid Robot Games held in Beijing, China, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (AP)
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Photos of Beijing’s World Humanoid Robot Games Show How a Human Touch Is Still Needed

 A robot falls after tagging off to the last leg of its team in the 4x100m final at the World Humanoid Robot Games held in Beijing, China, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (AP)
A robot falls after tagging off to the last leg of its team in the 4x100m final at the World Humanoid Robot Games held in Beijing, China, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (AP)

Humanoid robots raced and punched their way through three days of a multi-sport competition at the World Humanoid Robot Games, wrapping up Sunday in Beijing.

But they also toppled, crashed and collapsed, requiring humans’ help and leading to questions about how far, after all, the robots can go on their own.

The games featured more than 500 humanoids on 280 teams from 16 countries, including the United States, Germany and Japan, that competed in sports such as soccer, running and boxing at the 12,000-seater National Speed Skating Oval, built for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The event comes as China has stepped up efforts to develop humanoid robots powered by artificial intelligence.

Robots were often seen close to their operators, whether they were controlled remotely, held, lifted, sorted or separated. Batteries needed replacing and limbs tuned.

Although the robots showed off some impressive moves, some tripped and human intervention was never far from the field. One had to be carried out by two people, like an injured athlete, in a display of the limitations the machines are still facing.

Their effect on the audience, however, was not unlike that of real athletes. Cheers erupted when a robot landed a punch, scored a goal, or won a game, showing that viewers were genuinely invested in the machines’ endeavors.

AI-powered robots are expected to be increasingly used in industrial settings.